Flying with a dog or cat to California
California does not ask for a veterinary certificate when you travel with your own pet. The state distinguishes that from sale, adoption and exhibition — one of only 11 that do.
What this state requires
No certificate required for personal travel
- Validity window
- Not specified by the state
The rule in detail
SB 312 (01/01/2026): CVI required only for sale, resale, adoption or change of ownership
Why this state is an exception
Most consumer guides state that a health certificate is always required in the US. It isn't: there is no federal rule for a domestic flight with your own pet, and California is one of the 11 states that say in writing that personal travel is not a sale. That does not excuse you from rabies vaccination, nor from whatever your airline asks on its own account.
What the airline asks, separately
A carrier can require a document no state does. Most US airlines ask for a certificate issued within seven to ten days, whatever the state rule says. The two stack: satisfying one does not satisfy the other.
Dog breeds
California prohibits its cities and counties from adopting breed-specific regulation. 22 states do. No municipality can therefore turn your dog away on its type — subject to the state-specific caveat our pivot page carries for Washington State.
Where you come in
13 airports in our catalogue serve California.
- BUR
- FAT
- LAX
- LGB
- OAK
- ONT
- PSP
- SAN
- SBA
- SFO
- SJC
- SMF
- SNA
Documented routes into this state
54 routes in our catalogue arrive here, with the airlines that accept the animal and their constraints.
- JFK → LAX
- MIA → LAX
- ORD → LAX
- SFO → LAX
- BOS → LAX
- ATL → LAX
- DFW → LAX
- SEA → LAX
- EWR → LAX
- IAD → LAX
- YYZ → LAX
- YUL → LAX
- MEX → LAX
- BOG → LAX
- GRU → LAX
- EZE → LAX
- LIM → LAX
- SCL → LAX
- CDG → LAX
- MAD → LAX
- BCN → LAX
- UIO → LAX
- MVD → LAX
- ASU → LAX
- VVI → LAX
- PTY → LAX
- JFK → SFO
- EWR → SFO
- MIA → SFO
- LAX → SFO
- ORD → SFO
- BOS → SFO
- ATL → SFO
- DFW → SFO
- SEA → SFO
- IAD → SFO
- DEN → LAX
- DEN → SFO
- PHX → LAX
- PHX → SFO
- LAS → LAX
- LAS → SFO
- MCO → LAX
- MCO → SFO
- CLT → LAX
- CLT → SFO
- PHL → LAX
- PHL → SFO
- MSP → LAX
- MSP → SFO
- MDE → LAX
- CLO → LAX
- GYE → LAX
- SJO → LAX
Source
Rule read at the state's own official source, verified on 2026-09-12. cdfa.ca.gov
Common questions
- Do you need a health certificate to take a dog or cat to California?
- No. California does not require one when you travel with your own dog or cat: the state distinguishes that from sale, adoption and exhibition. Rabies vaccination is still required, and your airline may ask for a certificate of its own.
- Can a dog breed be refused in California?
- Not by a municipality: California prohibits its cities and counties from adopting breed-specific regulation.
The other states that require nothing
Other states
The rule changes at every state line. Each page below carries its own state’s rule, with its source.