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

In unincorporated Solano County, the keeping of poultry and livestock is regulated through the Solano County Zoning Ordinance, codified at Chapter 28 (Articles I, II, and III), with allowed uses depending on the zoning district - chickens and other livestock are generally permitted in Agricultural (A), Exclusive Agricultural (A-20, A-40), Rural Residential (RR), and similar rural designations. Countywide, Chapter 4.1 (Keeping of Roosters) prohibits any person from keeping, maintaining, or harboring five or more roosters on any parcel within unincorporated Solano County; the stated intent is to reduce nuisance crowing and to deter cockfighting. Larger operations meeting state thresholds for a Confined Animal Facility are subject to Chapter 27 (Large Confined Animal Facility Standards), which requires setbacks, waste management, and permitting administered by the Department of Resource Management. Solano County does not have a single hen-per-square-foot formula at the county level (that figure comes from individual city ordinances); residents should check the zoning district of their parcel via the County GIS and confirm with Planning Services. Cities differ widely: Vacaville prohibits poultry in most residential zones, while Dixon and Fairfield allow limited backyard flocks under their own municipal codes.