Hillsborough Municipal Code Ch. 6.18 Pet Population Control

A. Any person who owns or harbors any cat or dog over the age of six months which has not been spayed or neutered shall, as a condition to obtaining a license required by Chapter 6.04 of Title 6 of the San Mateo County Code of Ordinances, either:

1. Obtain a breeding permit pursuant to Section 6.18.020; or

2. Sign a written statement that the animal will not be allowed to breed unless the owner has first obtained a breeding permit under Section 6.18.020.

This subsection shall also apply to any person who provides care or sustenance for a period of thirty days or longer to any cat or dog, other than barn cats or feral cats as set forth in subsection (B) of this section.

B. Subsection (A) of this section shall not apply to a person caring for barn cats or feral cats if such person does all of the following:

1. Registers (at no charge) with the Peninsula Humane Society or San Mateo County animal control services as a caretaker for barn cats or feral cats;

2. Regularly feeds or arranges for the feeding of the cats, including on weekends and holidays;

3. Traps or makes a reasonable effort to trap all barn cats or feral cats over the age of eight weeks in his or her care and has them spayed or neutered;

4. Has all trapped cats tested for feline leukemia and has those who test positive humanely euthanized or isolated indoors;

5. Identifies barn cats or feral cats (by means of ear notching, ear tipping, or ear tagging) that have been spayed or neutered; and

6. Has all trapped cats vaccinated according to state and local law.

(Ord. No. 793, § 5, 2-12-2024)

A. Any person who owns or harbors any cat or dog shall not cause or allow the animal to breed without first obtaining a breeding permit under this section and paying a breeding permit fee according to the schedule of fees for such services set forth under the San Mateo County Code of Ordinances. A breeding permit is required in addition to the license required by Chapter 6.04 of Title 6 of the San Mateo County Code of Ordinances. San Mateo County animal control services shall administer a permit program to allow breeding of cats and dogs consistent with the criteria and in accordance with the procedures contained in this chapter.

B. Breeding permits shall be valid for twelve months and renewable annually. All breeding permits shall contain the following terms and conditions and be subject to all of the following requirements:

1. No puppy or kitten may be sold or adopted and permanently placed until it is at least eight weeks old;

2. No puppy or kitten may be sold or adopted until immunized against common diseases or until it has begun a course of disease prevention under the direction of a licensed veterinarian;

3. If, within one year of an animal's placement, a new owner becomes unable or unwilling to continue ownership and responsibility of the animal, the permittee shall assist in placement of the animal. If no suitable placement can be found within six months, the permittee shall accept return of the animal, if healthy, and shall become fully responsible for its care;

4. Any permittee advertising to the public the availability of any animal for adoption or sale shall cause the permittee's breeding permit number to be prominently displayed in any such advertisement. Likewise, the permittee shall provide the permittee's breeding permit number to any person adopting or purchasing an animal bred by the permittee;

5. The permittee shall adhere to minimum standards developed and approved by the San Mateo county animal control services regarding the care and keeping of animals.

C. The occurrence of any one of the following shall be grounds for revocation of a breeding permit:

1. The permittee has violated any applicable ordinance or other law (of any jurisdiction) relating to the keeping, care, or use of any animal;

2. The permittee is in violation of any state health or safety law or regulation regarding animal care or control;

3. The permittee has failed to comply with any condition or requirement of the breeding permit or has failed to pay any fee imposed under this title;

4. The permittee has refused to allow inspection, upon forty-eight hours' advance written notice, of any animal covered by the permit or of the premises on which the animal is kept; or

5. The permittee has transferred, sold, or otherwise disposed of the animal for which the permit was issued.

D. If, after inspection, the animal control officer concludes that it is probable that one or more of the above grounds for revocation exists, the officer shall cause written notice thereof to be mailed to the address of the permittee. The notice shall specify the grounds of possible revocation of the permit and shall specify a date and time for an informal hearing to be held before an animal control officer. The date shall be not less than five days subsequent to the date the notice is mailed. After the informal hearing, the animal control officer may modify the terms of the breeding permit or may revoke the breeding permit.

E. The permittee may appeal the decision of the animal control officer to the county environmental health officer if the permittee gives written notice of such appeal within five working days after the decision.

(Ord. No. 793, § 5, 2-12-2024)

A. Any person who provides or offers to the public, whether or not for compensation, any cat, dog, or wolf hybrid shall provide information to the public, free of charge, relating to pet care and ownership, including information, where applicable, on county laws pertaining to animal control. This required information shall be prepared and provided by San Mateo County animal control services upon request.

B. Any person offering any cat, dog, or wolf hybrid for sale or adoption shall provide any purchaser or adoptive owner with information regarding the licensing, registration, or permit requirements applicable to such animal.

C. No person shall offer for sale or adoption any cat, dog, or wolf hybrid on any public street or public park unless such person first obtains a business license to sell pets or is a recognized pet rescue/adoption agency such as Pets in Need and the Peninsula Humane Society.

(Ord. No. 793, § 5, 2-12-2024)

Except as otherwise provided by this chapter, any violation of the provisions of this chapter shall be punishable as an infraction as follows:

First violation: a fine not to exceed one hundred dollars.

Second violation within one year: a fine not to exceed two hundred dollars.

Each additional violation within the same year: a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars.

(Ord. No. 793, § 5, 2-12-2024)