Rancho Cucamonga — Animal Keeping

District-by-District Rules

All Zones

Cats, dogs, and listed small birds are allowed in all zones, but the count rises only at the 10,000 sq. ft. lot-size threshold. The table does not establish a separate commercial, industrial, or residential pet standard; it uses the parcel’s lot size. § 17.88.020(A), Table 17.88.020-1

The source materials do not establish a district-specific purpose, typical non-pet use, or separate building dimensions for every zone included in “all zones.” Verify the parcel’s zoning designation and any applicable parking or site-development requirements with the jurisdiction.

All Residential and Form-Based Zones

Exotic animals may be considered only in residential and form-based zones through a Minor Use Permit; Chapter 17.88 does not assign a by-right count. The planning and animal services director must find that the keeping is lawful, will not create nuisance impacts from odor, noise, dust, or drainage, and will not endanger peace, health, or safety. §§ 17.88.020(A), 17.88.040

Non-crowing poultry and rabbits are also allowed in these zone categories, beginning with a maximum of 4 on lots of 7,200–9,999 sq. ft. The maximum reaches 25 only on a lot of at least 20,000 sq. ft. § 17.88.020(A), Table 17.88.020-1

A parcel with an ADU is not given a separate animal allocation in Chapter 17.88; the table measures eligibility by lot size, not by dwelling-unit count. § 17.88.020(A), Table 17.88.020-1

VL

The VL zone is the broadest Chapter 17.88 livestock zone. It allows bovine, horses, medium livestock, miniature livestock, non-crowing poultry and rabbits, limited crowing poultry, and bee colonies where the applicable lot-size tier is met. § 17.88.020(A), Table 17.88.020-1

For larger animals, the pivotal threshold is 20,000 sq. ft.: up to 3 bovine, 6 horses, 4 llamas/alpacas/donkeys/ponies, or 6 sheep/goats/swine may be kept, subject to the stated density rules. § 17.88.020(A), Table 17.88.020-1

Crowing poultry requires at least 1 acre in VL, is capped at 2 animals, and must comply with the City’s noise standards. § 17.88.020(A), Table 17.88.020-1 The chapter also permits up to 2 bee colonies only on a VL lot of at least 20,000 sq. ft. § 17.88.020(A), Table 17.88.020-1

L

The L zone allows the same principal livestock categories as VL except crowing poultry and bees: bovine, horses, specified medium livestock, miniature livestock, plus non-crowing poultry and rabbits under the table’s lot-size limits. § 17.88.020(A), Table 17.88.020-1

At 20,000 sq. ft. or more, the table allows up to 3 bovine, 6 horses, 4 llama/alpaca/donkey/pony-type animals, 6 sheep/goats/swine, and 6 miniature goats or pigs. Each combination must independently meet each animal type’s minimum lot-area rule and maximum count. § 17.88.020(A)(1), Table 17.88.020-1

ME1

The ME1 zone has a narrower livestock allowance than VL or L. It allows sheep, goats, swine, or similar medium livestock only at the 20,000 sq. ft. tier, up to 6 animals, and allows crowing poultry only on a parcel of at least 10 acres, also up to 6 animals. § 17.88.020(A), Table 17.88.020-1

The 10-acre crowing-poultry/livestock condition is expressly tied to compliance with the City’s noise standards. Animal activity must avoid adverse off-site impacts under the applicable performance standards. §§ 17.66.010, 17.88.020(A), Table 17.88.020-1

Equestrian Overlay Zone

The Equestrian Overlay Zone is intended to protect the keeping of equine, bovine, and cleft-hoofed animals, preserve a rural/farm character, and support educational and recreational values. It may be combined with qualifying residential base zones. §§ 17.26.020, 17.38.020

Its boundary description covers Banyan Street from the west city boundary to Milliken Avenue, then south to CA 210 and Interstate 15 to the east, plus the northern sphere-of-influence boundary. New development in the overlay must provide required trails under the adopted trails map and maintain them continuously. § 17.38.020

The overlay does not replace the VL, L, or ME1 animal-count table. Confirm both overlay status and base-zone eligibility through the City’s overlay districts information. §§ 17.38.020, 17.88.020(A)

