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

02(a) sets the base cap for small livestock: chickens, rabbits, pigeons and similar animals cannot exceed five total per lot in any combination, and roosters are strictly prohibited regardless of zone or lot size. Property owners who want more birds can apply for a Conditional Use Permit under Section 9824 to keep up to 100 Racing or Homing Sport Pigeons, but only on R-1 single-family lots. Before building a loft, the applicant must submit a detailed site plan to the City showing the structure's location.

02(b) requires the loft to sit at least 10 feet from any separate accessory building, at least 35 feet from any residential building including on adjoining properties, and at least 100 feet from a school or hospital. Pigeon supplies must be stored in the rear yard in a city-approved, closed-container accessory building. 02(c) further caps flying and training releases at 50 birds at a time, limits sponsored-event releases to four per 30-day period, restricts exercise to one morning and one afternoon session set by the CUP, and bars each bird from leaving the loft more than once in 24 hours.

The broader domestic animal scheme in Section 9514 caps dogs, cats and other household pets at three per unit in R-1 and R-2 zones and two in R-3, R-3-O or M-U zones, with animals under four months excluded from the count. 04 layers on additional livestock limits: any animal other than cats, dogs and household pets must be kept at least 50 feet from any dwelling, no pig or hog of any age is allowed in any zone, and horses are capped at three per lot and require a minimum 20,000-square-foot parcel. 1 of Article IV.