Hawthorne, CA Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Crowing roosters
- Prohibited outright
- Domestic fowl/bird cap
- 10 per residential lot
- Rabbit cap
- 5 per residential lot
- Manure setback from dwellings
- 45 feet minimum
- Manure removal frequency
- Daily, or weekly if binned
Summary
Hawthorne bans crowing roosters outright on residential, church or educational-use property and caps domestic fowl at ten and rabbits at five per lot. Manure from any kept fowl or livestock also has to stay a set distance from doors, windows and nearby institutions and be cleared out regularly.
No person shall keep any crowing roosters or more than ten domestic fowl or birds, or more than five rabbits on any real property, the use of which is restricted to residential purposes, church purposes or educational purposes by this code or any other ordinance of the city.
Full Breakdown
050, "Keeping of crowing roosters, domestic fowl and rabbits on residential property," flatly prohibits any crowing rooster on property restricted to residential, church, or educational purposes and separately caps the total at "more than ten domestic fowl or birds, or more than five rabbits" on the same category of property. Hens that do not crow are not banned outright, only capped at ten together with any other domestic fowl or birds; a single crowing rooster of any kind is prohibited regardless of count. 080 bars keeping manure within forty-five feet of any window or door of an inhabited structure or within one hundred feet of a church, school, hospital or place where food is stored or served.
090 further requires daily removal of manure unless it is stored in tightly-closed, fly-proof bins made of brick, stone, concrete or metal-lined wood, with contents cleared at least once a week. 12, requiring a valid horse registration posted at the entrance to where the horse is kept.
Violations & Fines
Keeping a crowing rooster, or more than ten domestic fowl or more than five rabbits, on residential, church or educational property violates Section 6.24.050 and is punishable under the Title 1 general penalty, Section 1.20.010, as a misdemeanor carrying up to a $1,000 fine and up to six months in jail, or it may instead be prosecuted as an infraction or civil administrative citation. Failing to keep coops sanitary or manure properly bagged and set back from dwellings and institutions under Sections 6.24.070 through 6.24.100 can additionally draw a health officer order to clean and disinfect the premises.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep chickens in my backyard in Hawthorne?
How many rabbits can I keep at my house?
How far must a chicken coop or manure pile be from my neighbor's house?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hawthorne
How Hawthorne compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·California rules heatmap·Compare Hawthorne to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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