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

Sec. 4-5-901 makes it unlawful to keep any equine, bovine, swine, sheep or goat within City limits without first securing a livestock permit and filing an application with the Director of Public Safety. Sec. 4-5-902 layers on a zoning gate: livestock or poultry may only be maintained where the zoning regulations expressly permit it, and the Zoning Code governs whether any issued permit is even valid. Applications go through Sec. 4-5-903, and fees are set by City Council resolution under Sec. 4-5-904. Sec. 4-5-905 lets an animal services officer inspect the animals and site, review community input, and recommend approval; the Director may then issue the permit only if the use won't endanger community health or safety, the premises will stay clean and sanitary, the applicant hasn't had a similar permit denied or revoked in the prior six months, hasn't been convicted under Penal Code §§ 596-599, and can meet added conditions.

A permit may be revoked or suspended for noncompliance under Sec. 4-5-906. Sec. 4-5-908 requires the permittee to erect and maintain a fence to the Director's specifications, and Sec. 4-5-909 bans staking, grazing or running livestock on another person's land or public property without written consent. Sec. 4-5-910 authorizes impoundment of violating animals with a lien for the City's costs, Sec. 4-5-911 requires notifying the State Department of Food and Agriculture on impounding a bovine, horse, mule or burro, and Sec. 4-5-912 requires unclaimed animals to be sold at public sale, or disposed of humanely for non-bovine/equine animals, after 14 days. Permit decisions can be appealed under Sec. 4-5-914 following Chapter 14 procedures.