Santa Clara County · Building on your lot

Pets, chickens and bees in Santa Clara County

Santa Clara County's own rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text for every value.

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Each rule below links to the section of the Santa Clara County Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Santa Clara County's code says

Santa Clara County code What Santa Clara County's code adds
Permit	Written notice to the County Agricultural Commissioner within 5 days of the move's start. Applies: Moving an apiary into or within the County. § B29-11 · code text No apiary shall be moved into the County or within the confines of the County without notice in writing being given to the Agricultural Commissioner of the County within five days from the date movement is begun
Pet limit	At most 2 dogs over 4 months old. Applies: Parcels under 5 acres, unless there is a private kennel, commercial kennel, animal menagerie or animal shelter permit. § B31-32 · code text the maximum number of dogs shall be two dogs over four months of age At most 3 dogs. Applies: Parcels of 5 acres or more, unless there is a private kennel, commercial kennel, animal menagerie or animal shelter permit. § B31-32 · code text A maximum of three dogs shall be allowed on parcels of five acres or more, unless a permit for a private kennel, commercial kennel, animal menagerie, or animal shelter is obtained by the owner/guardian of the animals. At most 5 cats over 4 months old. Applies: Parcels under 5 acres, unless there is a private kennel, commercial kennel, animal menagerie or animal shelter permit. § B31-51 · code text the maximum number of cats or litters shall be five cats over four months of age

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General information, not legal advice.

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Santa Clara County Municipal Code — full text