Electronic pet fences in the Los Gatos hillsides
Summary
Hillside pet owners are caught in a code contradiction: dogs must be behind six-foot fences, but hillside fences must be short and wildlife-friendly. The council unanimously told staff to draft an ordinance allowing invisible fences on hillside and one-acre-plus properties — a resident has been cited $100 for using one.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 2
- Last 30 days
- 1
Discussed at 1 meeting in the last 60 days; most recently Oct 28, 2026.
Impact analysis
Staff cautioned it's not a strategic priority; compliance costs could fall on permit fees if designed simply.
Hillside dog owners, their pets, and wildlife corridor connectivity.
Potentially wildlife and neighboring pet owners if dogs escape containment, and residents who spent years shaping the current wildlife-friendly fence rules.
Mentions & discussions (2)
Planning Commission — October 28, 2026
A proposed ordinance would let owners of hillside lots of an acre or more use buried-wire electronic fences instead of wildlife-friendly physical fencing to contain dogs. Supporters say it's the only practical option on steep, large parcels; critics say the fences shock dogs, fail in outages, and won't stop dogs from chasing deer, turkeys, and other wildlife. The commission recommended against it, 5-1.
Town Council Meeting — August 4, 2026
Hillside pet owners are caught in a code contradiction: dogs must be behind six-foot fences, but hillside fences must be short and wildlife-friendly. The council unanimously told staff to draft an ordinance allowing invisible fences on hillside and one-acre-plus properties — a resident has been cited $100 for using one.
Related development
We'll email you when it's on an upcoming agenda and when it's voted on, at most once a day.
The weekly brief for Los Gatos
What the council decided, in plain English — one email a week.
Free. Unsubscribe with one click any time. We never sell your email.