California treats an owner’s routine move differently from a dog entering for sale, adoption, transfer, or another change of ownership. The state also has temporary New World Screwworm requirements for companion animals arriving from affected states.
Reviewed September 12, 2026 · Rules can change; verify before travel.
For a routine move with the same owner, California generally requires a healthy dog and current rabies documentation once the dog is four months old. A dog entering for sale, resale, adoption, transfer, or another change of ownership needs an electronic CVI issued within 10 days before entry and submitted to CDFA and the buyer. Routine domestic-cat entry normally requires the cat to be healthy, without a state CVI or rabies-document requirement.
Dogs must be healthy; dogs four months or older need current rabies documentation.
A CVI issued by a licensed and accredited veterinarian must be submitted electronically within 10 days before entry.
Domestic cats must be healthy; California does not normally require a CVI or rabies vaccination for routine cat entry.
Dogs and cats from a state with an active NWS infested zone face additional inspection, eCVI, and entry-permit requirements.
The purpose of the move matters. California’s dog-CVI rule specifically covers sale, resale, adoption, and other changes of ownership or custody, so a breeder, rescue, shelter, or adopter should arrange the paperwork before pickup.
Companion animals arriving from a state with an active NWS infested zone currently require a premovement inspection within seven days, an electronic CVI with the required NWS statement, and a California entry permit.
California restricts some animals that may be kept as pets elsewhere, including ferrets, gerbils, hedgehogs, sugar gliders, and Quaker or monk parakeets. Contact California wildlife authorities before planning transport for a restricted or exotic species.
County or city licensing rules may apply after arrival. California directs owners to the local animal-control agency for local rabies and licensing questions.
Snout Route coordinates door-to-door ground pet transport in California as part of service across the 48 contiguous U.S. states, Alaska, and Canada. We review the route and the documents supplied for the trip before pickup; the pet owner and veterinarian remain responsible for satisfying the applicable government requirements.
These links go to the agencies responsible for the requirements summarized on this page.
No. California’s state CVI requirement applies to dogs entering for sale, resale, adoption, transfer, or another change of ownership. Disease-control orders and other parties can add requirements.
California says routine domestic-cat entry does not require a state CVI or current rabies vaccination, although local rules and the pet’s origin can still matter.
California currently requires extra steps for companion animals from a state with an active NWS infested zone, including a recent inspection, eCVI, and entry permit.
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