Napa County Code §18.08.040 defines agriculture broadly to include raising cattle, sheep, horses, goats, pigs, rabbits, and poultry. Chickens and livestock are generally allowed on agricultural and rural parcels, subject to a cap of 25 roosters per acre (maximum 100 per legal parcel) before an administrative permit is required.
Title 18 of the Napa County Code (Zoning) governs animal keeping by parcel type. Section 18.08.040 defines 'Agriculture' to include the raising of crops or livestock — including animal husbandry such as the breeding and raising of cattle, sheep, horses, goats, pigs, rabbits and poultry, and egg production — as a permitted use in agricultural zoning districts (AW, AP, AR). Hens and other poultry are allowed on these parcels with no countywide hard numerical cap, but §18.08.040 limits roosters to 25 per acre up to a maximum of 100 per legal parcel; exceeding that requires an administrative permit under Chapter 6.18. In residential zones (RC, RS, RM), poultry-keeping is restricted; smaller lots typically allow only a limited number of hens kept as pets without a rooster, and setback distances from neighboring dwellings apply. Animal husbandry must not create a nuisance under Title 8.
Keeping livestock or excess roosters in violation of §18.08.040 is a zoning code violation enforced by Napa County Code Compliance. Penalties begin with notice of violation and may escalate to administrative citation, abatement, and daily fines. Roosters above the 25-per-acre limit kept without an administrative permit are subject to immediate enforcement.
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See how Napa County's chickens & livestock rules stack up against other locations.
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