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Contra Costa County, CA Animal Ordinances: Bird Protection (2026)

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Max enclosure size: 1 sq ft per 50 sq ft of lot area
Absolute size cap: 1,600 square feet
Max height: 12 feet
Front setback: 25 feet from front line/street
Side/rear setback: 10 feet
Allowed zones: R-6 through R-100, P-1, D-1
First-violation fine: $100 (infraction)

Summary

Unincorporated Contra Costa County allows coops, cages, pens and other bird enclosures for pigeons and other non-poultry birds on single-family and two-family residential lots, but caps their footprint at one square foot per fifty square feet of lot area, twelve feet in height, and requires them to sit well off every property line.

City-specific rules exist: Antioch, Brentwood, and San Ramon have their own bird protection rules that differ from Contra Costa County's county-level regulations. If you live in one of those cities, check the city-specific page instead.

82-50.602 - Location requirements. A bird enclosure is allowed on any lot in a single-family residential district (R-6, R-7, R-10, R-12, R-15, R-20, R-40, R-65, and R-100), a planned unit (P-1) district for which single-family residential uses are approved, or a two-family residential (D-1) district. 82-50.604 - Standards. (a)The maximum size of a bird enclosure is one square foot per fifty square feet of lot area. A bird enclosure may not exceed one thousand six hundred square feet.(b)The maximum height of a bird enclosure is twelve feet.(c)A bird enclosure must be set back at least twenty-five feet from the front property line and all streets, and must be set back at least ten feet from all side and rear property lines.(d)A bird enclosure must be maintained in a sanitary manner as determined by the county health department.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Ordinance Code: Supplement 103).

Full Breakdown

602 permits a bird enclosure on any lot in a single-family residential district (R-6, R-7, R-10, R-12, R-15, R-20, R-40, R-65, and R-100), a planned unit (P-1) district approved for single-family use, or a two-family residential (D-1) district. 604 then sets the physical limits: the enclosure's footprint is capped at one square foot for every fifty square feet of lot area, with an absolute ceiling of one thousand six hundred square feet no matter how large the parcel, and the structure cannot exceed twelve feet in height.

Placement is restricted too: a bird enclosure must sit at least twenty-five feet back from the front property line and any street, and at least ten feet back from every side and rear property line. Subsection (d) adds a sanitation duty, requiring the enclosure to be maintained in a sanitary manner as determined by the county health department, giving Environmental Health inspectors independent authority to act on odor or pest complaints regardless of whether the structure meets the size and setback rules. 6 height or setback figures under the general variance procedure in Chapter 26-2.

This bird-enclosure article was added by Ordinance No. 2018-06, § II, effective May 1, 2018, as part of the county's broader Urban Farm Animals chapter, but it stands apart from that chapter's separate hen-keeping, apiary, and livestock provisions because it is written to cover ornamental and hobby birds, including pigeons, rather than poultry.

Violations & Fines

Violating the bird enclosure size, height, setback, or sanitation standards is, like any other Ordinance Code infraction, punishable under § 14-8.004(a)(1): a $100 fine for a first violation, $200 for a second violation of the same section within one year, and $500 for each additional violation within that year. The county may instead charge the violation as a misdemeanor under § 14-8.004(b), which carries up to six months in county jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. Code enforcement typically opens with a written notice of violation from the Department of Conservation and Development identifying the noncompliant enclosure and a deadline to correct it before fines or an abatement referral follow.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I build a pigeon coop or aviary on my property in unincorporated Contra Costa County?

Yes, if your lot is zoned R-6 through R-100, a single-family-approved P-1 planned unit district, or a two-family D-1 district. Section 82-50.602 allows bird enclosures in those districts, but the structure must still meet the size, height, and setback limits in § 82-50.604.

How big can a bird enclosure be on my lot?

Section 82-50.604(a) caps it at one square foot of enclosure for every fifty square feet of lot area, with a hard maximum of one thousand six hundred square feet regardless of how large the parcel is. A large lot does not entitle you to an unlimited coop or aviary.

How far back from my property line does a bird enclosure have to be?

At least twenty-five feet from the front property line and any street, and at least ten feet from every side and rear property line, per § 82-50.604(c). The structure also cannot exceed twelve feet in height under § 82-50.604(b).

What happens if my bird enclosure does not meet the county's setback or sanitation rules?

The county can cite the violation as an infraction under § 14-8.004(a)(1): $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second within a year, and $500 after that, or pursue it as a misdemeanor carrying up to six months in jail or a $1,000 fine. You can also apply for a variance under § 82-50.802 if you cannot meet the height or setback standard.

Sources & Official References

[1]Contra Costa County Ordinance Code § 82-50.602, § 82-50.604 (Article 82-50.6, Bird Enclosures)

Other rules in Contra Costa County

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All Contra Costa County rules

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