How Many Dogs and Cats Can You Own in California State

For many pet lovers in the United States, there is nothing such as owning too many pets, specifically dogs and cats. Dogs are incredibly friendly and loyal to us while cats are irresistibly adorable. Moreover, one of the major advantages of pet ownership is the pet's agreeable temperament such as playfulness, gentleness, and intelligence.

If you are a pet owner living in the state of California or planning to move into it, you might have questions regarding how many dogs or cats are allowed per household in The Golden State. In other words, how many furry friends are deemed too many in California? Well, based on my research, the number of canine or feline friends you can have in your house in California is limited to three or four, depending on where in California you reside. Besides, owning a pet is a self-limiting experience for many people as everyone sort of knows their limit.

The major reasons for these restrictions include the pet's destructiveness, over-aggressiveness, nuisance, and above all to reduce animal-transmitted diseases. That said, let's look at pet ownership limitations in some major cities in California.

How Many Dogs and Cats are Allowed Per Household in California?

When it comes to pet number restrictions in California, each local government has its own set of regulations. Municipalities usually allow three or four dogs or cats per household. You can have more dogs and cats than these limits in some California counties, but you will have to obtain a kennel permit before doing so. In San Mateo County, for example, a person who keeps more than ten dogs or cats is required to obtain a kennel or cattery permit. That means you are allowed to own up to ten dogs or cats if you reside in San Mateo County.

Orange County allows three dogs and three cats over the age of four months per household. You can have more pets than these limits, but doing so will require an animal permit.

In Los Angeles County, you are allowed no more than three dogs and three cats. If you live in an unincorporated area, you can own up to five cats. However, all five cats must be spayed or neutered and live inside. Below are some major California cities with the number of dogs and cats allowed per residence. Please note that these numbers can be less for tenants as landlords and homeowner associations may have their own rules.

• Long Beach: Allows 4 pets (dogs & cats) per household
• Burbank: Allows 4 combined pets per household
• Arcadia: Allows 3 dogs and 3 cats per household
• Glendale: Allows 4 dogs and 6 cats per household
• San Marino: Allows 3 cats and 3 dogs per household
• Bell Gardens: Allows 2 cats and 2 dogs per household
• Bellflower: Allows 3 combined pets per household
• Downey: Allows 3 pets (combination of cats & dogs)
• Montebello: Allows 3 pets (combination of cats & dogs)
• Norwalk: Allows 3 pets (combination of cats & dogs)
• Paramount: Allows 3 pets (combination of cats & dogs)
• Pico Rivera: Allows 3 pets (combination of cats & dogs)
• Bell: Allows 3 dogs and 3 cats per household
• Beverly Hills: Allows 4 dogs or cats per household
• Hawthorne: Allows 3 pets (combination of cats & dogs)
• Huntington Park: Allows 3 pets (combination of cats & dogs)
• Pasadena: Allows 4 pets (combination of cats & dogs)
• Cudahy: Allows 2 dogs and 2 cats per household
• Seal Beach: Allows 4 pets per household (cats & dogs)
• Lakewood: Allows 2 dogs and 2 cats per residence
• Torrance: Allows 2 cats and 2 dogs per residence
• Culver City: Allows 3 cats and 3 dogs per household
• South Gate: Allows 3 pets (cats & dogs)
• South El Monte: Allows 3 pets (cats & dogs)
• South Pasadena: Allows 3 pets (cats & dogs)
• West Hollywood: Allows 3 cats and 3 dogs per residence
• Santa Monica: Allows 3 cats and 3 dogs per residence

Most Commonly Restricted Dog Breeds in California

Some dog breeds are often deemed dangerous or aggressive in California. Many American dog owners often attribute dogs' aggressiveness to poor training and incompetent owner. However, not every company and county agrees with this sentiment. You may find yourself in legal or financial trouble with your county or insurance company if you own any of the following dog breeds in California:

• German shepherd dogs
• Akita Inu dogs
• Rottweiler dogs
• Pit bull dogs

Most Commonly Restricted Cat Breeds in California

All Big Cats are not allowed as pets in California. That includes Tigers, Lions, Jaguars, Cougars, Leopards, and Cheetahs. California allows all domestic cats and hybrids of domestic cats including Bengals and Savannahs.

Dog Laws in California

All dog owners must vaccinate their dogs for Rabies in California. Every dog owner in any part of the state must license their dogs. Dogfighting (fighting two dogs) is illegal in The Golden State. All dog walkers must pick up after their dog's waste on any public grounds of their city of residence. Furthermore, it is illegal to hoard dogs or any animal in California. Anyone hoarding dogs or cats is violating California's animal cruelty laws, which are punishable by imprisonment or a $20,000 fine. California dog owners are liable for damages caused by their dogs.

Top 10 Pet-Friendly Cities in California

A few factors that make a city dog-friendly include the number of dog-friendly restaurants, pet stores and veterinarians, dog-friendly trails and parks, and dog walkability and restrictions. Santa Barbara is one of the most dog-friendly cities in the U.S. According to California.com, here are the top 10 dog-friendly cities in California.

1. San Diego
2. Malibu
3. Carmel-by-the-Sea
4. Sacramento
5. South Lake Tahoe
6. Palm Springs
7. Los Angeles
8. Santa Barbara
9. San Francisco
10. Santa Cruz