California Chicken Laws By City: Hens, Roosters, Permits

California backyard chicken laws

Usually yes, but it depends on the city or county. Of the 10 places in California we have checked, 8 allow backyard hens on a typical home lot, and 2 do not.

In California, chicken rules are set by each city, and by the county for land outside city limits. Find your place below for its hen limit, rooster rule, permit and coop distance, each linked to the code we read.

Places checked

Hens on a typical lot

8 of 10

Ban roosters

8 of 10

Need a permit or approval

2 of 10

State law in California: We found no California state law that limits what cities and counties can decide about backyard hens, so each city and county sets its own rules.

Chicken laws by city in California

Place	Verdict	Hen limit	Roosters	Permit	Coop placement
Bakersfield, CA	Not on typical home lots	Not on typical home lots	Banned	Not available	Not applicable
Fresno, CA	Not on typical home lots	Not in residential zones	Banned	Not available	Not applicable
Long Beach, CA	Hens allowed	20 (4 without a permit)	Banned	Annual permit with a fee for 5 or more birds	10 ft from any neighboring home for 1 to 4 hens; 35 ft for 5 to 10; 50 ft for 11 to 20
Los Angeles, CA	Hens allowed	No set limit	1 allowed	No	35 ft from a neighbor's home
Oakland, CA	Hens allowed	No set limit	Banned	No	20 ft from homes
Riverside, CA	Hens allowed	5 (RE and R-1 zones)	Banned (crowing fowl, RE and R-1 zones)	Not stated	Coop at least 10 ft from any neighboring home, plus accessory-structure rules
Sacramento, CA	Allowed with a permit	3	Banned	$47 plus $20 per hen each year	20 ft from a neighbor's home
San Diego, CA	Hens allowed	5 to 25, depending on setbacks	Banned	No	Rear yard; 5 ft from side lines, 13 ft from rear
San Francisco, CA	Hens allowed	4 animals total	Not stated	Coop approval	20 ft from doors and windows of homes
San Jose, CA	Hens allowed	6 (up to 20 with a permit)	Banned	Only over 6 birds	20 ft from a neighbor's home

Will your coop fit?

Draw your lot, your house and your neighbor's house on a satellite map, drop in a coop, and Coop Ready checks the distances against your California city's rules. Then share the plan or print a free permit site plan.

Plan my coop

California backyard chicken questions

Can you have backyard chickens in California?

Usually yes, but it depends on the city or county. Of the 10 places in California we have checked, 8 allow backyard hens on a typical home lot, and 2 do not. Check your exact city or county, because the rules differ a lot from place to place.

Who sets chicken rules in California?

Each California city sets its own chicken rules. In unincorporated areas, the county zoning and animal code decide.

Is there a California state law on backyard chickens?

We found no California state law that limits what cities and counties can decide about backyard hens, so each city and county sets its own rules.

Are roosters allowed in California?

8 of the 10 places we checked in California ban roosters on typical home lots. Check your city's page for its exact rule.

Can an HOA in California ban chickens?

California Civil Code 4750 voids HOA rules that effectively ban backyard personal agriculture, but the law defines that as growing edible plant crops. It does not cover chickens, so HOA rules on hens still apply.

Which California places do not allow chickens on a typical home lot?

Bakersfield, CA, Fresno, CA. See the city pages for the exact rule.

Keeping a healthy California flock

The California Department of Food and Agriculture asks owners to report unusual illness or deaths in poultry to its Sick Bird Hotline at 866-922-2473. Visit the official page ↗

California Chicken Laws by City: Hens, Roosters, Permits and Coop Rules

Chicken laws by city in California

Will your coop fit?

California backyard chicken questions