Santa Clara County, CA Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)

Backyard poultry in unincorporated areas is governed by the County Zoning Ordinance, not Division B31. The 'Domestic Animals - Small Animals - Limited' use lets residents keep small animals 'including the following small animals: rabbits, guinea pigs, chicken and fowl (but excluding roosters, peafowl, guinea fowl, geese or quacking ducks).' Table 2.30-1, Note 6 caps this at 'a total of twelve (12)' such small animals in urban residential districts, and confirms 'Roosters, peafowl, guinea fowl, geese or quacking ducks are not allowed' under that allowance. Larger 'Livestock' agricultural keeping is allowed in rural districts subject to acreage and the Agriculture use rules (Section 4.10.025). Roosters are regulated separately under County Code Chapter X: Section B31-117 allows four or fewer roosters with no permit, provided they are 'reasonably confined to the property, maintained in a sanitary condition, and not be creating a public nuisance,' while five or more roosters require a rooster coop permit from the Manager of Animal Care and Control. Section B31-119 requires rooster coops to be 'at least 50 feet from any occupied human dwelling.' Commercial poultry and egg farms are a separate use with a ten-acre minimum lot size (Section 4.10.240). Check your parcel's zoning district before keeping poultry.