Huntington Beach, CA Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Fowl cap
- 6 total chickens/geese/ducks/etc. combined (§7.12.130)
- Goose/duck/turkey sub-limit
- Max 1 of each (§7.12.130)
- Chick exception
- Up to 24 chicks under 8 weeks old
- Setback
- 25 feet from dwellings, schools, hospitals (§7.12.120)
- Rooster rule
- No rooster over 4 months old citywide
- Permit required
- Residential animal permit for all chickens (§7.12.160)
- Penalty
- Infraction, up to $100 (§7.12.300)
Summary
Huntington Beach caps backyard fowl at six total chickens, geese, ducks, turkeys, pheasants, doves, pigeons or squabs combined, with no more than one goose, duck or turkey among them, under Municipal Code Section 7.12.130. Newborn chicks under eight weeks don't count toward the six-bird cap, but a household may never keep more than 24 of them at once.
No person or household shall maintain in or upon any public or private property in the City more than one goose, duck, or turkey; and no more than six in all of chickens, geese, ducks, turkeys, pheasants, doves, pigeons, squabs or similar domestic fowl; except newborn chicks under eight weeks of age. However, not more than 24 newborn chicks may be maintained.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4954605; v17 updated 2026-06-16).
Full Breakdown
120 bars keeping any of these fowl within 25 feet of a dwelling, church, school, hospital, or a building where food is stored, manufactured or served, unless the keeper occupies that structure, and bans any rooster over four months old anywhere in the City limits regardless of distance. 160. 40 noise standards, written notice mailed to every abutting property owner and tenant before approval, and City authority to inspect the property at any time; violating a permit condition is grounds for revocation. 030. 290.
Violations & Fines
A violation of the fowl headcount, the 25-foot setback, the rooster ban, or a residential-permit condition is a Chapter 7.12 infraction, capped at $100.00 per offense under Section 7.12.300. The Director of Planning and Building enforces the chapter under Section 7.12.290 and can revoke a residential animal permit outright for a condition violation under Section 7.12.160(C)(8).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many chickens can I keep in Huntington Beach?
Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Huntington Beach?
How close to my house can I keep chickens in Huntington Beach?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Huntington Beach
How Huntington Beach compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·California rules heatmap·Compare Huntington Beach to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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