Anaheim Chickens & Livestock Rules (2026): What You Need to Know

Anaheim Municipal Code Title 18 (Zoning) governs the keeping of animals within city limits, with supplemental use regulations in Chapter 18.38 establishing specific standards for animals on residential properties. Anaheim is one of the most densely populated cities in Orange County, with approximately 350,000 residents across 50 square miles, and the city's zoning framework reflects the need to manage noise, odor, and sanitation in neighborhoods where homes are situated on relatively small lots. In the predominant residential zones (RS-2, RS-3, RS-4, RM-1 through RM-4), the keeping of chickens, roosters, and other poultry is generally not permitted as an accessory use. The code restricts poultry to parcels that carry an agricultural or equestrian overlay designation and meet minimum lot-size thresholds, which effectively excludes the vast majority of residential properties in the city.

Roosters are categorically prohibited in all residential zones in Anaheim. The city treats rooster crowing as an inherent noise nuisance incompatible with the residential environment, and no permit or variance process exists to authorize rooster keeping on a standard residential lot. Hens may be kept without roosters on qualifying parcels in overlay zones, subject to enclosure setback requirements, coop sanitation standards, and limits on the total number of birds proportional to lot size. Property owners considering keeping hens should contact the Anaheim Planning and Building Department at (714) 765-5139 to confirm whether their specific parcel qualifies under the overlay provisions.

Larger livestock — including goats, sheep, pigs, cattle, and horses — are restricted to properties within Anaheim's designated equestrian and agricultural overlay zones. These zones are concentrated in the Anaheim Hills area and in limited pockets along the city's eastern boundary where lot sizes are substantially larger, typically one-half acre or more. Even in qualifying zones, livestock keeping must comply with setback requirements for corrals and enclosures, manure management standards, and maximum animal density limits tied to lot area. The Anaheim Municipal Code cross-references Orange County Health Care Agency regulations for disease prevention and sanitation standards applicable to animal keeping.

Orange County Animal Care provides animal control services for Anaheim and enforces complaints related to prohibited animal keeping, noise, odor, and neglect. Residents who wish to report a suspected violation can contact Orange County Animal Care at (714) 935-6848 or file a complaint through the City of Anaheim's Code Enforcement Division at (714) 765-5158. The city's strict approach reflects its priority of maintaining quality of life in a densely built urban environment anchored by major tourism and entertainment destinations.