ORD 633 Title 10 Animals & Section 11.44.020 Enforcement PowersORDINANCE NO. 633
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA
QUINTA, CALIFORNIA, (1) REPEALING AND AMENDING
TITLE 10 ANIMALS OF THE LA QUINTA MUNICIPAL CODE,
(2) ADOPTING BY REFERENCE TITLE 6 OF THE RIVERSIDE
COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES WITH AMENDMENTS
RELATING TO ANIMALS, AND (3) AMENDING SECTION
11.44.020 OF THE LA QUINTA MUNICIPAL CODE RELATED TO
ENFORCEMENT POWERS OF PEACE OFFICERS AND CITY
PERSONNEL
WHEREAS, the City periodically reviews the La Quinta Municipal code and
proposes amendments to align the code with current state laws, apply best practices,
consolidate provisions, remove unnecessary detail, provide for flexibility, and update or
clarify terms, requirements, and regulations as needed; and
WHEREAS, the City of La Quinta ("City") and the Riverside County Department of
Animal Services ("RCDAC") entered into an agreement dated July 1, 2025, for the County
to provide animal control field and shelter services for La Quinta; and
WHEREAS, for the purposes of ensuring both consistency and efficiency in the
enforcement of all laws, ordinances, and regulations pertaining to animal control, the
greement requires the City to adopt by reference Title 6 of the County of Riverside Code
of Ordinances verbatim, specifically County Ordinance Nos. 534, 560, 630, 716, 771, and
878, and
WHEREAS, Title 10 Animals of the La Quinta Municipal Code is hereby deleted
and replaced in its entirety as set forth in enclosed "Exhibit A" to align the code with the
County's code and existing practices; and
WHEREAS, Section 11.44.020 Enforcement powers of peace officers and city
personnel of the La Quinta Municipal Code is hereby amended as set forth in enclosed
"Exhibit B" to align administrative fines with the fines set forth in Chapter 1.09 of the La
Quinta Municipal Code, which would apply for initial and subsequent violations by persons
who bring animals into public parks and recreation places, covered by Chapter 11.44 of
the La Quinta Municipal Code.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of La Quinta does ordain as
follows..
SECTION 1. Title 10 Animals of the La Quinta Municipal Code is hereby repealed
and replaced in its entirety as set forth in enclosed "Exhibit A," incorporated herewith by
Ordinance No. 633
Amendments to Title 10 Animals and Section 11.44.020 Enforcement powers of peace officers and city personnel
Adopted: April 21, 2026
Page 2 of 3
this reference, which also adopts by reference Title 6 of the Riverside County Code of
Ordinances relating to animals with certain amendments.
SECTION 2. Section 11.44.020 Enforcement powers of peace officers and city
personnel of the La Quinta Municipal Code is hereby amended as set forth in enclosed
"Exhibit B," incorporated herewith by this reference.
SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE: This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect
thirty (30) days after its adoption.
SECTION 4. POSTING: The City Clerk shall, within 15 days after passage of this
Ordinance, cause it to be posted in at least three public places designated by resolution
of the City Council (Resolution No. 2022-027), shall certify to the adoption and posting of
this Ordinance, and shall cause this Ordinance and its certification, together with proof of
posting to be entered into the permanent record of Ordinances of the City of La Quinta.
SECTION 5. CORRECTIVE AMENDMENTS: The City Council does hereby grant
the City Clerk the ability to make minor amendments and corrections of typographical or
clerical errors to "Exhibit A" to ensure consistency of all approved text amendments prior
to the publication in the La Quinta Municipal Code.
SECTION 6. SEVERABILITY: If any section, subsection, subdivision, sentence,
clause, phrase, or portion of this Ordinance is, for any reason, held to be invalid or
unconstitutional by the decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall
not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance. The City Council hereby
declares that it would have adopted this Ordinance and each and every section,
subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion thereof, irrespective of the
fact that any one or more section, subsections, subdivisions, sentences, clauses,
phrases, or portions thereof be declared unconstitutional.
PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED, at a regular meeting of the La Quinta City
Council held this 21 stday of April 2026, by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Fitzpatrick, McGarrey, Pena, Sanchez, and Mayor Evans
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
LI DA EVANS, Mayor
City of La Quinta, California
Ordinance No. h33
Amendments to_Title 10 Animals and Section 11,44.020 Enforcement powers of peace officers and city personnel
Adopted: April 21, 2026
Page 3 of 3
ATTEST:
A *t
MONIKA RADIIVA, dify Clerk
City of La Quinta, California
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
WILLIAM H. IHRKE, City Attorney
City of La Quinta, California
La Quinta, California, Municipal Code Ordinance No. 633
Title 10 ANIMALS EXHIBIT A
Adopted: April 21, 2026
Title 10
ANIMALS'
Chapter 10.02 GENERAL PROVISIONS
10.02.010 Code adopted.
Title 6, Animals, of the Riverside County Code of Ordinances, as it may be amended from time to time, is adopted by this
reference, subject to revisions and deletions as provided in this Title 10. Title 6 of the Riverside County Code of
Ordinances, as modified by the revisions and deletions in this Title 10, may be referred to a the "City of La Quinta
Animal Control Ordinance." All provisions in this Title 10 shall be subject to applicable revisions in California law.
10.02.020 Definitions.
For the purposes of this title, unless it is plainly evident from the context that a different meaning is intended, the terms
used in this title shall have the following meanings. Terms not otherwise defined in this title shall have the meaning
ascribed to them in Title 6 of the Riverside County Code of Ordinances.
"Animal control officer" means all persons designated by the city as an animal control officer or such other person(s)
designated by the city as deputies or as the animal control officer has designated to perform the duties of the position,
or such person with whom the city has contracted to perform such duties, or such person who is otherwise obligated by
law to perform such duties.
"Attack" by an animal means an animal that charges or pursues a person or other animal and causes injury due to a bite,
fall, strain or other documented injury.
"Backyard breeding" is the breeding, selling, transferring or giving away of all or part of any litter of dogs that were bred
and reared on a residentially zoned property.
"Cat" means a mammal of the species Felis Catus.
"Cattery" means any residence, structure, or premises, whether indoors or outdoors, which houses, contains, maintains
or provides shelter or sustenance for five (5) or more cats of four (4) months old or older.
"City manager" means the City Manager for the City of La Quinta, or authorized designee of the city manager.
"Community." Any public entity which is authorized by law to regulate and control dogs or cats or both.
"Department" means the Riverside County Department of Animal Services, or successor department of office of said
county.
"Dog" means any member of the canine family.
"Exotic animal" means any animal which is not normally domesticated in the United States including, but not limited to
any lion, tiger, bear, non -human primate (monkey, chimpanzee, etc.), wolf, coyote, cougar, bobcat, ocelot, wildcat, skunk,
boa, python, reptile, amphibian, bird, or venomous snake, irrespective of its actual or asserted state of docility, tameness
or domesticity.
'Prior ordinance history—Ords. 10, 52, 82, 107, 137, 415, 530, and 567.
Page 1 of 7
"Livestock" means any animal commonly considered a "barnyard" animal or animals raised for food production, including,
but not limited to, horses, cattle, sheep, goats, hogs, pigs, rabbits, alpacas, llamas, emus, and ostriches.
"Owner" means any person who is the legal owner, keeper, harborer, possessor or the actual custodian of any animal.
Ownership is established by a: (1) person registering as the owner on a license or other legal document; (2) person
claiming ownership and taking possession of an animal; or (3) by being in possession of an animal for thirty (30) days or
more. If more than one (1) person claims ownership of an animal, the person who is identified on the license as the owner
of the animal shall be considered the owner. If more than one (1) person is identified on the license as owner or if the
animal is not licensed, the presumption will be that the animal belongs to the occupant of the residence where the dog
resides the majority of the time unless proven otherwise.
"Person" means any individual, firm, business, partnership, joint venture, corporation, limited liability company, profit or
non-profit association, club or organization.
"Title 6 of the Riverside County Code" means Title 6, Animals, of the Riverside County Code of Ordinances, as it may be
amended from time to time.
"Veterinarian" means a person holding a current valid license to practice veterinary medicine issued by the State of
California pursuant to Chapter 11 of the California Business and Professions Code.
"Vicious dog/vicious cat" means any dog or cat which has bitten a person or animal without provocation or direction or
which has a disposition or propensity to attack or bite any person or animal without provocation or direction.
"Wild animal" means any animal not ordinarily and customarily domesticated, but of a species, breed or kind which is
wild by nature and not generally and commonly propagated and raised by man or woman in this state for use as a
household pet or domestic or domesticated animal or which, because of its size, disposition, nature, or other
characteristics could constitute a danger to human life or property. The definition of "wild animal" shall include feral
animals.
