Davis, CA Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)

010 makes it unlawful to keep cattle, horses, swine, sheep, goats, geese, ducks, turkeys, roosters and other poultry or game birds anywhere in the city except as the chapter specifically allows. 020 then creates the residential exception most homeowners rely on: up to six chicken hens, six pigeons, or a mix of hens and pigeons totaling six, or up to six rabbits, may be kept in a clean and sanitary pen or structure, provided no part of that structure sits closer than forty feet to any residence other than the keeper's own home, and provided the animals do not create a health or nuisance problem.

010. 030 lets the police chief issue a permit, after investigation and a fee set by the city council, for larger-scale keeping of chickens, pigeons or rabbits without regard to the forty-foot setback, for commercial or scientific animal keeping, or for miniature swine and pygmy or dwarf goats under strict size caps: swine under twenty-two inches at the shoulder and one hundred fifty pounds, goats under twenty-eight inches and one hundred pounds, capped at three animals of either type combined, with required dehorning and neutering for goats.

050 gives police, code enforcement or health department officials a right of entry to count animals and check compliance, with twenty-four hours' written notice if entry is refused absent an emergency.