Unincorporated San Mateo County allows backyard chickens on residential parcels of at least 2,500 sq ft under the County Zoning Regulations. 2,500 to 7,500 sq ft: up to 6 hens. 7,500+ sq ft: up to 10 hens (up to 12 total fowl per lot). No roosters over 4 months old. Coops must be in the rear yard, under 100 sq ft, under 6 ft tall, clean, and set back at least 35 feet from any dwelling, street line, or neighboring property line.
County Zoning Regulations permit small domestic fowl (chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, pigeons, doves) and rabbits in residential districts subject to size and setback limits. Properties under 2,500 sq ft may not keep chickens. At 2,500-7,500 sq ft, up to 6 hens are allowed; at 7,500+ sq ft, up to 10 hens. Total fowl per lot is capped at 12. Roosters older than 4 months are prohibited in residential districts due to noise. Coops must be located in the rear yard only, not exceed 100 sq ft footprint or 6 ft height, and sit at least 35 feet from any dwelling, street, or property line. Larger livestock (goats, pigs, horses, cattle) are restricted to Agricultural (A), Resource Management (RM), and PAD districts with minimum lot sizes (typically 1 acre+). Structures for concentrating livestock must be set back 40-50 ft from property lines per zoning district. California Right to Farm Act (Civil Code §3482.5) protects pre-existing agricultural operations. Nuisance conditions (odor, feces, flies) can trigger abatement regardless of zoning compliance.
Unauthorized rooster or excess hens: Animal Control or code enforcement notice, 30-day removal. Continued violation: infraction $100-$500/day. Coop setback violation: correction required. Nuisance conditions: immediate abatement order. Livestock in residential zone: removal order plus fines.
San Mateo County, CA
Amplified music in unincorporated San Mateo County is regulated by County Code Chapter 4.88 Noise Control, which caps exterior noise at 55-75 dBA daytime and...
San Mateo County, CA
Unincorporated San Mateo County enforces CVC §22651(k) for vehicles on public streets (72 hours) and Ordinance Code Chapter 4.48 for inoperable vehicles on p...
San Mateo County, CA
Unincorporated San Mateo County has no general overnight parking ban on most streets. Specific residential neighborhoods may have permit parking. California ...
San Mateo County, CA
Unincorporated San Mateo County enforces California Swimming Pool Safety Act (H&S Code §115920-115929) and CBC Chapter 31B. Minimum 60-inch barrier, self-clo...
San Mateo County, CA
Unincorporated San Mateo County requires building permits for retaining walls over 4 feet measured from bottom of footing to top of wall, per California Buil...
San Mateo County, CA
San Mateo County requires 100 feet of defensible space around all structures in State Responsibility Areas (SRA) and designated Very High Fire Hazard Severit...
See how San Mateo County's chickens & livestock rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.