The City of Fullerton has adopted, by reference, Orange County Animal Control regulations regarding the licensing and maintaining of animals. The City of Fullerton currently contracts with OC Animal Care to enforce the Code of Ordinances for Orange County and to assist Fullerton with animal enforcement, public education, and community outreach all designed to promote responsible pet ownership and ensure the health and safety of Fullerton residents and animals.   

Orange County Animal Care

OC Pet Laws

OC Animal Care:
www.OCPetInfo.com
1630 Victory Road
Tustin, CA 92782
(714) 935-6848

After Hours (5:30pm - 7:00am): (714) 935-7158

There are specific sections of the Orange County Animal Control regulations which are designed to help citizens make “good neighbors” of their pets. Following is that information:

Leash laws

• Dogs may not run loose in City parks and playgrounds, and must be kept on leashes. Leashes may not be longer than 10 feet.
• Dogs are permitted only in park parking lots or on the walkways adjacent to the lots unless an area has been specifically posted allowing it.
• Owners must also curb their pets in public areas, and are expected to clean up after their animals.
• More on Orange County Leash Laws
• Pooch Park for an off-leash dog area.

Please Note: Animal control laws prohibit any owner from allowing his or her animal “either willfully or through failure to exercise proper control, to trespass or be upon any private property of another person without the consent of such person.”

Dogs and Cats

• Owners of single-family homes on lots of 20,000 square feet in size or less are allowed a maximum of four pets per household, no more than three of which can be dogs, plus a pet’s offspring under 4 months of age. Homeowners may have four dogs with a noncommercial kennel license from the Orange County Animal Shelter. One additional dog or cat may be kept on lots in excess of 20,000 square feet.

• Persons who live in apartments, condominiums, duplexes or mobile homes are allowed a maximum of two adult dogs or cats, or one of each, plus their offspring under 4 months. However, this does not supersede a management or homeowners’ association agreement or regulation regarding the keeping of animals which is at least as stringent as the City requirements.

• Dog Licensing – All dogs in Orange County over the age of four (4) months are required by law to be licensed and vaccinated against rabies. Residents owning or having custody of any dog must license the dog within fifteen (15) days of acquisition or within fifteen (15) days after the license becomes due. Residents must provide proof of a California approved rabies vaccination to obtain a license (OCCO 4-1-70).

• Cat Licensing – Cat licensing is optional and available through OC Animal Care.

Livestock and Other Animals

• Residents may keep small livestock such as poultry (except crowing roosters) and rabbits provided no coops or pens are located within 30 feet of a house on an adjacent property.
• Roosters are not allowed in the City of Fullerton. To report a rooster call 714-773-5704 with the address where the rooster is located.
• Equine and bovine animals such as horses, cattle and sheep are generally permitted in residential areas when the following conditions are met:
  • Two adult animals may be kept on a lot containing not less than 32,670 square feet of land.
  • One additional animal may be kept for each additional 15,000 square feet of land.
  • The offspring of bovine animals are considered adults when they are 6 months old, and of equine animals when they are 1 year old.

Wild Animals

Keeping of wild animals in residential areas is prohibited, with the following exceptions:

• birds, except as otherwise provided by law
• hamsters
• guinea pigs
• white rats and/or mice
• nonpoisonous snakes not exceeding 6 feet in length
• turtles
• nonpoisonous toads
• lizards
• salamanders
• newts
• chameleons
• kangaroo rats
• or fish, except piranha and walking catfish.

Regulation of wild animals is handled by The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Their services reduce threats to plants and animals through the enforcement of federal wildlife laws such as the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act both on America’s public lands and around the world. They also investigate wildlife crimes.

For a complete list of their laws which protect our nation’s wildlife, visit their national law enforcement site.

How to report wildlife crime:  Help protect the wildlife and natural resources of America. Report wildlife crime 24 hours a day to fws_tips@fws.gov or 1-844-FWS-TIPS (397-8477).

Contact Us

If you have further questions about local pet regulations, please visit Orange County Animal Control.  You may also email our Code Enforcement team at CodeEnforcement@cityoffullerton.com if you have additional questions.

Code Enforcement Division
Community Development Department
Fullerton City Hall
303 W. Commonwealth Ave.
Fullerton, CA 92832

If you have complaints about barking dogs, or questions about general Orange County animal regulations, please call: (714) 796-6442 or visit OC Animal Care Barking Dog Process.