City of Hermosa Beach
Home MenuAnimal Control
Hermosa Beach's Animal Control unit has a variety of offerings to promote and protect the health, welfare, and safety of animals and people.
Dogs
Leash Laws, No Dogs on Beach and Certain Parks
All dogs must be on a leash at all times, and leashes may not exceed six feet in length. Handlers must be in complete control of the leash at all times.
All dogs and other animals are banned, whether leashed or not, on the beach, on school grounds, in any restaurant, market or establishment where food and drink are sold, and at Sea View Parkette and Fort Lots-o-Fun park.
Effective December 9, 2021, the fine for each violation of the City’s leash laws and prohibitions on dogs at the beach and at Sea View Parkette and Fort Lots-o-Fun is $250. >>Read More
Please contact Animal Control if you witness any quality of life issues at: 310-318-0360.
If Your Dog Barks
If you own a dog, then you are responsible for its actions, and the effect which it has on your neighbors. Everyone understands that a dog will bark when a stranger comes by or when unusual circumstances arise. However, constant barking at any time of the day or night can be disturbing to your neighbors.
If you receive a notice from Animal Control regarding your dog’s barking, please take it seriously and make arrangements to curtail it. In some cases a barking collar may be the answer.
Continued and constant barking may result in fines from $100 to $500. If you need assistance, please contact Animal Control at 310-318-0360 and they can provide some suggestions, including mediation.
If Your Neighbor's Dog Barks
Barking dogs may become frustrating. If you hear a barking dog which is continuously barking (not just when someone passes by), you can contact the non-emergency dispatch at 310-524-2750. Animal Control will respond to determine if there is continuous barking. If barking is heard, then the officer will attempt to make contact with the owner of the dog. If the owner is not home, then a notice will be left for the owner to contact Animal Control at a later time. Once contacted, the owner will be informed to remedy the situation and will be advised of possible consequences such as fines should the barking persist.
Licensing
Licenses are available for purchase on the City website's online licensing system, in person at the City Finance Cashier's office at City Hall from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Thursday or by mailing the appropriate information and payment to the City of Hermosa Beach, Dog Licenses Renewal, 1315 Valley Drive, Room 101, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254. For more information, see the Press Release.
Lost Dogs
One of the goals of Animal Control is to reunite lost pets with their owners. If your dog is lost in Hermosa Beach, please contact our office at 310-318-0209 and leave a message with the date, time, a description of your dog, and last known location of your dog along with your contact information. You can also contact the non-emergency dispatch at 310-524-2750.
Found Dogs
When a lost dog is found in Hermosa Beach, Animal Control will make every attempt to contact the owner. This is one of the reasons it is important to have a valid dog license on your dog's collar and your dog micro-chipped. If you have found a lost dog, then please contact Animal Control at 310-318-0209 and leave a message with the date, time, a description of the dog, and the location that you found the dog along with your contact information. You can also contact the non-emergency dispatch at 310-524-2750 to have an officer respond.
Generally, Animal Control will hold on to the dog for a day while attempting to contact the dog's owner. If you would like to pick up your dog, please visit the Hermosa Beach Police Department located at 540 Pier Avenue. You will be required to show your valid Hermosa Beach dog license, or a valid rabies certificate, and there may be some fees.
If the owner of a lost dog is unable to be contacted, the dog will be taken to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Los Angeles (SPCALA) located at 12910 Yukon Avenue in Hawthorne. SPCALA can be contacted at 310-676-1149. The SPCALA is a local non-profit animal welfare organization that has served Southern California since 1877.
Rabies Clinic
The City of Hermosa Beach has a rabies clinic that is held on the first Thursday of October every year from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The clinic is located on the basketball courts adjacent to Clark Field located at 1035 Valley Drive. Rabies vaccinations are available free to the public, and reduced rates are available for other shots as well. City staff are on site to assist with dog licensing or license renewals.
The rabies clinic is sponsored by:
VCA Coast Animal Hospital located at 1650 Pacific Coast Highway in Hermosa Beach.
Animal Redemption
If you have a pet that you cannot care for, please take your pet to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Los Angeles (SPCALA) located at 12910 Yukon Avenue in Hawthorne. SPCALA can be contacted at 310-676-1149. The SPCALA is a local non-profit animal welfare organization that has served Southern California since 1877.
Beehives
If you see a beehive, please contact the non-emergency dispatch at 310-524-2750 to have an Animal Control officer respond and assess the situation. The officer can make a determination of the risk to public safety, and notify the appropriate people.
Beehives that are located on private property are the responsibility of the property owner.
Cats
There are no licenses required for cats, however cats may be voluntarily licensed. Cats are also free roaming, and there is no trapping of cats allowed within the City.
Deceased Animals
If you find deceased wildlife or other animals in the public right-of-way, please contact the non-emergency dispatch at 310-524-2750 to have it removed.
If you have a pet that has recently passed away and you are unable to care for it, you may contact the non-emergency dispatch to have your pet removed. There is a City fee for this service. We understand that when a pet passes away it is an emotional time, so the fee may be paid at a later time to the Finance Cashier's office located at City Hall, 1315 Valley Drive, Room 101.
More Than Two Household Animals or Non-Household Animals - Permit Required
The City classifies dogs, cats, and household birds as household pets, and requires a permit for any residence that has more than two household pets. If you have more than two household pets, you must apply for a permit. The permit application is available at the Finance Cashier's office located at City Hall, 1315 Valley Drive, Room 101. Once the application is submitted there will be a period for public feedback, a public notice posting, an inspection of your pets and residence by Animal Control, and a hearing. You will be notified of the outcome of the application.
The City classifies non-household animals as any animals that are not household pets. If you have a non-household animal, you must apply for a permit to keep it within the City. The permit application is available at the Finance Cashier's office located at City Hall, 1315 Valley Drive, Room 101. Once the application is submitted there will be a period for public feedback, a public notice posting, an inspection of your pets and residence by Animal Control, and a hearing. You will be notified of the outcome of the application.
Opossums / Raccoons / Skunks
Here are a few suggestions to keep these types of animal away from your property:
- Keep trash cans covered.
- Cut back any excessive vegetation and trim trees.
- Do not leave any dog or cat food outside.
- Cover all access points that lead under your house.
Traps are not provided by Animal Control. You may elect to purchase your own trap, but please understand that Animal Control will only be able to release the trapped animal on-site. A license from the State of California is required to relocate wildlife, and you may contact a licensed professional.