"Wildlife" means any creature, whether or not raised in captivity, normally found in a wild state.
Chapter 10.04 LOCAL AMENDMENTS
10.04.010 Conflicts.
Any conflict between the provisions of this chapter and Title 6 of the Riverside County Code shall be resolved in favor of
this chapter and such shall govern.
10.04.020 Amendments.
Title 6 of the Riverside County Code is adopted with the following changes, additions and deletions:
A. Chapter 6.05 Crowing roosters of Title 6 of the Riverside County Code is amended by deleting the heading and
its listed sections 6.05.010 Crowing roosters, 6.05.020 Crowing rooster permit, 6.05.030 Violation — Penalty,
and 6.05.040 Remedies and penalties of Ordinance 630.
B. Subsection 6.08.010(F) of Title 6 of the Riverside County Code is amended by deleting and replacing with the
definition of "Cattery" listed in subsection 10.02.020 Definitions, of this Title 10.
C. Substitute the words, "Board of Supervisor or City Council," for the words, "Board" or "Board of Supervisors,"
wherever these words appear in Title 6 of the Riverside County Code.
D. Substitute "City of La Quinta" for the phrases "unincorporated area of the county" or "unincorporated area
of the County of Riverside" wherever these words appear in Title 6 of the Riverside County Code of
Ordinances.
E. The city manager, or authorized designee, shall be entitled to enforce within the city Title 6 of the Riverside
County Code, as amended by this title.
Page 2 of 7
10.04.030 Standard of care.
Every person within the city who owns any animal or who owns, conducts, manages or operates any animal establishment
shall comply with each of the following conditions:
A. Housing facilities for animals shall be structurally sound and shall be maintained in good repair to protect the
animals from injury, to contain the animals and restrict the entrance of other animals.
B. All animals shall be supplied with sufficiently good and wholesome food and water as often as the feeding
habits of the respective animals require.
C. All animals and all animal buildings or enclosures shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition in
accordance with Title 6 of the Riverside County Code (as modified by this title).
D. All animals shall be so maintained as to eliminate excessive noise in accordance with Title 6 of the Riverside
County Code (as modified by this title).
E. Every reasonable precaution shall be used to ensure that animals are not teased, abused, mistreated,
annoyed, tormented or in any manner made to suffer by any person or other means.
F. No condition shall be maintained or permitted that is or could be injurious to an animal, including tethering.
No person shall tether or restrain an animal to a stationary object in excess of three (3) hours per California
Health and Safety Code Section 122335.
G. Animal buildings and enclosures shall be so constructed and maintained as to prevent the escape of animals.
All reasonable precautions shall be taken to protect the public from animals and animals from the public.
H. Every precaution shall be made to isolate sick animals sufficiently so as not to endanger the health of other
animals or persons.
Every building or enclosure wherein animals are maintained shall be constructed of material easily cleaned
and shall be kept in a sanitary condition. The building shall be properly ventilated to prevent drafts and to
remove odors. Heating and cooling shall be provided as required, according to the physical need of the
animals, with sufficient light to allow observation of animals and sanitation.
All animal rooms, cages, kennels and runs shall be of sufficient size to provide adequate and proper
accommodations for the animals kept therein.
K. Every animal owner shall provide their animals' proper shelter and protection from the weather at all times.
L. No person shall give an animal any alcoholic beverage or unlawful drug unless prescribed by a veterinarian.
M. No person shall allow animals which are natural enemies, temperamentally unsuited, or otherwise
incompatible, to be quartered together or so near each other as to cause injury, fear or torment for the animal.
If two (2) or more animals are trained to be placed together and do not attack each other or perform or
attempt to perform any hostile act to the others, such animals shall be deemed not to be natural enemies.
N. No person shall allow the use of any tack, equipment, device, substance or material that is, or could be,
injurious or cause unnecessary cruelty to any animal.
0. No person shall fail to give working animals proper rest periods. Confined or restrained animals shall be given
exercise proper for the individual animal under the particular conditions.
P. No person shall work, use or rent any animal which is overheated, weakened, exhausted, sick, injured,
diseased, lame or otherwise unfit.
Q. No person shall allow any animal which an animal control officer has suspended from use to be worked or
used.
R. No person shall display for profit or otherwise any animals bearing evidence of malnutrition, ill health,
unhealed injury or having been kept in an unsanitary condition.