Facility and Nuisance Standards

Winged animals must either have clipped wings or remain in a covered enclosure so they stay confined to the property. § 17.88.020(C)(1) Animal shelters must be covered, predator-resistant, ventilated, and accessible for cleaning and maintenance. § 17.88.020(B)(4)

Do not burn animal refuse on-site. Runoff from animal-keeping facilities must be contained and disposed of so it does not become a health hazard, nuisance, groundwater pollutant, or source of adjacent-property flooding. § 17.88.020(B)(1), (5)

For small livestock, containment must provide at least 10 sq. ft. of permeable outdoor space per poultry or rabbit and 130 sq. ft. per miniature goat or pig, plus at least 4 sq. ft. of indoor space per poultry or rabbit. § 17.88.020(C)(4)

Horses and Other Livestock

Horse corrals or enclosed box stalls must be at least 12 ft × 12 ft for each animal, and corrals/stables must sit at least 50 ft from neighboring dwellings. Horse fencing must be at least 5 ft high; dust and manure conditions must be controlled so odors, dust, and flies are not detectable from adjacent properties. § 17.88.020(C)(2)

Large-livestock shelters must include permanent, weather-resistant overhead cover. Medium livestock also requires permanent shelter, and its corral/stable area must be treated to control dust and fly-breeding conditions. § 17.88.020(C)(2)–(3)

For pigsties, Rancho Cucamonga prohibits construction or maintenance on marshy or overflow-prone ground, within 150 ft of a watercourse or water supply, or within 300 ft of a dwelling on an adjoining property. § 17.88.020(C)(3)

Private CC&Rs generally remain relevant, but new subdivision CC&Rs may not prohibit equine keeping where the zoning requirements are met; private restrictions also can never authorize more animals than Chapter 17.88 allows. Verify any proposed corral or shelter against applicable design review procedures and private property restrictions. § 17.88.020(C)(2)

Checklist

• Confirm the parcel’s actual base zone and whether it is within the Equestrian Overlay Zone. §§ 17.26.020, 17.38.020
• Identify every animal type and apply the correct row of Table 17.88.020-1. § 17.88.020(A)
• Verify that the lot meets the minimum area for each animal type in a combined animal mix. § 17.88.020(A)(1)
• Keep each animal type at or below its stated maximum; do not treat a combined limit as permission to exceed a row maximum. § 17.88.020(A)(1)
• Obtain a Minor Use Permit before keeping any exotic animal in a residential or form-based zone. §§ 17.88.020(A), 17.88.040
• Place manure storage at least 50 ft from perimeter property lines and schedule removal at least monthly. § 17.88.020(B)(1)
• Site feeding and watering areas at least 20 ft from dwellings. § 17.88.020(B)(2)–(3)
• Meet the animal-specific shelter, corral, fence, spacing, and square-footage standards. § 17.88.020(C)
• Prevent off-site odor, dust, flies, runoff, standing water, infestation, and visual blight. §§ 17.88.010, 17.88.020(B)–(C)
• Confirm compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal rules; construction-code requirements for shelters are not specified in Chapter 17.88. § 17.88.020(D)

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

In Rancho Cucamonga, the question is not simply whether an animal is “allowed.” First identify the animal, then the parcel’s zone and lot size, and finally make sure the shelter and care setup will keep manure, dust, odor, runoff, flies, and noise from affecting neighbors. §§ 17.88.010, 17.88.020

Source References

• § 17.88.010 — Purpose of animal-keeping regulations.
• § 17.88.020 — Animal counts, lot-size thresholds, general rules, and animal-specific facility standards.
• § 17.88.040 — Additional Minor Use Permit findings for exotic animals.
• § 17.26.020 — E Equestrian overlay designation and purpose.
• § 17.38.020 — Equestrian Overlay Zone purpose, boundaries, and trail requirements.
• § 17.70.040 — Equestrian-trail requirements for residential development in the overlay.
• § 17.66.010 — Citywide performance-standard purpose and applicability.
• § 17.68.010 — Continuing applicability of development standards.