Sierra County, CA Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)

Sierra County has no separate 'backyard chicken' ordinance; animal keeping is governed by the zoning code (Title 15). In the RR-1 rural residential district, Section 15.12.190(I) permits keeping 'household animals (dogs, cats, guinea pigs, hamsters, pot belly pigs, rabbits, birds, fish and similar types of animals)' that are customarily incidental to residential use 'without restriction,' though any structures appurtenant to keeping animals must meet the zone's yard setbacks. That section also expressly allows animals kept for a school, 4-H Club, or Future Farmers of America without treating them as a commercial use. The A1 agricultural district (Section 15.12.160(B)) lists 'general farming including all types of crop and tree farming, commercial livestock, animal husbandry, and poultry farms' as permitted uses, requiring only that 'all animals shall be cared for in a manner that does not create a public health problem, a public nuisance or interfere with the public welfare of surrounding properties.' The County Code does not set a maximum number of hens for residential keeping, and farm animals such as cattle, sheep, horses, goats and swine are excluded from the animal-control 'animal' definition (8.08.020). Because rules turn on your parcel's zoning district, confirm your classification with Sierra County Planning.