South El Monte · Building on your lot

Pets, chickens and bees in South El Monte

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

What South El Monte's code says

South El Monte code What South El Monte's code adds
Permit	A permit from the community development director, after a home inspection, for 1 more cat or dog. Applies: Up to 4 cats and/or dogs per household. § 6.04.030 · code text A person may apply for a permit to have one additional cat or dog, for a maximum number of four in any one household.
Pet limit	Up to 3 cats and/or dogs, in any combination. Applies: Per household, plus their litters up to 10 weeks old; 4 with a permit for 1 more. § 6.04.030 · code text A household may have up to three cats and/or dogs, in any combination, and their litter, up to ten weeks of age. Fish and aquatic animals, in tanks or ponds holding no more than 250 gallons in total. Applies: Ponds may not be in the front yard. § 6.04.030 · code text A household may have fish and aquatic animals, provided they are contained in tanks and/or ponds that collectively contain a volume capacity no greater than two hundred fifty gallons. Up to 10 small birds. Applies: Per household; all pets together, not counting fish and aquatic animals, may not exceed 10. § 6.04.030 · code text A household may have up to ten at any one time. Up to 10 small reptiles and amphibians. Applies: Per household; all pets together, not counting fish and aquatic animals, may not exceed 10. § 6.04.030 · code text A household may have up to ten at any one time. Up to 10 small mammals and rodents. Applies: Per household; all pets together, not counting fish and aquatic animals, may not exceed 10. § 6.04.030 · code text A household may have up to ten at any one time. No more than 10 household pets, not counting fish and aquatic animals. Applies: At any residential property at any one time. § 6.04.030 · code text Collectively, there shall be no more than ten household pets at any given residential property or structure at any one time, excluding the number of fish and aqueous animals.

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South El Monte Municipal Code — full text