Local Regulations

Before diving into the wonderful world of poultry ownership (or as we like to say pursuing that pure poultry passion), make sure to always check your city and county websites for the most accurate and up to date regulations.  It is your responsibility as a bird owner to ensure you are in compliance with your area’s ordinances.

It is important to note that city code supersedes county code, so for example, while the County of Los Angeles has restrictions based on property zoning, several cities within its boundaries have updated their municipal codes to allow backyard chickens under certain regulations.

To get you started, below are links to some cities and county websites and their rules and regulations:

SOME OF THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COUNTIES AND CITIES THAT ALLOW THE KEEPING OF CHICKENS:

  • Adelanto (city) – One every 1800 sq feet, up to a maximum of five and one rooster. No permit required.
  • Anaheim (city) – One hen per 1800 sq feet, no permit required. No roosters.
  • Arroyo Grande (city) – Up to 10 chickens. No permit.
  • Atascadero (city) – Up to 40 chickens allowed.
  • Bakersfield (city) – No number restrictions, roosters allowed, no permit required.
  • Baldwin Park (city) – Up to three in a restricted zone, no permit required. No roosters.
  • Bellflower (city) – Up to 25, no permit required. No roosters.
  • Bell Gardens (city) – Up to two, no permit required.
  • Brawley (city) – Up to 10 chickens for every one-half acre of land. Need permit in certain areas. No roosters.
  • Brea (city) – Up to 20, roosters allowed, no permit required.
  • Brentwood (city) – Up to 24, no permit required.
  • Buena Park (city) – No limit and no permit required
  • Carlsbad (city) – Maximum number allowed depends on residential area, no permit required, roosters allowed.
  • Culver City (city) – No limit stated, but permit required. Roosters allowed.
  • Downey (city) – No more than 5, no permit required. No roosters.
  • El Centro (city) – Up to 2 chickens allowed. More than 2 chickens require permits. No roosters.
  • Fullerton (city) – No number restrictions, no permit required. No roosters.
  • Gardena (city) – Allowed, but subject to zone restrictions.
  • Garden Grove (city) – Up to four, no permit required.
  • Hawthorne (city) – Up to 10. No roosters.
  • Hesperia (city) – Two fowl per 3500 sq feet, with a 25 per acre limit, no permit required, roosters allowed.
  • Huntington Beach (city) – Up to six. Can have roosters that are over 4 months old.
  • Lakewood (city) – Up to five. No roosters.
  • La Mesa (city) – No number restrictions, no permit required. No roosters.
  • La Mirada (city) – 12 per 10000 sq feet, roosters allowed, no permit required.
  • Lancaster (city) – Up to 3 only in rural residential areas, roosters allowed only in rural residential areas,  no permit required.
  • La Puente (city) – 20 hens per 10000 sq feet, no permit required.
  • Long Beach (city) – Up to 20 depending on plot size, no permit required.
  • Los Angeles (city) – Numbers allowed depend on zones, no permit required, roosters allowed.
  • Nipomo (county) – Chickens allowed, including roosters, no number restrictions, no permit for up to 20 chickens.
  • Norwalk (city) – Up to 5 chickens no permit required, no roosters.
  • Orange (city) – Up to five, no permit.
  • Oxnard (city) – Up to 25 chickens allowed. No permit. Roosters allowed.
  • Pasadena (city) – Up to ten, no permit required.
  • Poway (city) – No permit required, roosters allowed. The maximum number of birds depends on the size of the plot.
  • Rancho Cucamonga (city) – Up to 6 or 12 depending on residential area, no permit required.
  • Ridgecrest (city) – One chicken for every 2,000 square feet of area allowed.
  • Riverside (county) – Chickens allowed, including roosters, kept on a back lot. Requires a permit.
  • San Clemente (city) – No birds allowed within 100 feet of other neighbors.
  • San Diego (city) – Up to 25, depending on plot size and zone. No roosters, no permit required.
  • San Luis Obispo (city) – Chickens allowed: up to 20, no permit required; more than 20 only allowed in certain zones; more than 100 requires a permit. Roosters allowed.
  • San Marcos (city) – Up to four birds, no permit required. No roosters.
  • Santa Barbara (city) – Maximum number of chickens depends on zoning. No permit required. No roosters.
  • Santa Clarita (city) – No permit needed, but the number of hens kept is restricted by the size of the plot.
  • Santa Fe Springs (city) – Up to 12 in designated areas, roosters allowed but subject to noise ordinances.
  • Santa Monica (city) – Up to 13 allowed, permit required, roosters allowed.
  • Simi Valley (city) – Up to 5 chickens allowed. No permit. No roosters.
  • Temecula (city) – A limit of two hens, no permit required.
  • Thousand Oaks (city) – No number restrictions. No permit.
  • Victorville (city) – No birds allowed on land under half an acre, three allowed on larger plots.
  • Wasco (city) – Only allowed in agricultural areas.
  • West Hollywood (city) – Up to 4 chickens, no permit.