Page 3 of 7
S. No person shall allow any animal to constitute or cause a hazard, or be a menace to the health, peace or safety
of the community.
10.04.040 Maximum number of dogs or cats.
A. Dogs and cats may be kept in any zone within the city provided that no more than four (4) of each, not to exceed
eight (8) total, are kept within a single legal lot.
Except for licensed pet shops, veterinarians, and kennels, no person shall own, keep or harbor, nor shall the owner
or occupant of any premises keep or permit on or in such premises more than four (4) dogs and four (4) cats of four
(4) months of age or older.
10.04.050 Catteries.
It is unlawful to maintain catteries in the city of La Quinta.
10.04.060 Keeping wild, exotic and dangerous animals and reptiles.
A. No person shall own, keep, harbor or maintain on or in any premises within the city any wild, exotic, or dangerous
animal or reptile without written consent of the animal control department or absent the proper applicable city,
county, state and/or federal permits. Denial of consent to keep a wild animal by the animal control department may
be appealed pursuant to Chapter 1.09 of this code.
Subject to the city's zoning ordinances, only those wild animals, poultry, reptiles and exotic animals which are
permitted by the laws of the state of California to be possessed, and for which a permit has been obtained from the
Department of Fish and Game, which permit is current, shall be allowed within the city.
C. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, the ownership of venomous reptiles shall be prohibited in the city. No person
shall own, keep, harbor or maintain on or in any premises within the city any venomous reptile. Nothing in this
section, or in this title, or in the city of La Quinta Municipal Code shall be construed as to allow the possession of
such animals within the city limits with or without applicable permits.
10.04.070 Livestock prohibited in certain areas.
No livestock or hoofed animal, barn yard poultry, or rabbits may be kept on any lot or combination of adjoined lots less
than one (1) acre in size as per this code. No person may keep more than two (2) horses per one (1) acre parcel. For parcels
in excess of one (1) acre, up to three (3) horses per additional acre or portion thereof shall be allowed. Foals under one
(1) year of age shall not be counted in calculating the maximum number of horses under this section.
10.04.080 Dangerous animals from outside city jurisdiction.
An animal that has been declared dangerous or vicious in any legal proceeding outside the confines of the city of La Quinta,
may not be relocated temporarily or permanently within the city of La Quinta.
10.04.090 Keeping of guard dogs.
It is unlawful to keep a guard dog on any premises, unless the guard dog is fenced within the premises or confined within
the building and kept in such a manner that it cannot come into contact with persons or other animals that are lawfully
on said premises. Any premises containing a guard dog shall also be posted at every fifty (50)-foot interval around the
perimeter of the area guarded bythe guard dog and at all entrances and exits to the area. In locations where the minimum
outside dimensions are less than fifty (50) feet, the signs shall be placed at the beginning and end of that premises. The
signs shall state: "WARNING —GUARD DOG ON DUTY." Such signs shall also state the name, address, and telephone
number of the guard dog company furnishing the dog for hire, if any, and the telephone number of the owner or caretaker
of the premises. Each guard dog in use in the city shall be registered and licensed in the city and have a tag affixed to its
collar which must be worn at all times.
Page 4 of 7
10.04.100 Permit required.
Any person or business desiring to transport into the city for any commercial or business related purposes, including, but
not limited to, advertisement, circus, rodeo, petting zoo, or animal rental, any animals considered large or dangerous
including, but not limited to, exotic, circus or fair type animals, rodeo animals, petting zoo animals, and large snakes, shall
first obtain a permit from the animal control department. If requested by the animal control department, such person or
agency will also make available the animal in question and veterinary records of the animal in question for the purpose
of inspecting its health and safety. Such person or business shall make available to the animal control department the
name, address, and contact information of the handlers/keepers of the animal for emergency purposes. Such person or
business shall also make available to the animal control department the person or business emergency capture
procedures and capture equipment for inspection purposes to insure the safety of the citizens of the city and the safety
of the animals in question. If, in the belief of the animal control department, the entry of such animals into or the
continued presence of such animals in the city constitutes a threat to the public health and safety, said permit application
may be denied. The permit, if issued, shall be subject to immediate revocation if the animal control department
determines that the presence of such animals in the city constitutes a threat to the public health and safety.
