Chula Vista, CA Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- CVMC 6.04.020
- Dwelling setback
- 100 feet minimum
- 1 cow or 2 sheep
- Minimum 15,000 sq ft lot
- 2 horses
- Minimum 20,000 sq ft lot
- Additional horse
- +20,000 sq ft per horse
- Nuisance abatement
- City Manager may summarily abate
Summary
Chula Vista lets residents keep a limited number of horses, cows or sheep only on large lots and only far from neighboring homes: a cow or two sheep need 15,000 square feet, horses need 20,000, and no animal may come within 100 feet of any dwelling but the owner's.
A. No horse, cow or sheep shall be kept or maintained within 100 feet of any dwelling, not including the owner's. B. One cow or two sheep may be kept by a family on a single tract of land having a minimum of 15,000 square feet, or two horses on a single tract of land having a minimum of 20,000 square feet therein, and containing not more than one single-family dwelling unit thereon. One additional horse may be kept for each 20,000 square feet over the minimum lot area of 20,000 square feet.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 3623, passed May 19, 2026).
Full Breakdown
020 sets both a distance rule and a density rule for large livestock. Subsection A bars keeping or maintaining any horse, cow or sheep within 100 feet of any dwelling other than the owner's own house, a buffer aimed at neighboring properties, not the keeper's own home. Subsection B then sets minimum lot sizes: a family may keep one cow or two sheep on a single tract of at least 15,000 square feet, or two horses on a tract of at least 20,000 square feet, so long as the lot holds no more than one single-family dwelling.
An additional horse is allowed for each additional 20,000 square feet beyond the base minimum. Subsection C converts nuisance conditions into an enforcement hook: livestock kept under this section that causes obnoxious odors, objectionable noise, unusual amounts of flies, or unsanitary conditions affecting the peace and welfare of the immediate neighborhood is declared a public nuisance, and the City Manager or a designee may summarily abate it, meaning the City can act to correct the condition without a full nuisance-abatement hearing process. The section traces back to a 1961 ordinance (Ord. 774) and was last amended by Ordinance 3226 in 2012. 060.
Violations & Fines
Keeping livestock in violation of the setback or lot-size limits, or allowing nuisance conditions under subsection C, is enforceable under the citywide general penalty at CVMC § 1.20.010: a misdemeanor punishable by up to $1,000 and six months in county jail, or an infraction with a $100 first-offense fine at the City Prosecutor's discretion; nuisance conditions may also be summarily abated by the City Manager.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much land do I need to keep a horse in Chula Vista?
How close to my neighbor's house can I keep a cow or sheep?
Can the City make me get rid of livestock that's bothering neighbors?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chula Vista
How Chula Vista compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·California rules heatmap·Compare Chula Vista to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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