Ventura County, CA Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Chicken animal unit factor
- 0.10 per bird
- R-1 zone
- Chickens OK, no roosters/peafowl
- R-2 zone
- No animal keeping allowed
- Rooster/peafowl min. lot
- 20,000 sq ft
Summary
Unincorporated Ventura County lets R-1 lots keep chickens under Sec. 8105-4, but bans roosters, peafowl and guinea fowl there and on any lot under 20,000 square feet; the R-2 zone allows no animal keeping at all.
R-1 [zone] Permitted Pursuant to Sec. 8105-4, excluding roosters, peafowl, guinea fowl, and the like. R-2 No animal keeping or husbandry allowed. REGULATORY NOTES: 2. No roosters, peafowl, guinea fowl or the like are permitted in the R1 Zone, or on lots less than 20,000 square feet in other zones.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 51).
Full Breakdown
Livestock and fowl keeping is governed by an animal-unit table tied to lot size and zone, with chickens carrying a 0.10 animal unit factor. In the R-1 zone, keeping is permitted per Section 8105-4, but roosters, peafowl and guinea fowl are excluded outright. Countywide, those same noisy species are also barred on any lot smaller than 20,000 square feet, regardless of zone. The R-2 zone allows no animal husbandry or keeping whatsoever. Other residential zones (R-A, R-E, R-O, etc.) scale allowed animal units to lot acreage. Applies only in the unincorporated area: incorporated cities set their own rules.
Violations & Fines
Keeping roosters, peafowl or guinea fowl on an R-1 lot or a lot under 20,000 sq ft, or any livestock in the R-2 zone, is a zoning violation subject to county enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep chickens on an R-1 lot in unincorporated Ventura County?
Can I keep chickens in the R-2 zone?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ventura County
How Ventura County compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·California rules heatmap·Compare Ventura County to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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