Legis
Healthcare
AB 2010, Chapter 284, Statutes of 2026 · Friday 18 September 2026

Veterinary medicine: veterinary surgery premises: spay and neuter services

California allows qualifying high-volume spay and neuter procedures outside a separate surgical room.

The law removes a facility requirement for large-volume sterilization services while retaining general veterinary sanitation and practice standards.

What the law does

  • Exempts high-volume spay and neuter services from the requirement to use a separate surgical room.
  • Defines high-volume services as aseptic surgical sterilization by a veterinarian of 20 or more dogs, cats, rabbits, or a combination of them within 12 consecutive hours.
  • Keeps all other requirements governing veterinary medicine in effect.

Who it affects

  • Veterinarians providing high-volume spay and neuter services.
  • Veterinary premises and animal-sterilization providers.
  • Dogs, cats, rabbits, and their owners or caretakers using these services.