California Chicken Friendly Laws
Anaheim, CA: (Title 8, Ch 8) Annual permit fee for any number or hens.
Bakersfield, CA: (Municipal code 6.08.010) Chickens must be "kept securely enclosed in a yard or pen at all times."
Belmont, CA: Up to 20 hens (no roosters over 4 months old) confined in a clean coop.
Berkeley, CA: Chickens must be kept penned and 30 ft. away from any bedrooms.
Campbell, CA: Chickens allowed (no roosters) provided there are no more than six animals in all at household. Larger quantities allowed upon successful appeal to city manager.
Chula Vista, CA: Up to 12 chickens are permitted on a minimum of 7,000 square feet of land, up to 25, on land where one family occupies one home. An enclosure is required, but must be no closer than 50 feet from neighboring homes.
Davis, CA: A total of not more than six hens (in combination with other animals) in a sanitary pen no less than 40 feet from neighboring residences.
Del Mar, CA: No ordinance regarding raising chickens. City officials refer to county codes, if necessary.
Downey, CA: Up to five chickens allowed per lot.
El Cajon, CA: Up to 24 chickens are permitted on single-family lots of at least 20,000 square feet in certain residential areas. Chickens must be kept 50 feet from any neighboring residence.
Encinitas, CA: Up to 10 chickens are permitted in all residential areas. More allowed on larger lots. Coops must be no closer than 35 feet of neighboring homes.
Folsom, CA: Not more than any combination of two chickens, ducks, pigeons and rabbits shall be kept within any zoning district of the city other than agricultural or agricultural combining districts; and said animals shall be kept or maintained at least twenty feet from any property line.
Irvine, CA: 2-4 hens over the age of four months allowed, kept in a sanitary, odor free enclosure. No roosters are allowed.
Lafayette, CA: Residents can keep approximately 4 chickens.
Lemon Grove, CA: Up to three chickens are permitted, in enclosures, in certain residential areas. One chicken per 1,000 square feet, up to 25 are permitted in other residential areas. Coops must be no closer than 20 feet from neighboring homes.
Long Beach, CA: Up to 20 hens allowed per household. No roosters. Must be 20 feet from a dwelling and confined.
Los Altos, CA: 1 hen per 1,000 square feet of lot space. No restrictions on coop location. No roosters.
Los Angeles, CA: (Ch 1, Art 2) No permit required for 5 or less.
Mission Viejo, CA: You are allowed up to two chickens, and roosters are not allowed.
Mountain View, CA: Up to 4 hens without a permit, more w/permit. Keep 25 ft. from residences. Within 25 ft. is o.k. with written consent from residences. No roosters.
Oakland, CA: Keep chicken enclosed, & 20 ft. from any dwelling, church or school.
Oceanside, CA: Up to six chickens are permitted in residential areas, but they must be 35 feet from neighboring houses.
Petaluma, CA: Up to twenty animals of mixed combination. Chickens must be kept five feet from a neighbors fence or property line, and they must be kept 20 ft. from neighboring dwellings.
Poway, CA: Up to six chickens are permitted on lots measuring between 6,000 and 20,000 square feet. More are allowed on larger lots, but coops must be at least 35 feet from neighboring homes.
Redwood City, CA: Up to three hens (no roosters) confined within a clean coop.
Roseville, CA: Maximum 10 chickens kept 20 ft. from any property line &/or building.
San Diego, CA: Up to 25 chickens in certain residential areas. Coops must be no closer than 50 feet from neighboring homes.
San Francisco, CA: (Health code Art 1, Ch 37) No permit needed for 4 or fewer (permit for more) must be 20 feet from any door or window.
San Jose, CA: Up to 6 chickens at least 20 ft. from residences. Up to 4 chickens 15 ft. away from residences. 0 less than 15 ft. No roosters.
Santee, CA: One chicken permitted per 2,000 square feet in certain residential areas. Enclosures must be a certain distance from property lines.
Woodland, CA: Up to 6 hens allowed provided they are kept over 40 feet from neighboring residences.
Vallejo, CA: You are allowed to keep up to 25 chickens if they are kept 15 ft. from neighboring dwellings. Roosters are allowed but subject to noise nuisance violations.
Vista, CA: Two chickens are permitted in certain single-family residential areas, and up to 25 in other areas.
