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Los Gatos · Building on your lot

Pets, chickens and bees in Los Gatos

Los Gatos'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 Los Gatos Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Los Gatos's code says

Los Gatos code What Los Gatos's code adds
Bees
  • Only 2 hives.
    Applies: Lots over 5,000 and under 10,000 square feet.
    § 4.80.027 · code text
    Only two (2) hives may be kept or maintained on parcels over five thousand (5,000) square feet but less than ten thousand (10,000) square feet in size.
  • Only 3 hives.
    Applies: Lots over 10,000 and under 40,000 square feet.
    § 4.80.027 · code text
    Only three (3) hives may be kept or maintained on parcels over ten thousand (10,000) square feet in size but less than forty thousand (40,000) square feet in size.
  • 4 hives, plus 1 more for each ½ acre over 1 acre.
    Applies: Lots over 40,000 square feet.
    § 4.80.027 · code text
    Four (4) hives may be kept on parcels over forty thousand (40,000) square feet in size. One (1) additional hive may be kept for each one-half (½) acre over one (1) acre.
  • No hives without consent of the owner and all tenants.
    Applies: Multifamily properties.
    § 4.80.027 · code text
    No hives may be kept on multi-family properties without the consent of the owner and all tenants in possession thereof.
Large animals
  • No more than 2 pigs, and none within 300 feet of any home.
    Applies: Pigs kept in the Town.
    § 4.20.015 · code text
    No person shall keep more than two (2) swine within the Town nor shall they be kept within three hundred (300) feet of any dwelling in the Town.
Permit
  • Only 1 litter of dogs or cats per calendar year without a Town Manager kennel or shelter permit.
    Applies: Dogs or cats owned by or kept on the owner's premises.
    § 4.40.010 · code text
    No person shall allow the parturition and rearing of more than one (1) litter of dogs or cats in any one (1) calendar year from females owned by the owner or maintained on the owner's premises without a valid permit from the Town Manager for a private kennel, commercial kennel, or animal shelter.
Pet limit
  • No more than 1 unspayed cat and 1 unspayed dog over 4 months old.
    Applies: Per premises.
    § 4.40.010 · code text
    In no event shall there be more than one unspayed cat over four (4) months old and one unspayed dog over four (4) months of age on any premises.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Los Gatos?

Los Gatos's code: Only 2 hives. (Lots over 5,000 and under 10,000 square feet.) (§ 4.80.027); Only 3 hives. (Lots over 10,000 and under 40,000 square feet.) (§ 4.80.027).

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Los Gatos property

Ask GoCodebook how Los Gatos's pets, chickens and bees rules apply to your situation and get an answer that cites the section.

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Los Gatos Municipal Code — full text