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

Under Sonoma County Zoning Regulations (Chapter 26), the allowable type and number of farm animals depends on the property's zoning district. Agricultural zones — LIA (Land Intensive Agriculture, Art. 04), LEA (Land Extensive Agriculture, Art. 06), DA (Diverse Agriculture, Art. 08), RRD (Resources & Rural Development), AR (Agriculture and Residential), and RR (Rural Residential, Art. 18) — permit raising and keeping of farm animals as a principal use. Stocking-density limits in the residentially-flavored zones (AR, RR, PCRR) generally apply to parcels of 5 acres or less in the RR zone and 2 acres or less in the LIA, LEA, DA, RRD, and AR zones; larger parcels have no numerical cap and are governed by health, nuisance, and setback rules. Per county FAQs and the zoning code, the RR district permits roughly 50 chickens per 20,000 sq ft of parcel area on the smaller lots within the threshold. In the R1 single-family residential zone, the keeping of up to six (6) hens is allowed where the hens have access to a coop that is located in the rear yard, contained within a secure enclosure preventing animal trespass, and maintained in a sanitary condition; roosters and larger livestock (cattle, horses, goats, sheep, swine) are not permitted in R1. Setbacks for animal enclosures and manure storage from neighboring dwellings and property lines are set by the individual article (commonly 20–50 ft depending on animal type). Sonoma County is also subject to California Right-to-Farm protections (county-adopted right-to-farm ordinance) that limit nuisance claims against legally operating agricultural uses.