Temecula Municipal Code Ch. 6.08 Animal Keeping Standards

§ 6.08.010. Animal keeping standards table.¶

TABLE 6.08.010 ANIMAL KEEPING STANDARDS 1,2,3,4

Type of Animal or Use	Minimum Lot Size	Maximum Number 7	Zoning	Setback/ Separation Requirements	Additional Information
ANIMAL AND AGRICULTURAL USES/KEEPING PERMITTED BY RIGHT
Apiaries or Beekeeping	0.5 acres	N/A	All zones except HR, HR-SM, and OS/OS-C	400 foot minimum setback of all bee hives, apiaries or boxes housing bees from any public streets or highways, day care, educational institution, park, property line to a different ownership, or from any dwelling or place of human habitation other than that occupied by the owner or caretaker of the bees.	A source of fresh water shall be made continuously available on site for the bees
Cats and Dogs
Single-family dwellings	N/A	Any combination of 4 cats or dogs	Any parcel of any zoning designation with a permitted and occupied residential structure on site	N/A (for accessory structure requirements see TMC Title 17)	Only animals over 4 months of age are counted
Multiple-family dwellings	N/A	Any combination of 4 cats or dogs	Any parcel of any zoning designation with a permitted and occupied residential structure on site	N/A (for accessory structure requirements see TMC Title 17)	Only animals over 4 months of age are counted
Large Animals (Cattle, Horses and Mules)	0.5 acres	First 0.5 acre - 2 large animals Each additional 0.5 acre - 1 additional large animal	All zones except LM, HR, HR-SM, and OS/OS-C	All animals shall be kept a minimum distance of 25 feet from the property line of any adjacent residence, day care, or educational institution, hospital or church that is located on adjacent property. 8	Only animals over 12 months of age are counted
Outdoor Aviary (All birds must be confined)	Greater than 1.0 acre Less than 0.5 acres	50 birds/acre 24 birds	All zones except HR, HR-SM, and OS/OS-C	All animals shall be kept a minimum distance of 25 feet from the property line of any adjacent residence, day care, educational institution, hospital or church that is located on adjacent property. 8	Only animals over 3 months of age are counted
Poultry 5,6 (All poultry to be contained)	Greater than 1.0 acre 5 Less than 1.0 acre 5 LM & M zoned property 5,6	50 poultry/acre 12 poultry 4 poultry	All zones except H, HR, HR-SM, and OS/OS-C	All animals shall be kept a minimum distance of 25 feet from the property line of any adjacent residence, day care, educational institution, hospital or church that is located on adjacent property. 8	Only animals over 3 months of age are counted
Small Animals (Burros, Goats, Pigs, Ponies, and Sheep)	0.5 acres	First 0.5 acre - 2 small animals Each additional 0.5 acre - 3 additional small animals	All zones except LM, HR, HR-SM, and OS/OS-C	All animals shall be kept a minimum distance of 25 feet from the property line of any adjacent residence, day care, educational institution, hospital or church that is located on adjacent property. 8	Only animals over 6 months of age are counted
ANIMAL USES/KEEPING THAT REQUIRE A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT
Animal Shelter	N/A	Set by conditional use permit	CC, HT, SC, BP, LI	Set by conditional use permit; in no case shall setback from property lines be less than that of the properties zoning designation per TMC Title 17.	See also TMC 17.04.010: Conditional use permits
Commercial Kennels, Commercial Catteries, or Cat/Dog Training Center	N/A	Set by conditional use permit	CC, SC, BP, LI	Set by conditional use permit; in no case shall setback from property lines be less than that of the properties zoning designation per TMC Title 17.	See also TMC 17.04.010: Conditional use permits
Commercial Frog Farms	N/A	Set by conditional use permit	All zones except HR, HR-SM, and OS/OS-C	Set by conditional use permit; in no case shall setback from property lines be less than that of the properties zoning designation per TMC Title 17.	See also TMC 17.04.010: Conditional use permits
The keeping of exotic animal(s), including keeping exotic animals as pets or novelties	Minimum set by conditional use permit	Set by conditional use permit	All zones except HR, HR-SM, and OS/OS-C	Set by conditional use permit; in no case shall setback from property lines be less than that of the properties zoning designation per TMC Title 17.	See also TMC 17.04.010: Conditional use permits
The commercial raising of more than 4 chinchilla, nutria, hamsters, guinea pigs, cavy, rabbits, and similar small animals	N/A	Set by conditional use permit	All zones except HR, HR-SM, and OS/OS-C	Set by conditional use permit; in no case shall setback from property lines be less than that of the properties zoning designation per TMC Title 17.	See also TMC 17.04.010: Conditional use permits
Commercial Worm Farms	N/A	Set by conditional use permit	All zones except HR, HR-SM, and OS/OS-C	Set by conditional use permit; in no case shall setback from property lines be less than that of the properties zoning designation per TMC Title 17.	See also TMC 17.04.010: Conditional use permits

NOTES

1 These standards only apply to properties located within a specific plan area, planned development overlay or similar overlay zoning designation when said zoning document does not adequately address the subject or standards of animal keeping.

2 All uses found in this table are found incompatible with the Hillside Residential (HR) and Open Space-Conservation (OS/OS-C) zoning designations and are not permitted.

3 In no event shall there be any limit to the permissible number of sheep which may be grazed per acre, where such grazing operation is conducted on fields for the purposes of cleaning up unharvested crops, stubble, volunteer or wild growth where such grazing operation is not conducted for more than four weeks in any six-month period.

4 Concentrated lot feeding and commercial poultry and/or rabbit raising are not permitted in any zoning designation within the city.

5 The keeping of roosters or crowing fowl, of any species, is prohibited within the city.

6 Properties with the zoning designation LM and M are allowed a maximum of 4 poultry.

7 All calculations for the number of animals permitted on a lot shall round down to the nearest whole number.

8 All legally permitted structures constructed for the purpose of animal keeping, prior to June 14, 2022 shall be considered legal non-conforming and can remain in accordance with TMC § 17.03.070 , as amended.

(Ord. 22-09 § 2; Ord. 2026-02, 2/10/2026)

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