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

Shasta County Code Title 6 (Animals) defines 'livestock' in Section 6.04.020 to include 'domestic fowl,' along with bovine and ruminant animals, horses, sheep, goats, swine, rabbits and other useful animals 'commonly kept or raised on farms or ranches as an agricultural activity.' The animal code does not set a maximum number of chickens or a coop-setback requirement. Instead, keeping poultry is governed primarily by land-use zoning under County Code Title 17 (Zoning), which the animal code expressly does not override (6.04.100(E)). Whatever the zoning allows, the general nuisance rules of 6.04.050 still apply: it is unlawful to keep animals on premises that are not maintained in a clean and sanitary condition (6.04.050(I)), to allow animals to stray off the property (6.04.050(A)) - though livestock on the open range is exempted - or to let animals disturb the peace by loud and unreasonable noise (6.04.050(C)), which exempts reasonable noise from agricultural activities. Because Title 6 does not cap poultry, owners should confirm their parcel's zoning district and any applicable use-permit or setback rules with Shasta County Planning. Roosters are not separately addressed in the County Code but could fall under the noise nuisance provision.