10.04.110 Backyard breeding prohibited.
No person(s), shall breed, sell, transfer or give away all or part of any litter, of dogs that were bred and reared on a
residentially zoned property.
10.04.120 Dogs prohibited within the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains area.
Within the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains area, dogs are prohibited on all recreational trails and allowed in
designated areas only, as required to comply with provisions of the Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation
Plan (CVMSHCP) related to protection of Peninsular bighorn sheep. This prohibition does not apply to persons requiring
accompaniment by a service animal under the Americans with Disabilities Act (e.g. seeing -eye dog), and those using dogs
to facilitate search and rescue or law enforcement operations.
10.04.130 Animal defecation to be removed by the owner.
A. Any person owning, keeping or having in his or her care or custody any animal shall not fail, refuse or neglect to
clean up any feces of the animal immediately and dispose of it in a sanitary manner wherever the animal has
defecated upon public or private property without the consent of the public or private owner or person in lawful
possession or charge of the property.
B. The provisions of subsection A of this section shall not apply to a blind person being accompanied by a service
animal, nor shall they be construed to allow any act of trespass upon private property. Whenever the feces to be
cleaned up cannot be reached without significant trespass upon the private property on which the feces is
located, the person having the duty pursuant to subsection A of this section to take action shall first obtain
consent to do so from the owner or person having lawful possession or charge of the property.
C. No person owning, keeping, or having custody of any dog shall fail, refuse, or neglect to clean up any feces from
said person's property, whether owned or rented, no less than once per week. All such feces shall be placed in an
airtight container and disposed of through weekly waste collection services.
10.04.140 Confining animals in motor vehicles.
A. No person having ownership, charge, or custody of an animal, as owner or otherwise, shall place or confine an
animal or allow such animal to be placed or confined or to remain in an enclosed vehicle or for such period of time
as may endanger the health or well-being of such animal due to heat, cold, lack of food or such other
circumstances as may reasonably be expected to cause suffering, disability or death. In such circumstances, an
animal control officer may act in the best interest of the animal, including taking action to remove the animal in
cases of immediate threat. This section shall not be applicable to animals which are in animal control officers' or
peace officers' vehicles while such animal control officer or peace officer is engaged in their duties.
Page 5 of 7
When an animal has been removed from a vehicle pursuant to this section, the animal control officer shall cause
to be posted in a conspicuous place on said vehicle a notice which shall state that the animal has been removed
from the vehicle pursuant to La Quinta Municipal Code Section 10.28.080, where the animal has been impounded,
the procedure whereby the owner of said animal may regain custody of the animal, and notice that the owner
may be liable for impound fees and costs.
10.04.150 Feeding of wild animal prohibited.
No person shall feed or in any manner intentionally provide food as sustenance or to encourage domesticity in a non -
domesticated or wild animal with the exception of a bird feeder in the yard. A person may feed or provide food to a wild
animal under the following circumstances:
A. When the wild animal is maintained, treated or fed pursuant to a valid certificate or permit issued by the
state of California or an agency of the United States Government;
B. When the wild animal is maintained, treated or fed between the time the animal control officer or Humane
Society is notified and the wildlife is picked up by an appropriate agency.
10.04.160 Wildlife protected.
Other than in self-defense, no person shall kill, capture or molest any species of wild animal or damage the nest or eggs
of any wild animal within the city, except any poisonous reptile or insect; provided, however, that if it is determined by
the city manager, or authorized designee, that a wild animal has become a menace to any person's health, safety or
property, the city manager, or authorized designee, shall authorize any person to assist in capturing any such wild
animal. In no event shall any person use or employ poison or diseased material to kill or capture any wild animal. This
section shall not pertain to rats and vermin animals unless such animals are otherwise protected under the law.
10.04.170 Public nuisances; Issuance of administrative orders to restrain certain animals.
A. The introduction, ownership, possession or maintenance of any animal or the allowing of any animal to be in
contravention to this title is, in addition to being a violation of the applicable section, declared to be a public nuisance.
The city manager or authorized designee, the department, the animal control officer, the county health officer, and
peace officers are authorized, directed and empowered to summarily abate any such public nuisance independently of
any criminal prosecution or the results thereof by any means reasonably necessary including, but not limited to, the
issuance of an administrative order restraining a dangerous dog or dangerous cat (or potentially dangerous dog or
potentially dangerous cat), the humane euthanasia of the animal or animals involved in an attack or when otherwise
appropriate when there is a serious violation of this title, or by the imposition of specific reasonable conditions and
restrictions for the maintenance of the animal.
