Title
Amending Sacramento City Code Section 9.44.370 Relating to Number of Swine, Dogs, and Cats per Dwelling Unit
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FileID
File ID: 2025-02006
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Location
Location: Citywide
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Recommendation
Recommendation: 1) Review an ordinance amending Section 9.44.370 of the Sacramento City Code relating to the number of swine, dogs and cats permitted per dwelling unit; and 2) pass a Motion forwarding the ordinance to City Council for approval.
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Contact
Contact: Phillip Zimmerman, Animal Care Services Manager, (916) 808-8333, pzimmerman@cityofsacramento.org; Ryan Hinderman, Communications and Customer Services Manager, (916) 808-7911, rhinderman@cityofsacramento.org; Community Development Department
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Presenter
Presenter: Phillip Zimmerman, Animal Care Services Manager, (916) 808-8333, pzimmerman@cityofsacramento.org, Community Development Department
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Attachments
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Ordinance Amendment: Sacramento City Code 9.44.370
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Description/Analysis
IssueDetail
Issue Detail: The Sacramento City Code currently regulates the number of certain animals that may be kept at a dwelling unit. This ordinance updates Section 9.44.370 to clarify and revise the allowable number of swine, dogs, and cats per residence. The amendment establishes clear limits:
• A maximum of three permitted swine,
• A maximum of three dogs, unless all dogs are over four months old and spayed/neutered, in which case up to four dogs are allowed,
• A maximum of seven cats over eight weeks of age.
These updates ensure consistency with animal welfare practices, neighborhood compatibility, and enforcement clarity.
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PolicyConsiderations
Policy Considerations: The proposed amendment aligns with the City’s goals of responsible pet ownership, reducing nuisance complaints, and promoting public health and safety. The revision also brings Code into alignment with current best practices in animal care and modernizes community standards.
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EconomicImpacts
Economic Impacts: Increased licensing revenue.
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EnvironmentalConsiderations
Environmental Considerations: Not Applicable
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Sustainability
Sustainability: Not Applicable
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Commission/Committee Action
Commission/Committee Action: Animal Wellbeing Commission advised of the ordinance change as part of the 2025 Workplan.
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RationaleforRecommendation
Rationale for Recommendation: The proposed amendment aligns with the City’s goals of responsible pet ownership, reducing nuisance complaints, and promoting public health and safety. The revision also brings Code into alignment with current best practices in animal care and modernizes community standards.
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FinancialConsiderations
Financial Considerations: Increasing the allowable number of owned animals per dwelling unit is expected to generate additional revenue through the City’s licensing partnership with DocuPet.
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LocalBusinessEnterprise
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable
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