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

Section 4.20 of the Gilroy City Code makes it unlawful to keep chickens, roosters, pigeons, turkeys, pea fowl, water fowl, swine, llamas or other livestock on premises not zoned for agricultural use, 'except as otherwise provided in section 4.23.' That exception is the city's small animals ordinance, added by Ordinance No. 2012-03. Section 4.23.2(a) overrides Section 4.20(a) for residential zones: any person may keep up to six small animals in any combination on a residential property, but it is unlawful to exceed six. Section 4.23.1 defines 'small animal' as chickens, pigeons, turkeys, pea fowl, water fowl and other Ratitae under 24 inches in mature height, plus rabbits, expressly excluding dogs and cats.

Roosters get a flat, separate ban regardless of the six-animal count: Section 4.23.16 makes it unlawful to maintain a rooster over four months of age anywhere the small animals ordinance applies. Keepers must also satisfy a cluster of care standards in the same section: Section 4.23.3 requires fenced confinement, Section 4.23.4 and 4.23.5 require sanitary, weatherproof enclosures, Section 4.23.6 and 4.23.7 require clean water and adequate food, and Section 4.23.15 bars keeping small animals within 20 feet of the nearest dwelling on adjacent property. Livestock proper, such as cattle or larger farm animals, remains confined to agriculturally zoned land under Section 4.20, with agricultural animals on non-agricultural parcels separately capped at two adult animals per acre and a 100-foot setback from the nearest dwelling under Section 4.19.