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

83 acres. On those larger parcels, the keeping of horses, cows, goats, sheep, or other equine, bovine, ovine, or ruminant animals is permitted on top of the standard Household Pets allowed on any residential lot. Large Animals are capped at two per acre, though immature offspring under one year of age don't count against that ratio; pigs remain prohibited regardless of lot size. Chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, game birds, or other fowl are allowed at up to 12 birds per gross acre. Cats and dogs on these larger lots get a slightly higher cap than smaller residential lots, six animals total, versus four on lots of 36,000 square feet or less.

4 imposes a setback standard specific to livestock: any animal other than a household pet must be housed or penned at least 40 feet from property lines and 50 feet from the nearest residential structure, and every pen and structure has to be kept clean enough that it doesn't create a public hazard or nuisance. A parallel tier applies in Buffer Districts under Subsection D, where large-animal parcels over one acre are held to the same two-per-acre cap. Non-conforming animal-keeping uses that predate the current standards may continue under Subsection A, but an animal cannot be replaced once it is removed from the property or dies, so the legal nonconforming use winds down over time.