La Quinta Municipal Code Ch. 10.04 Local Amendments

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Editor's note— Ord. Ord. 633, § 1 (Exh. A), adopted April 21, 2026, repealed the former Ch. 10.04, §§ 10.04.010—10.04.160, and enacted a new Ch. 10.04 as set out herein. The former Ch. 10.04 pertained to definitions and derived from Ord. 415 § 1, 2005; Ord. 530 § 1, 2015 and Ord. 567, § 1, 2018.

Any conflict between the provisions of this chapter and Title 6 of the Riverside County Code shall be resolved in favor of this chapter and such shall govern.

(Ord. 633 § 1, 4-21-2026)

Title 6 of the Riverside County Code is adopted with the following changes, additions and deletions:

A. Chapter 6.05 Crowing roosters of Title 6 of the Riverside County Code is amended by deleting the heading and its listed sections 6.05.010 Crowing roosters, 6.05.020 Crowing rooster permit, 6.05.030 Violation - Penalty, and 6.05.040 Remedies and penalties of Ordinance 630.

B. Subsection 6.08.010(F) of Title 6 of the Riverside County Code is amended by deleting and replacing with the definition of "Cattery" listed in subsection 10.02.020 Definitions, of this Title 10.

C. Substitute the words, "Board of Supervisor or City Council," for the words, "Board" or "Board of Supervisors," wherever these words appear in Title 6 of the Riverside County Code.

D. Substitute "city of La Quinta" for the phrases "unincorporated area of the county" or "unincorporated area of the County of Riverside" wherever these words appear in Title 6 of the Riverside County Code of Ordinances.

E. The city manager, or authorized designee, shall be entitled to enforce within the city Title 6 of the Riverside County Code, as amended by this title.

(Ord. 633 § 1, 4-21-2026)

Every person within the city who owns any animal or who owns, conducts, manages or operates any animal establishment shall comply with each of the following conditions:

A. Housing facilities for animals shall be structurally sound and shall be maintained in good repair to protect the animals from injury, to contain the animals and restrict the entrance of other animals.

B. All animals shall be supplied with sufficiently good and wholesome food and water as often as the feeding habits of the respective animals require.

C. All animals and all animal buildings or enclosures shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition in accordance with Title 6 of the Riverside County Code (as modified by this title).

D. All animals shall be so maintained as to eliminate excessive noise in accordance with Title 6 of the Riverside County Code (as modified by this title).

E. Every reasonable precaution shall be used to ensure that animals are not teased, abused, mistreated, annoyed, tormented or in any manner made to suffer by any person or other means.

F. No condition shall be maintained or permitted that is or could be injurious to an animal, including tethering. No person shall tether or restrain an animal to a stationary object in excess of three (3) hours per California Health and Safety Code Section 122335.

G. Animal buildings and enclosures shall be so constructed and maintained as to prevent the escape of animals. All reasonable precautions shall be taken to protect the public from animals and animals from the public.

H. Every precaution shall be made to isolate sick animals sufficiently so as not to endanger the health of other animals or persons.

I. Every building or enclosure wherein animals are maintained shall be constructed of material easily cleaned and shall be kept in a sanitary condition. The building shall be properly ventilated to prevent drafts and to remove odors. Heating and cooling shall be provided as required, according to the physical need of the animals, with sufficient light to allow observation of animals and sanitation.

J. All animal rooms, cages, kennels and runs shall be of sufficient size to provide adequate and proper accommodations for the animals kept therein.

K. Every animal owner shall provide their animals' proper shelter and protection from the weather at all times.

L. No person shall give an animal any alcoholic beverage or unlawful drug unless prescribed by a veterinarian.

M. No person shall allow animals which are natural enemies, temperamentally unsuited, or otherwise incompatible, to be quartered together or so near each other as to cause injury, fear or torment for the animal. If two (2) or more animals are trained to be placed together and do not attack each other or perform or attempt to perform any hostile act to the others, such animals shall be deemed not to be natural enemies.

N. No person shall allow the use of any tack, equipment, device, substance or material that is, or could be, injurious or cause unnecessary cruelty to any animal.

O. No person shall fail to give working animals proper rest periods. Confined or restrained animals shall be given exercise proper for the individual animal under the particular conditions.

P. No person shall work, use or rent any animal which is overheated, weakened, exhausted, sick, injured, diseased, lame or otherwise unfit.

