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: 2026-00508
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Location
Location: Citywide
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Recommendation
Recommendation: Review and pass a Motion to forward the amended ordinance to City Council for approval.
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Contact
Contact: Ryan Hinderman, Communications and Customer Service Manager, (916) 808-7911, rhinderman@cityofsacramento.org, Community Development Department
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Presenter
Presenter: Ryan Hinderman, Communications and Customer Service Manager, (916) 808-7911, rhinderman@cityofsacramento.org, Community Development Department
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Attachments
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Ordinance Amendment: Sacramento City Code 9.44.370 - Redline Version
3-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 (See attachments 2 and 3). 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 or qualifies for one of three exemptions allowed for in the ordinance amendment, 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: None.
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EnvironmentalConsiderations
Environmental Considerations: Per the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), approval of the proposed ordinance modifying the existing code that provides regulation for household pets will not result in a significant effect on the environment and is exempt from the CEQA. Under CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), the common-sense exemption, CEQA applies only to actions with potential to significantly affect the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA.
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. The proposed ordinance amendment was brought to the Law & Legislation Committee on January 13, 2026. The Committee passed a motion to bring the ordinance amendment to the Animal Wellbeing Commission and then to take the ordinance directly to City Council without returning to the Law & Legislation Committee.
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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.
The Law and Legislation Committee requested that the Animal Wellbeing Commission review the proposed ordinance prior to sending it to City Council for final approval.
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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 fees.
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LocalBusinessEnterprise
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable.
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