B. Any person who fails to comply with any conditions and restrictions imposed pursuant to this title shall be
guilty of a misdemeanor. The owner shall reimburse the city for all costs incurred in verifying compliance and enforcing
the provisions of this title. The city may also commence proceeding in accordance with the provisions of Chapter
11.72 of this code relative to abatement procedures for public nuisances.
C. Any person violating the provisions of this title shall reimburse the city for any and all costs incurred by the city
in responding to, investigating, assessing, monitoring, treating, cleaning, removing, or remediating any action taken or
condition caused in violation of this title. Any person violating the provisions of this title shall reimburse the County of
Riverside for any and all costs incurred by said county in responding to, investigating, assessing, monitoring, treating,
cleaning, removing, or remediating any action taken or condition caused in violation of Title 6 of the Riverside County
Code to the extent applicable by its incorporation by reference into this title. Such costs to be paid to the city or said
county shall include all administrative expenses and all legal expenses, including costs and attorney's fees in obtaining
compliance and in litigation, including all costs and attorney's fees on any appeal. The costs to be recovered pursuant
this section shall be recoverable from any and all persons violating this title.
Page 6 of 7
D. In addition to a criminal, civil, or abatement proceeding against any person violating the provisions of this title,
the city manager, or authorized designee, shall have the authority to issue an administrative restraint order for
potentially dangerous animals pursuant to the following process:
If the city manager, or authorized designee, has cause to believe that an animal is a potentially dangerous
animal, the city manager, or authorized designee, shall issue a potentially dangerous animal restraint order to
the owner(s) or custodian(s) of any such animal that fits the description described in Chapter 6.16 (or successor
provisions) of Title 6 of the Riverside County Code, of a potentially dangerous animal. The statement shall be
served by hand -delivery or certified and first-class mail. The statement shall notify the owner(s) or custodian(s)
of such animal(s) that such owner(s) or custodian(s) shall be required thereafter at all times to keep such
animal(s) in a secure enclosure or provide such other adequate secure restraint as may be specified on the
restraint order.
2. An owner(s) or custodian(s) of an animal(s) receiving a potentially dangerous animal restraint order may
request a hearing on the order by a hearing officer selected by the city manager or authorized designee. The
request for a hearing must be submitted in writing to the City Clerk's Office of the city, no later than ten (10)
calendar days following the service of the order. Pending such hearing, the animal must be kept in a secure
enclosure or adequately restrained as specified in the restraint order.
3. Failure of the owner(s) or custodian(s) to request a hearing on the restraint order within the ten (10) day
period, or failure to attend or be represented at a scheduled hearing, shall constitute a waiver of the right to a
hearing and shall satisfy the hearing requirements provided in this subsection.
4. All hearings pursuant to this Subsection (D) of this section shall be conducted by a hearing officer who shall not
have been directly involved in the subject action. Hearings shall be held not more than ten (10) working days
from the date of receipt of the request for the hearing and shall be conducted in an informal manner consistent
with due process of law. A hearing may be continued for a period of time not to exceed thirty (30) days if the
hearing officer deems such continuance to be necessary and proper. Within ten (10) days after the conclusion
of the hearing, the hearing officer shall render, in writing, findings and a decision and order thereon, and shall
give notice of the findings, decision and order to the owner(s) or custodian(s) of the subject animal; service of
such notice shall be by mail or hand delivery.
5. Costs for successful enforcement of this Subsection (D) shall be recouped from the animal's owner(s) or
custodian(s) pursuant to Subsection (C) of this section.
An animal which as been determined to be a potentially dangerous animal following the conclusion of the
process described in this Subsection D shall be added to a list of potentially dangerous animals maintained by
the city and may be referred to the division of animal control for Riverside County. Once an animal has been
determined to be a potentially dangerous animal, if there are no additional instances of the behavior described
for "dangerous animal" or "potentially dangerous animal," as defined in Section 6.16.020 (or successor
provision) of Title 6 of the Riverside County Code, within a forty-eight (48) month period from the date of the
restraint order, the animal may be removed from the list of potentially dangerous animals maintained by the
city, and the city may send a notice of the City's removal from the list to the division of animal control for
Riverside County.