Q. No person shall allow any animal which an animal control officer has suspended from use to be worked or used.

R. No person shall display for profit or otherwise any animals bearing evidence of malnutrition, ill health, unhealed injury or having been kept in an unsanitary condition.

S. No person shall allow any animal to constitute or cause a hazard, or be a menace to the health, peace or safety of the community.

(Ord. 633 § 1, 4-21-2026)

A. Dogs and cats may be kept in any zone within the city provided that no more than four (4) of each, not to exceed eight (8) total, are kept within a single legal lot.

B. Except for licensed pet shops, veterinarians, and kennels, no person shall own, keep or harbor, nor shall the owner or occupant of any premises keep or permit on or in such premises more than four (4) dogs and four (4) cats of four (4) months of age or older.

(Ord. 633 § 1, 4-21-2026)

It is unlawful to maintain catteries in the city of La Quinta.

(Ord. 633 § 1, 4-21-2026)

A. No person shall own, keep, harbor or maintain on or in any premises within the city any wild, exotic, or dangerous animal or reptile without written consent of the animal control department or absent the proper applicable city, county, state and/or federal permits. Denial of consent to keep a wild animal by the animal control department may be appealed pursuant to Chapter 1.09 of this code.

B. Subject to the city's zoning ordinances, only those wild animals, poultry, reptiles and exotic animals which are permitted by the laws of the state of California to be possessed, and for which a permit has been obtained from the Department of Fish and Game, which permit is current, shall be allowed within the city.

C. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, the ownership of venomous reptiles shall be prohibited in the city. No person shall own, keep, harbor or maintain on or in any premises within the city any venomous reptile. Nothing in this section, or in this title, or in the city of La Quinta Municipal Code shall be construed as to allow the possession of such animals within the city limits with or without applicable permits.

(Ord. 633 § 1, 4-21-2026)

No livestock or hoofed animal, barn yard poultry, or rabbits may be kept on any lot or combination of adjoined lots less than one (1) acre in size as per this code. No person may keep more than two (2) horses per one (1) acre parcel. For parcels in excess of one (1) acre, up to three (3) horses per additional acre or portion thereof shall be allowed. Foals under one (1) year of age shall not be counted in calculating the maximum number of horses under this section.

(Ord. 633 § 1, 4-21-2026)

An animal that has been declared dangerous or vicious in any legal proceeding outside the confines of the city of La Quinta, may not be relocated temporarily or permanently within the city of La Quinta.

(Ord. 633 § 1, 4-21-2026)

It is unlawful to keep a guard dog on any premises, unless the guard dog is fenced within the premises or confined within the building and kept in such a manner that it cannot come into contact with persons or other animals that are lawfully on said premises. Any premises containing a guard dog shall also be posted at every fifty (50)-foot interval around the perimeter of the area guarded by the guard dog and at all entrances and exits to the area. In locations where the minimum outside dimensions are less than fifty (50) feet, the signs shall be placed at the beginning and end of that premises. The signs shall state: "WARNING—GUARD DOG ON DUTY." Such signs shall also state the name, address, and telephone number of the guard dog company furnishing the dog for hire, if any, and the telephone number of the owner or caretaker of the premises. Each guard dog in use in the city shall be registered and licensed in the city and have a tag affixed to its collar which must be worn at all times.

(Ord. 633 § 1, 4-21-2026)

Any person or business desiring to transport into the city for any commercial or business related purposes, including, but not limited to, advertisement, circus, rodeo, petting zoo, or animal rental, any animals considered large or dangerous including, but not limited to, exotic, circus or fair type animals, rodeo animals, petting zoo animals, and large snakes, shall first obtain a permit from the animal control department. If requested by the animal control department, such person or agency will also make available the animal in question and veterinary records of the animal in question for the purpose of inspecting its health and safety. Such person or business shall make available to the animal control department the name, address, and contact information of the handlers/keepers of the animal for emergency purposes. Such person or business shall also make available to the animal control department the person or business emergency capture procedures and capture equipment for inspection purposes to ensure the safety of the citizens of the city and the safety of the animals in question. If, in the belief of the animal control department, the entry of such animals into or the continued presence of such animals in the city constitutes a threat to the public health and safety, said permit application may be denied. The permit, if issued, shall be subject to immediate revocation if the animal control department determines that the presence of such animals in the city constitutes a threat to the public health and safety.

(Ord. 633 § 1, 4-21-2026)

No person(s), shall breed, sell, transfer or give away all or part of any litter, of dogs that were bred and reared on a residentially zoned property.

