Moving to Palo Alto with pets

Moving is stressful for pets. They lose familiar smells and routines, spend hours in carriers and arrive somewhere full of new noises. Palo Alto adds a few local twists: a city dog license, strict leash rules, a tight rental market where many landlords limit pets and wildlife at the edge of town. A little planning smooths all of it.

This guide covers the rules for bringing a pet to California, what state law says about renting with pets as published in late 2026, the city's licensing steps and practical tips for travel and moving week. It is general information, not legal or veterinary advice. Rules change, so check the official pages we link before you rely on them.

Before the move

1. Get records. Ask your current vet for vaccine history, including a rabies certificate that shows the vaccine date, expiration, manufacturer and serial number. Palo Alto needs that detail for a dog license.
2. Update the microchip. Add your new address and a phone number that will work during the move.
3. Book a new vet. Popular practices fill up. Our veterinarians guide lists local options. Our emergency vets guide lists the 24-hour hospitals.
4. Check medications. Refill prescriptions before you leave so you are not hunting for a pharmacy in the first week.
5. Ask about anxiety. If your pet panics in the car or carrier, talk to your vet well before travel day.
6. Read your lease. Confirm pet rules in writing before you sign. See the renting section below.

Bringing a pet into California

From another state

The California Department of Public Health's pet importation page says certificates for pets entering from another U.S. state must be completed, dated and signed by an accredited, licensed veterinarian, either as an electronic certificate or on USDA's APHIS Form 7001. It tells people moving permanently to check local animal control for licensing. Airlines set their own rules for health certificates and carriers, so ask yours early.

From another country

• Cats. The state page says no documents are required by California for pet cats entering from another country. Federal and airline rules still apply.
• Dogs. Federal rules from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention apply. Dogs entering the United States must be at least 6 months old, carry a microchip and have a CDC Dog Import Form receipt. Dogs that have been in a country at high risk for rabies face extra vaccine, paperwork and airport requirements. Check the CDC's dog import pages well before you book.
• Dogs from Mexico. The state page notes that USDA has restricted the movement of dogs from Mexico because of New World screwworm.

Moving an unusual animal? California restricts many species, including ferrets. See our exotic and bird vets guide.

After you arrive: licensing and leash rules

Palo Alto requires dogs to be licensed. Since March 2025 the city itself issues licenses through the Police Department's Animal Control Division, online or by mail only. The city's dog licensing page says owning an unlicensed dog can bring fines of $50 to $150 per dog. The fiscal year 2027 fee is $20 a year for a spayed or neutered dog and $76 for an unaltered dog. The rabies vaccine must stay valid for the whole license period. Cats do not need a license.

Outside the four fenced dog parks, dogs must be on a leash in public places. Our pets guide has the full fee table and rules. Our dog parks guide covers where dogs can run.

Renting with pets under California law

Finding a pet-friendly rental is often the hardest part of moving to Palo Alto. Here is what state law says as published, based on our research in late 2026.

• No right to a pet. California has no statewide law requiring landlords to accept pets. AB 2216, introduced in 2024, would have stopped landlords from refusing common household pets without a reasonable reason, limited breed and size rules and banned separate pet rent. It passed the Assembly 46 to 9 but died after it was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee on June 5, 2024. We found no later law that took its place.
• Deposit cap. Since July 1, 2024, most landlords may collect no more than one month's rent as a security deposit under AB 12. The state's deposit law defines security broadly, so a separate pet deposit generally counts toward that total. Monthly pet rent is a different charge and is not banned by state law.
• Service and support animals. Under fair housing law, service animals and support animals for people with disabilities are not pets. Tenants can ask for a reasonable accommodation even in a no-pets building. Landlords generally may not charge pet fees for them.
• Condos and HOAs. California Civil Code section 4715 lets owners in common interest developments keep at least one pet, subject to reasonable rules, under governing documents adopted or changed since January 1, 2001. Renters in a condo still need the owner's permission.

Our renting guide and the tenant protections guide cover deposits, rent caps and local rules in more detail.

Tips for pet owners hunting for a rental

• Put together a short pet resume: age, breed, weight, vaccines, training classes and a reference from a past landlord.
• Offer to introduce your pet to the landlord.
• Get any pet permission written into the lease, including the number and type of animals.
• Take dated photos of the unit at move-in to protect your deposit.

Travel tips for the trip

• By car. Use a crash-tested crate or harness, stop every few hours and never leave a pet alone in a parked car. California Penal Code section 597.7 makes it illegal to leave an animal in a vehicle in conditions that endanger it. Vehicle Code section 23117 requires animals in open truck beds to be secured.
• By air. Airlines limit cabin pets by size and number per flight and some ban certain breeds in cargo. Book the pet when you book your seat. Our SFO guide covers the drive from the airport.
• By train. Caltrain does not allow pets except service animals. Its board considered allowing small pets in carriers in September 2026. Check the current rules.
• Hotels. Several Palo Alto hotels accept dogs. The Sheraton and Westin on El Camino Real list dogs up to 80 pounds. Our pet-friendly hotels guide lists weight limits and fee types. Our traveling with pets guide has more trip advice.

Moving week and settling in

• Use a quiet room. On moving day, shut pets in one room with water, a bed and a litter box, with a sign on the door.
• Keep routines. Feed and walk at the usual times.
• Check the yard. Look for gaps in fences and gates. Pets often slip out in the first days after a move.
• Mind the wildlife. Coyotes live in the foothills and along the Baylands. The city advises keeping cats indoors and small dogs close.
• Watch for foxtails and heat. Dry grass seeds and hot afternoons are common from late spring into fall.
• Build an emergency kit. Pack food, water, medications and a carrier in your earthquake kit.

Frequently asked questions