Coop Ready California San Diego
Hens allowed
Yes. San Diego allows backyard hens on a typical single-family home lot.
The number of hens you can keep goes up as the coop sits farther from homes.
Hen limit
5 to 25, depending on setbacks
Roosters
Banned
Permit
No
Coop placement
Rear yard; 5 ft from side lines, 13 ft from rear
Source linked These rules come from the source linked below. Confirm current details with the city.
Read the official San Diego rules ↗ Checked October 2026.
Will your coop fit in San Diego?
Draw your lot, your house and your neighbor's house on a satellite map, drop in a coop, and Coop Ready measures the distances and compares them with the San Diego rules above. Free, no account.
Backyard chicken questions in San Diego
How many chickens can I have in San Diego?
The hen limit in San Diego: 5 to 25, depending on setbacks.
Are roosters allowed in San Diego?
No. San Diego bans roosters on typical home lots.
Do I need a permit for backyard chickens in San Diego?
No. San Diego does not require a permit for a typical backyard flock.
How far does a chicken coop have to be from my neighbor in San Diego?
Where the coop can go in San Diego: rear yard; 5 ft from side lines, 13 ft from rear.
Can my HOA ban chickens if San Diego allows them?
Yes. HOA rules, deed restrictions and leases can be stricter than city code. Read yours before you build.
More California cities
- Bakersfield, CA
- Fresno, CA
- Long Beach, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Riverside, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, CA
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See every city on Coop Ready → · Coop size calculator · Chicken laws study · Backyard chickens 101
Coop Ready is a planning aid, not legal advice. City codes change, and zoning, HOA rules and your exact parcel can change what is allowed. Confirm with San Diego before you build.