(Ord. 633 § 1, 4-21-2026)

Within the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains area, dogs are prohibited on all recreational trails and allowed in designated areas only, as required to comply with provisions of the Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (CVMSHCP) related to protection of Peninsular bighorn sheep. This prohibition does not apply to persons requiring accompaniment by a service animal under the Americans with Disabilities Act (e.g. seeing-eye dog), and those using dogs to facilitate search and rescue or law enforcement operations.

(Ord. 633 § 1, 4-21-2026)

A. Any person owning, keeping or having in his or her care or custody any animal shall not fail, refuse or neglect to clean up any feces of the animal immediately and dispose of it in a sanitary manner wherever the animal has defecated upon public or private property without the consent of the public or private owner or person in lawful possession or charge of the property.

B. The provisions of subsection A of this section shall not apply to a blind person being accompanied by a service animal, nor shall they be construed to allow any act of trespass upon private property. Whenever the feces to be cleaned up cannot be reached without significant trespass upon the private property on which the feces is located, the person having the duty pursuant to subsection A of this section to take action shall first obtain consent to do so from the owner or person having lawful possession or charge of the property.

C. No person owning, keeping, or having custody of any dog shall fail, refuse, or neglect to clean up any feces from said person's property, whether owned or rented, no less than once per week. All such feces shall be placed in an airtight container and disposed of through weekly waste collection services.

(Ord. 633 § 1, 4-21-2026)

A. No person having ownership, charge, or custody of an animal, as owner or otherwise, shall place or confine an animal or allow such animal to be placed or confined or to remain in an enclosed vehicle or for such period of time as may endanger the health or well-being of such animal due to heat, cold, lack of food or such other circumstances as may reasonably be expected to cause suffering, disability or death. In such circumstances, an animal control officer may act in the best interest of the animal, including taking action to remove the animal in cases of immediate threat. This section shall not be applicable to animals which are in animal control officers' or peace officers' vehicles while such animal control officer or peace officer is engaged in their duties.

B. When an animal has been removed from a vehicle pursuant to this section, the animal control officer shall cause to be posted in a conspicuous place on said vehicle a notice which shall state that the animal has been removed from the vehicle pursuant to La Quinta Municipal Code Section 10.28.080, where the animal has been impounded, the procedure whereby the owner of said animal may regain custody of the animal, and notice that the owner may be liable for impound fees and costs.

(Ord. 633 § 1, 4-21-2026)

No person shall feed or in any manner intentionally provide food as sustenance or to encourage domesticity in a non-domesticated or wild animal with the exception of a bird feeder in the yard. A person may feed or provide food to a wild animal under the following circumstances:

A. When the wild animal is maintained, treated or fed pursuant to a valid certificate or permit issued by the state of California or an agency of the United States Government;

B. When the wild animal is maintained, treated or fed between the time the animal control officer or Humane Society is notified and the wildlife is picked up by an appropriate agency.

(Ord. 633 § 1, 4-21-2026)

Other than in self-defense, no person shall kill, capture or molest any species of wild animal or damage the nest or eggs of any wild animal within the city, except any poisonous reptile or insect; provided, however, that if it is determined by the city manager, or authorized designee, that a wild animal has become a menace to any person's health, safety or property, the city manager, or authorized designee, shall authorize any person to assist in capturing any such wild animal. In no event shall any person use or employ poison or diseased material to kill or capture any wild animal. This section shall not pertain to rats and vermin animals unless such animals are otherwise protected under the law.

(Ord. 633 § 1, 4-21-2026)

A. The introduction, ownership, possession or maintenance of any animal or the allowing of any animal to be in contravention to this title is, in addition to being a violation of the applicable section, declared to be a public nuisance. The city manager or authorized designee, the department, the animal control officer, the county health officer, and peace officers are authorized, directed and empowered to summarily abate any such public nuisance independently of any criminal prosecution or the results thereof by any means reasonably necessary including, but not limited to, the issuance of an administrative order restraining a dangerous dog or dangerous cat (or potentially dangerous dog or potentially dangerous cat), the humane euthanasia of the animal or animals involved in an attack or when otherwise appropriate when there is a serious violation of this title, or by the imposition of specific reasonable conditions and restrictions for the maintenance of the animal.

