LOS GATOS OPEN HILLSIDE — Keep Los Gatos the Gem of the Foothills
The Issue
Preserve our open hillsides and protect wildlife corridors with one simple code amendment for hillside dog owners.
Los Gatos has long been called the "Gem of the Foothills."
— San Jose Daily Mercury, June 17, 1900
That title was earned by the open, scenic, and wild character of our hillsides. Today, a gap in the Town Code is quietly threatening that character.
THE CODE CONFLICT
Four sections of the Los Gatos Municipal Code are in direct conflict with each other — leaving hillside dog owners with no lawful off-leash option on their own property:
§4.40.005(a) — Animal Code: requires dogs to be kept on a leash or behind a fence not less than six feet high.
§29.40.0315 — Hillside Fence Code: prohibits solid fences in hillside areas. Wildlife-friendly fencing is required on properties of one acre or more — maximum height 42 inches, with 18 inches of ground clearance to allow wildlife to pass beneath.
§29.40.0305 — Hillside Fence Intent: expressly states that hillside fencing regulations exist to allow for the free movement of wildlife. A 6-foot solid fence directly violates this intent.
§30.10.010 — Neighborhood Preservation: protects the aesthetic character and property values of residential neighborhoods. Solid perimeter fencing in hillside areas impairs both.
The result: the Animal Code requires a 6-foot fence. The Hillside Code prohibits it. Hillside residents are caught in a code gap with no compliant solution.
THE FIX
Hidden underground radio dog fences use a buried wire and receiver collar to safely contain dogs within a property boundary. No above-ground structure. No blocked views. No barrier to wildlife. This UL Listed, fire-safe technology is already in use by over 400 responsible hillside residents across Los Gatos and the Santa Cruz Mountains — maintaining our beautiful hillside and protecting the wildlife corridors our own code was written to preserve.
This technology has been formally recognized by municipalities across the country, including San Diego County (CA), Central Point (OR), Overland Park (KS), Argyle and Fate (TX), Baltimore City (MD), and Pineville (NC).
Recognizing this technology also positions Los Gatos ahead of California AB 1889, the Room to Roam Act (effective January 1, 2028), which requires municipalities to consider wildlife-friendly fencing standards — fully aligned with the intent of §29.40.0305.
HOW IT WOULD WORK
Getting approved would be straightforward — five steps, similar to any standard fence permit:
- Property Survey — confirms property boundaries and setbacks
- Site Plan — shows where the underground boundary wire will run
- Town Permit — pulled by your licensed D-64 installer, just like a fence permit
- Installation Inspection — same Town inspection process as a physical fence
- Dog Training Certificate — confirms your dog is trained to the system; filed with your SVACA dog license record
ADDRESSING CONCERNS
Will this be enforced?
Yes. Enforcement will operate through two existing Town channels — Los Gatos Code Compliance and Silicon Valley Animal Control (SVACA). The proposed five-step permitting process creates a documented record of every installation, making enforcement straightforward. SVACA already recognizes hidden underground electronic dog fences as a valid form of dog containment and has established operational familiarity with the technology.
What about dangerous dogs?
Dogs that have been formally designated as Potentially Dangerous, Dangerous, or Vicious under California Food and Agricultural Code §31601 et seq. will not be eligible for this containment method. Only dogs that successfully complete a certified training program with the installed system — and receive a training certificate filed with their SVACA dog license record — will qualify. This ensures the amendment applies only to well-managed, compliant animals.
What if the system fails?
The proposed amendment requires a 24-hour backup battery, and all systems must be UL Listed and professionally installed by a California D-64 Licensed Low Voltage Contractor. The same standard of care applies as with any permitted fence installation.
THE ASK
We are asking the Town of Los Gatos to amend §4.40.005(a) to formally recognize hidden underground radio dog fences as a compliant means of dog containment in hillside residential (HR) areas. The Town Attorney is currently conducting a formal review, with findings anticipated to be presented to the full Town Council in or about late August 2026.
This petition was mailed directly to all 1,103 private HR-zoned hillside property owners in the Town of Los Gatos. If you received a postcard, your property is in the hillside residential zone directly affected by this amendment.
Please sign the petition and let the Town Council know our hillside community wants to keep Los Gatos the Gem of the Foothills — open, scenic, and fence free.
