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

Humboldt County is a heavily agricultural North Coast county and the keeping of chickens and livestock is regulated through the County's Inland Land Use Ordinance (Title III of the Humboldt County Code) and the Coastal Zoning Regulations administered by the Humboldt County Planning & Building Department at 3015 H Street, Eureka (707-445-7205). Animal-keeping density, minimum parcel sizes, setbacks for coops and corrals, and rooster restrictions are set by the applicable zone (Agricultural Exclusive AE, Agricultural General AG, Rural Residential Agriculture RA, etc.). The Land Use Division provides the public counter for confirming which zone applies to a specific parcel and what animal-keeping uses are permitted, conditional, or prohibited. California state law adds a strong backdrop: California Food and Agricultural Code section 31152 protects livestock and poultry owners by authorizing them, with specified preconditions, to kill a dog 'found in the act of killing, wounding, or persistently pursuing livestock or poultry on land or premises not owned or possessed by the owner of the dog,' and forecloses any 'civil or criminal' action against a person who kills a dog under the conditions set by that statute. Humboldt County also operates a Livestock Officer (707-445-7251) to handle stray livestock and livestock-related complaints.