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

There is no single countywide chicken limit. Poultry is regulated under the County Zoning Ordinance Animal Regulations (Sections 3000-3130) as 'Small Animal Raising (includes Poultry)' in the Animal Schedule at Section 3100. The number of small animals (including hens) allowed depends on the property's Animal Designator letter and lot size, which a parcel's zoning shows; some designators permit small-animal raising by right, others require additional acreage or a permit. Animal enclosures must meet the setbacks in the Animal Enclosure Setback Table (Section 3112). Roosters are treated separately. County Code Article 7 (sections 62.690-62.692), added by Ordinance No. 10166, limits roosters because the keeping of roosters with few regulations can support illegal cockfighting. A 'rooster' is a male chicken six months or older, with full adult plumage, or capable of crowing. The maximum number of roosters per premises is set by lot size in the section 62.692 table: one rooster on less than half an acre; four on half an acre to one acre; six on more than one to five acres; and twenty on more than five acres. Each rooster enclosure must be at least 50 feet from any residence, roosters may not be tethered, and each must have water, shelter, room to spread its wings and turn, and clean premises. Commercial poultry ranches and approved 4-H or FFA projects are exempt from the rooster cap.