Victory
The Issue
Preserve our open hillsides and protect wildlife corridors with one simple code amendment for hillside dog owners.
Los Gatos has long been called the "Gem of the Foothills."
— San Jose Daily Mercury, June 17, 1900
That title was earned by the open, scenic, and wild character of our hillsides. Today, a gap in the Town Code is quietly threatening that character.
THE CODE CONFLICT
Four sections of the Los Gatos Municipal Code are in direct conflict with each other — leaving hillside dog owners with no lawful off-leash option on their own property:
§4.40.005(a) — Animal Code: requires dogs to be kept on a leash or behind a fence not less than six feet high.
§29.40.0315 — Hillside Fence Code: prohibits solid fences in hillside areas. Wildlife-friendly fencing is required on properties of one acre or more — maximum height 42 inches, with 18 inches of ground clearance to allow wildlife to pass beneath.
§29.40.0305 — Hillside Fence Intent: expressly states that hillside fencing regulations exist to allow for the free movement of wildlife. A 6-foot solid fence directly violates this intent.
§30.10.010 — Neighborhood Preservation: protects the aesthetic character and property values of residential neighborhoods. Solid perimeter fencing in hillside areas impairs both.
The result: the Animal Code requires a 6-foot fence. The Hillside Code prohibits it. Hillside residents are caught in a code gap with no compliant solution.
THE FIX
Hidden underground radio dog fences use a buried wire and receiver collar to safely contain dogs within a property boundary. No above-ground structure. No blocked views. No barrier to wildlife. This UL Listed, fire-safe technology is already in use by over 400 responsible hillside residents across Los Gatos and the Santa Cruz Mountains — maintaining our beautiful hillside and protecting the wildlife corridors our own code was written to preserve.
This technology has been formally recognized by municipalities across the country, including San Diego County (CA), Central Point (OR), Overland Park (KS), Argyle and Fate (TX), Baltimore City (MD), and Pineville (NC).
Recognizing this technology also positions Los Gatos ahead of California AB 1889, the Room to Roam Act (effective January 1, 2028), which requires municipalities to consider wildlife-friendly fencing standards — fully aligned with the intent of §29.40.0305.
HOW IT WOULD WORK
Getting approved would be straightforward — five steps, similar to any standard fence permit:
- Property Survey — confirms property boundaries and setbacks
- Site Plan — shows where the underground boundary wire will run
- Town Permit — pulled by your licensed D-64 installer, just like a fence permit
- Installation Inspection — same Town inspection process as a physical fence
- Dog Training Certificate — confirms your dog is trained to the system; filed with your SVACA dog license record
ADDRESSING CONCERNS
Will this be enforced?
Yes. Enforcement will operate through two existing Town channels — Los Gatos Code Compliance and Silicon Valley Animal Control (SVACA). The proposed five-step permitting process creates a documented record of every installation, making enforcement straightforward. SVACA already recognizes hidden underground electronic dog fences as a valid form of dog containment and has established operational familiarity with the technology.
What about dangerous dogs?
Dogs that have been formally designated as Potentially Dangerous, Dangerous, or Vicious under California Food and Agricultural Code §31601 et seq. will not be eligible for this containment method. Only dogs that successfully complete a certified training program with the installed system — and receive a training certificate filed with their SVACA dog license record — will qualify. This ensures the amendment applies only to well-managed, compliant animals.
What if the system fails?
The proposed amendment requires a 24-hour backup battery, and all systems must be UL Listed and professionally installed by a California D-64 Licensed Low Voltage Contractor. The same standard of care applies as with any permitted fence installation.
THE ASK
We are asking the Town of Los Gatos to amend §4.40.005(a) to formally recognize hidden underground radio dog fences as a compliant means of dog containment in hillside residential (HR) areas. The Town Attorney is currently conducting a formal review, with findings anticipated to be presented to the full Town Council in or about late August 2026.
This petition was mailed directly to all 1,103 private HR-zoned hillside property owners in the Town of Los Gatos. If you received a postcard, your property is in the hillside residential zone directly affected by this amendment.
Please sign the petition and let the Town Council know our hillside community wants to keep Los Gatos the Gem of the Foothills — open, scenic, and fence free.
The Decision Makers
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Petition created on June 30, 2026