B. Any person who fails to comply with any conditions and restrictions imposed pursuant to this title shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. The owner shall reimburse the city for all costs incurred in verifying compliance and enforcing the provisions of this title. The city may also commence proceeding in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 11.72 of this code relative to abatement procedures for public nuisances.

C. Any person violating the provisions of this title shall reimburse the city for any and all costs incurred by the city in responding to, investigating, assessing, monitoring, treating, cleaning, removing, or remediating any action taken or condition caused in violation of this title. Any person violating the provisions of this title shall reimburse the County of Riverside for any and all costs incurred by said county in responding to, investigating, assessing, monitoring, treating, cleaning, removing, or remediating any action taken or condition caused in violation of Title 6 of the Riverside County Code to the extent applicable by its incorporation by reference into this title. Such costs to be paid to the city or said county shall include all administrative expenses and all legal expenses, including costs and attorney's fees in obtaining compliance and in litigation, including all costs and attorney's fees on any appeal. The costs to be recovered pursuant this section shall be recoverable from any and all persons violating this title.

D. In addition to a criminal, civil, or abatement proceeding against any person violating the provisions of this title, the city manager, or authorized designee, shall have the authority to issue an administrative restraint order for potentially dangerous animals pursuant to the following process:

1. If the city manager, or authorized designee, has cause to believe that an animal is a potentially dangerous animal, the city manager, or authorized designee, shall issue a potentially dangerous animal restraint order to the owner(s) or custodian(s) of any such animal that fits the description described in Chapter 6.16 (or successor provisions) of Title 6 of the Riverside County Code, of a potentially dangerous animal. The statement shall be served by hand-delivery or certified and first-class mail. The statement shall notify the owner(s) or custodian(s) of such animal(s) that such owner(s) or custodian(s) shall be required thereafter at all times to keep such animal(s) in a secure enclosure or provide such other adequate secure restraint as may be specified on the restraint order.

2. An owner(s) or custodian(s) of an animal(s) receiving a potentially dangerous animal restraint order may request a hearing on the order by a hearing officer selected by the city manager or authorized designee. The request for a hearing must be submitted in writing to the City Clerk's Office of the city, no later than ten (10) calendar days following the service of the order. Pending such hearing, the animal must be kept in a secure enclosure or adequately restrained as specified in the restraint order.

3. Failure of the owner(s) or custodian(s) to request a hearing on the restraint order within the ten (10) day period, or failure to attend or be represented at a scheduled hearing, shall constitute a waiver of the right to a hearing and shall satisfy the hearing requirements provided in this subsection.

4. All hearings pursuant to this Subsection (D) of this section shall be conducted by a hearing officer who shall not have been directly involved in the subject action. Hearings shall be held not more than ten (10) working days from the date of receipt of the request for the hearing and shall be conducted in an informal manner consistent with due process of law. A hearing may be continued for a period of time not to exceed thirty (30) days if the hearing officer deems such continuance to be necessary and proper. Within ten (10) days after the conclusion of the hearing, the hearing officer shall render, in writing, findings and a decision and order thereon, and shall give notice of the findings, decision and order to the owner(s) or custodian(s) of the subject animal; service of such notice shall be by mail or hand delivery.

5. Costs for successful enforcement of this Subsection (D) shall be recouped from the animal's owner(s) or custodian(s) pursuant to Subsection (C) of this section.

6. An animal which as been determined to be a potentially dangerous animal following the conclusion of the process described in this Subsection D shall be added to a list of potentially dangerous animals maintained by the city and may be referred to the division of animal control for Riverside County. Once an animal has been determined to be a potentially dangerous animal, if there are no additional instances of the behavior described for "dangerous animal" or "potentially dangerous animal," as defined in Section 6.16.020 (or successor provision) of Title 6 of the Riverside County Code, within a forty-eight (48) month period from the date of the restraint order, the animal may be removed from the list of potentially dangerous animals maintained by the city, and the city may send a notice of the City's removal from the list to the division of animal control for Riverside County.

a. For purposes of this Subsection (D), "dangerous animal" and "potentially dangerous animal" shall have the same meanings set forth in Section 6.16.020 (or successor provision) of Title 6 of the Riverside County Code.

b. It is the intent of the city, by enacting this Subsection (D), to authorize the city manager, or authorized designee, to issue administrative restraint orders for potentially dangerous animals in the same capacity as the division of animal control for Riverside County has similar authority pursuant to Chapter 6.16 (or successor provisions) of Title 6 of the Riverside County Code.

(Ord. 633 § 1, 4-21-2026)