PURSUANT TO LOS ANGELES MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 53.15.2, PERSONS INTENDING TO KEEP THEIR DOG INTACT MUST QUALIFY FOR ONE OF THE FOLLOWING DOG STERILZATION EXEMPTIONS.

No person shall cause or allow any dog or cat owned, harbored or kept within the City of Los Angeles to breed. Owners intending to keep their dogs intact must purchase an intact license for $100.00 and qualify for one of the dog sterilization exemptions. The animal must also be microchipped.

DOG STERILIZATION EXEMPTIONS:

1. The dog or cat is a breed approved by and registered with a national or international breed registry or association which, at a minimum, requires identification of the breed, date of birth, names of registered sire and dam, the name of the breeder and recordkeeping relating to breeding, transfer of ownership and death. In addition, the animal must actively show or compete and shall have competed in at least one show or sporting competition hosted or staged by, or under the approval of, a national association, unless it is too young to compete. The owner shall provide verified proof to the satisfaction of the General Manager of the Department with each application for a new or renewal license. The Board of Animal Services Commissioners may issue further guidelines for enforcement of this Subsection.
2. The dog is being trained or has been appropriately trained and is actively used in a manner that meets the definition of guide, signal or service dog as set forth in Subdivisions (d), (e), and (f) of Section 365.5 of the Penal Code, or the dog is enrolled in a guide, signal or service dog breeding program administered by a person licensed under Chapter 9.5 (commencing with Section 7200) of Division 3 of the California Business and Professions Code.
3. The dog is appropriately trained or is in the process of being trained and is actively used by law enforcement agencies or the military for law enforcement, military or rescue activities.
4. The owner of the dog or cat provides a letter to the Department from a California licensed veterinarian certifying that arrangements have been made to spay or neuter the dog or cat within 60 days after the animal reaches the age of four months; that the dog or cat is too sick or injured to be spayed or neutered and that the animal's health would be best served by spaying or neutering after a specified date; or that it is unsafe to spay or neuter the animal due to old age, a permanent and serious medical condition or permanent infirmity that would prevent the animal from reproducing. The letter shall include the veterinarian's license number. Except for a letter certifying that arrangements have been made to spay or neuter the dog or cat within 60 days after the animal reaches the age of four months, any letter from a veterinarian requesting a temporary or permanent extension, including updates, shall specify the animal's medical condition and the diagnosis which justifies the exemption and be supported by diagnostic reports. If the cat or dog has not been spayed or neutered by the date specified in the veterinarian's letter, the owner shall obtain an updated letter from the veterinarian specifying the new date by which the animal may be safely spayed or neutered. An updated letter for a temporary or permanent extension shall be submitted at the time of each license renewal. If the letter from the veterinarian certifies that arrangements have been made to spay or neuter the dog within 60 days from the date the dog reaches the age of four months and the Department has been notified that the dog has in fact been spayed or neutered within that 60-day period, the owner shall qualify for the lower license fee and license tax for an altered dog.
5. The dog or cat has a valid breeding permit issued to the owner pursuant to LAMC 53.15.2(c).
   As of May 27, 2024 a moratorium on the issuance of new dog breeding permits is in effect (LAMC 53.15.2(f)).