For purposes of this Subsection (D), "dangerous animal" and "potentially dangerous animal" shall have
the same meanings set forth in Section 6.16.020 (or successor provision) of Title 6 of the Riverside
County Code.
b. It is the intent of the city, by enacting this Subsection (D), to authorize the city manager, or authorized
designee, to issue administrative restraint orders for potentially dangerous animals in the same
capacity as the division of animal control for Riverside County has similar authority pursuant to
Chapter 6.16 (or successor provisions) of Title 6 of the Riverside County Code.
Page 7 of 7
Ordinance No. 633
EXHIBIT B
Adopted: April 21, 2026
11.44.020 Enforcement powers of peace officers and city personnel.
A. For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
1. "Expulsion notice" constitutes an administrative citation pursuant to Chapter 1.09 of this code.
2. "Repeat violator" means an individual who has been arrested, cited, ejected, or expelled as a violator
of this chapter within thirty (30) days of a previous arrest, citation, ejection, or expulsion as a violator
of this chapter.
3. "Violator" means an individual who has violated any of the provisions of this chapter or any other law,
ordinance or rule that may be in effect now or may hereafter be passed or adopted for the regulation
and government of parks or recreation areas, or of public places in general, in the city.
B. Power and authority is hereby given to the city manager, the city manager's authorized representatives, and
to any of the attendants employed in such parks or recreation areas, in their discretion, to eject and expel
from the parks or recreation areas or building thereon, any violator. In addition to his or her ordinary powers
of arrest or citation, any peace officer enforcing any law or regulation shall be authorized, in lieu of arresting
or citing any violator, in his or her discretion, to eject and expel the violator. No person being ejected or
expelled pursuant to the authority of this subsection shall refuse to leave as ordered, nor shall any person
who has been so ejected or expelled return, during the calendar day in which he or she was ejected, to the
same park, recreation area or building, unless specifically permitted to do so by the person who ejected him
or her, by the city manager or by an authorized representative thereof.
C. In addition to the other powers and authorities in this section, any peace officer, in addition to their ordinary
powers of arrest or citation, who is enforcing any law or regulation, shall be authorized, in lieu of arresting or
citing any violator, in their discretion, to eject and expel a violator or repeat violator. The ejection and
expulsion of a violator shall be accompanied by service of an expulsion notice that may include an
administrative fine for the initial violation, which shall be paid by the violator. The ejection and expulsion of a
repeat violator shall be accompanied by service of an expulsion notice that may include a second offense
then third offense administrative fine for each subsequent violation, which shall be paid by the repeat
violator, and may expel the repeat violator from the same park, recreation area or building, for a period of
up to one (1) year. No person being ejected or expelled pursuant to the authority of this subsection as a
violator or repeat violator shall refuse to leave as ordered, nor shall any person who has been so ejected or
expelled return, during the calendar day in which they were ejected, to the same park, recreation area or
building, unless specifically permitted to do so by the person who ejected them, by the city manager or by an
authorized representative thereof. Furthermore, no person being ejected or expelled as a repeat violator
may return to the same park, recreation area or building, for the period specified in the repeat violator's
expulsion notice, unless the period is modified by administrative action pursuant to a timely contesting of
the expulsion notice. Any person receiving an expulsion notice pursuant to this subsection may contest the
expulsion or fine, or both, in accordance with the procedures provided in Chapter 1.09 of this code.
(Ord. 568 § 8, 2018; Ord. 10 § 1, 1982)
(Supp. No. 7)
Created: 2026-03-25 09:57:53 [EST]
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STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ) ss.
CITY OF LA QUINTA )
I, MONIKA RADEVA, City Clerk of the City of La Quinta, California, do hereby certify the
foregoing to be a full, true, and correct copy of Ordinance No. 633 which was introduced
at a regular meeting on the 7th day of April 2026, and was adopted by the La Quinta
City Council at a regular meeting held on the 21 st day of April 2026, not being less
than 5 days after the date of introduction thereof.
further certify that the foregoing Ordinance was posted on the City's website and in
three places within the City of La Quinta, as specified in the Rules of Procedure
adopted by City Council Resolution No. 2022-027.
44&44
MONIKA RAD VA, City Clerk
City of La Quinta, California
DECLARATION OF POSTING
I, MONIKA RADEVA, City Clerk of the City of La Quinta, California, do hereby certify that
the foregoing ordinance was posted on the 22nd day of April 2026, pursuant to Council
Resolution.
MONIKA RAD VA, dity Clerk
City of La Quinta, California