Compton, CA Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Roosters
- Up to 6 permitted, R-A only
- Large livestock
- 1 per 2,500 sq ft, max 5
- Sheep/goats
- Up to 5 of each per family
- Livestock setback
- 50 ft buildings, 10 ft lot lines
- Poultry/rabbit setback
- 35 ft buildings, 10 ft lot lines
- Zone restriction
- R-A only, excluded from R-L/R-M/R-H
Summary
Compton limits chickens, poultry and livestock to the Residential Agriculture (R-A) zone only; the low-, medium- and high-density residential zones exclude them entirely. Within R-A, Section 30-7.3 requires horses, cows, goats and sheep to sit at least 50 feet from any dwelling and 10 feet from property lines, while poultry, birds, chinchillas and rabbits need 35 feet from buildings and 10 feet from lot lines.
Animals, birds, fowl and poultry on a lot or parcel of land in the Residential Agriculture Zone (R-A) shall be maintained not less than the following distances from any dwelling or commercial building or from any property line: a. Horses, cows, goats and sheep: 50 feet from residential and commercial buildings and 10 feet from property lines; and b. Birds, fowl, poultry, chinchillas and rabbits: 35 feet from residential and commercial buildings and 10 feet from property lines.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4952997; v15 updated 2026-07-14; through 07-14-2026).
Full Breakdown
The Residential Agriculture Zone (R-A) is Compton's only zone that treats poultry, aviary birds, rabbits and grazing livestock as principal permitted uses. 4, governing the Low-Density Residential Zone (R-L), permits only birds 'excluding pigeons, doves, chickens, and ducks kept as household pets,' and the Medium- and High-Density zones (R-M, R-H) incorporate R-L's use list rather than R-A's, so livestock and poultry stay excluded there too. 3 layers on mandatory setback distances: horses, cows, goats and sheep must be kept at least 50 feet from any residential or commercial building and 10 feet from any property line, while birds, fowl, poultry, chinchillas and rabbits need at least 35 feet from buildings and 10 feet from lot lines.
c separately bans hogs, dairies, slaughterhouses, apiaries and 'fox and monkey farms and horse and mink ranches' outright, even within R-A, and bars keeping horses for anything but the resident family's own use.
Violations & Fines
Keeping poultry or livestock outside the R-A zone, over the numeric caps, or closer than the required setback is a zoning violation. Section 30-7.2.d makes exceeding the allowed number of animals a misdemeanor and authorizes the city to confiscate the excess animals, billing the owner for their housing and feeding until disposal. Violations that fall outside that specific animal provision default to Section 1-6.2's citywide penalty of up to $1,000, up to six months in jail, or both.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep chickens in my Compton backyard?
How far do chickens or rabbits have to be from my neighbor's house?
Can I keep a horse or cow in Compton?
Are pigs or beehives allowed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Compton
How Compton compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·California rules heatmap·Compare Compton to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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