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Rancho Santa Margarita · Building on your lot

Pets, chickens and bees in Rancho Santa Margarita

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

What Rancho Santa Margarita's code says

Rancho Santa Margarita code What Rancho Santa Margarita's code adds
Large animals
  • Livestock must be kept in by a good, strong fence that meets zoning rules.
    Applies: Applies to livestock kept on the owner's or keeper's premises.
    § 5.12.900 · code text
    Every owner, keeper, custodian or harborer of livestock shall erect and/or maintain a fence as herein described to contain and confine, consistent with zoning requirements, all livestock kept or maintained on his or her premises.
Permit
  • An additional animal license is required for 5 or more dogs.
    Applies: Applies to dogs over 4 months old kept for the purpose the code describes.
    § 5.12.360 · code text
    Every person owning or having custody of five or more dogs, over the age of four months, for the purpose as described in Section 5.12.1100, must obtain an additional animal license as required under Article XI of this Chapter
  • An additional animal license is required for 5 or more cats.
    Applies: Applies to cats over 4 months old kept for the purpose the code describes.
    § 5.12.410 · code text
    Every person owning or having custody of five or more cats, over the age of four months, for the purpose as described in Section 5.12.1100, must obtain an additional animal license as required under Article XI of this Chapter.

Who this affects

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General information, not legal advice.

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Rancho Santa Margarita Municipal Code — full text