Alameda, CA Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)

1 makes it unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to keep more than six chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys or other domestic fowl on premises they own, occupy or control in Alameda. Distance matters as much as headcount: any enclosure holding the fowl must have no part within twenty feet of a dwelling house occupied by human beings, though that setback does not apply to a dwelling owned or occupied by the same person keeping the birds. The section carves out a narrow commercial exception, allowing fowl to be kept temporarily for sale at a shop or place of business where they are bought, sold and dealt in.

A legacy grandfather clause still on the books protected residents who, at the time this subsection was adopted, already kept more than six birds: those households could keep up to twenty domestic fowl, but only if they registered the number of birds they possessed with the animal shelter before April 1, 1983, subject to the shelter verifying the count. 2's sanitation rule, which requires animal quarters and yards be kept reasonably clean to the Health Officer's satisfaction and regularly cleaned to prevent manure, excrement, excess feed or other organic matter from drawing insects, rodents or vermin. 3's public nuisance provision regardless of whether the six-bird cap and setback are met.