Anaheim, CA: (Title 8, Ch 8) Annual permit fee for any number or hens.
Bakersfield, CA: (Municipal code 6.08.010) Chickens must be "kept securely enclosed in a yard or pen at all times."
Belmont, CA: Up to 20 hens (no roosters over 4 months old) confined in a clean coop.
Berkeley, CA: Chickens must be kept penned and 30 ft. away from any bedrooms.
Campbell, CA: Chickens allowed (no roosters) provided there are no more than six animals in all at household. Larger quantities allowed upon successful appeal to city manager.
Chula Vista, CA: Up to 12 chickens are permitted on a minimum of 7,000 square feet of land, up to 25, on land where one family occupies one home. An enclosure is required, but must be no closer than 50 feet from neighboring homes.
Davis, CA: A total of not more than six hens (in combination with other animals) in a sanitary pen no less than 40 feet from neighboring residences.
Del Mar, CA: No ordinance regarding raising chickens. City officials refer to county codes, if necessary.
Downey, CA: Up to five chickens allowed per lot.
El Cajon, CA: Up to 24 chickens are permitted on single-family lots of at least 20,000 square feet in certain residential areas. Chickens must be kept 50 feet from any neighboring residence.
Encinitas, CA: Up to 10 chickens are permitted in all residential areas. More allowed on larger lots. Coops must be no closer than 35 feet of neighboring homes.
Folsom, CA: Not more than any combination of two chickens, ducks, pigeons and rabbits shall be kept within any zoning district of the city other than agricultural or agricultural combining districts; and said animals shall be kept or maintained at least twenty feet from any property line.
Irvine, CA: 2-4 hens over the age of four months allowed, kept in a sanitary, odor free enclosure. No roosters are allowed.
Lafayette, CA: Residents can keep approximately 4 chickens.
Lemon Grove, CA: Up to three chickens are permitted, in enclosures, in certain residential areas. One chicken per 1,000 square feet, up to 25 are permitted in other residential areas. Coops must be no closer than 20 feet from neighboring homes.
Long Beach, CA: Up to 20 hens allowed per household. No roosters. Must be 20 feet from a dwelling and confined.
Los Altos, CA: 1 hen per 1,000 square feet of lot space. No restrictions on coop location. No roosters.
Los Angeles, CA: (Ch 1, Art 2) No permit required for 5 or less.
Mission Viejo, CA: You are allowed up to two chickens, and roosters are not allowed.
Mountain View, CA: Up to 4 hens without a permit, more w/permit. Keep 25 ft. from residences. Within 25 ft. is o.k. with written consent from residences. No roosters.
Oakland, CA: Keep chicken enclosed, & 20 ft. from any dwelling, church or school.
Oceanside, CA: Up to six chickens are permitted in residential areas, but they must be 35 feet from neighboring houses.
Petaluma, CA: Up to twenty animals of mixed combination. Chickens must be kept five feet from a neighbors fence or property line, and they must be kept 20 ft. from neighboring dwellings.
Poway, CA: Up to six chickens are permitted on lots measuring between 6,000 and 20,000 square feet. More are allowed on larger lots, but coops must be at least 35 feet from neighboring homes.
Redwood City, CA: Up to three hens (no roosters) confined within a clean coop.
Roseville, CA: Maximum 10 chickens kept 20 ft. from any property line &/or building.
San Diego, CA: Up to 25 chickens in certain residential areas. Coops must be no closer than 50 feet from neighboring homes.
San Francisco, CA: (Health code Art 1, Ch 37) No permit needed for 4 or fewer (permit for more) must be 20 feet from any door or window.
San Jose, CA: Up to 6 chickens at least 20 ft. from residences. Up to 4 chickens 15 ft. away from residences. 0 less than 15 ft. No roosters.
Santee, CA: One chicken permitted per 2,000 square feet in certain residential areas. Enclosures must be a certain distance from property lines.
Woodland, CA: Up to 6 hens allowed provided they are kept over 40 feet from neighboring residences.
Vallejo, CA: You are allowed to keep up to 25 chickens if they are kept 15 ft. from neighboring dwellings. Roosters are allowed but subject to noise nuisance violations.
Vista, CA: Two chickens are permitted in certain single-family residential areas, and up to 25 in other areas.
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