Garden Grove, CA Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Fowl/rabbits/birds limit
- 4 per property, any combination
- Coop setback requirement
- 25 feet from dwellings/property lines
- Roosters & livestock (cattle, swine, horses)
- banned citywide
- Racing pigeons/parakeets allowed
- up to 10 each, enclosed
- Pigeons beyond 10 (up to 100)
- require conditional use permit
- Enforcing official
- Animal Care Services Director
Summary
Garden Grove bans roosters and livestock like cattle, sheep, swine, and horses citywide under Municipal Code Section 6.04.020, but allows up to four fowl, rabbits, or birds per residential property if kept in a fully enclosed coop at least 25 feet from any dwelling or property line. Pot-bellied pigs are the only livestock exception, permitted separately.
Roosters and Livestock Animals Prohibited. It is unlawful for any person to keep or maintain roosters and livestock animals, including, but not limited to, any bull, steer, cows, calves, cattle, sheep, swine, equine, and bovine, etc., within the corporate City limits, except for pot-bellied pigs subject to subsection B below. ... A maximum of four fowl, rabbits, birds, or household pets, or any combination thereof shall be permitted on any premises within the corporate City limits subject to the following condition: fowl, rabbits, birds, or household pets (excluding dogs and cats) shall be kept at all times in a fully enclosed pen, coop, cage, or similar appropriate enclosure and shall maintain a minimum setback of 25 feet from all adjacent dwelling units and all property lines.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4903654; v10 updated 2026-05-12).
Full Breakdown
020(A)(3) makes it unlawful to keep or maintain roosters or livestock animals, including bulls, steers, cows, calves, cattle, sheep, swine, equine, and bovine animals, anywhere within the corporate city limits, with pot-bellied pigs carved out as the sole exception under subsection B. For fowl specifically, subsection (A)(6)(a)(iii) permits a maximum of four fowl, rabbits, birds, or household pets in any combination per premises, but only if they are kept at all times in a fully enclosed pen, coop, cage, or similar enclosure that maintains a minimum 25-foot setback from every adjacent dwelling unit and property line.
The chapter treats other birds on a sliding scale: up to 10 parakeets or 10 racing pigeons are allowed under the same enclosure and 25-foot setback rule under (A)(6)(c) and (d), while keeping more than 10 pigeons, up to 100, requires a conditional use permit under Title 9 per (A)(6)(e). The Director administers the chapter, may adopt implementing regulations by City Council resolution, and is authorized to inspect property to enforce these limits under subsections (C) through (F). 060(C).
Violations & Fines
A first violation of the rooster, livestock, or fowl-enclosure rules is an infraction under Municipal Code Section 6.04.060(A), punishable by a citation from the Director. If the violation recurs within one year of two other separate Chapter 6.04 violations by the same person, it becomes a misdemeanor under 6.04.060(B). Each day the violation continues is a separate offense under 6.04.060(C), and the Director may inspect the property to confirm compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep chickens in Garden Grove?
Are roosters legal in Garden Grove?
Can I keep a goat or a horse in my backyard?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Garden Grove
How Garden Grove compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·California rules heatmap·Compare Garden Grove to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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