Solano County, CA Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Fowl at large
- Nuisance under County Code sec. 4-14
- Pastured poultry setback
- 200 ft from any (R) district parcel (zoning 28.71)
- Crowing fowl (pastured poultry)
- No more than 5
- Pastured poultry flock cap
- 3,000 birds or fewer
- Sanitation
- Coops/pens kept clean and sanitary (sec. 4-17)
Summary
In unincorporated Solano County, keeping chickens and other fowl is regulated through the County zoning code (Chapter 28) by district and use, while County Code Chapter 4 makes it a nuisance to let fowl or rabbits run at large or onto a neighbor's property. Animal keeping must also satisfy zoning setback and use-permit standards.
(a) No person shall keep, maintain or harbor five or more roosters on any property within unincorporated Solano County. This section shall not apply to commercial poultry ranches whose primary commodity is the production of eggs or meat for sale as permitted by the County, public or private schools as registered with the California Department of Education, FFA or 4-H sponsored projects, or to legitimate poultry hobbyists as approved in writing by the Agricultural Commissioner. ... (d) Rooster enclosures shall have a minimum set back from adjacent residences of 50 feet.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 1868, passed April 9, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Two parts of the Solano County Code apply to backyard birds and farm animals in unincorporated areas. County Code Chapter 4 (Animals and Fowl), section 4-14, declares it a nuisance for any person to permit chickens, geese, ducks, turkeys, squabs, similar fowl, or rabbits they own or control to run or fly at large or go onto another person's premises. Section 4-15 prohibits selling or giving away baby chicks, ducklings, rabbits, or other fowl that have been dyed an unnatural color, while exempting farmers, ranchers, recognized breeders, dealers, and hatcheries.
Section 4-17 requires any pen, coop, barn, or place where animals or fowl are kept to be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition. 71). The zoning standards for a 'pastured poultry' operation, for example, require a 200-foot setback from any parcel in an (R) residential district, limit the flock to 3,000 birds or fewer, and allow no more than five crowing fowl; a pastured livestock operation must likewise maintain a 200-foot setback from any (R)-district parcel. Adding more than four crowing fowl is shown in the agricultural use tables as triggering a use permit. Because allowed animal keeping varies by zoning district and parcel, owners should confirm their specific zoning with Solano County Planning Services.
Violations & Fines
Letting fowl or rabbits run at large or trespass onto a neighbor's property is a declared nuisance under section 4-14, subject to abatement by Animal Control. Keeping poultry or livestock that exceeds the zoning standards (setbacks, flock size, crowing-fowl limits) or in a district where the use is not permitted can require a minor use permit or use permit, or constitute a zoning violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep backyard chickens in unincorporated Solano County?
Is there a limit on roosters or crowing fowl?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Solano County
How Solano County compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·California rules heatmap·Compare Solano County to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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