Irvine Chickens & Livestock Rules (2026): What You Need to Know

Irvine's Zoning Ordinance Chapter 3-37 (Animal Keeping) establishes which animals may be kept on properties within city limits, tying permitted species and quantities directly to the zoning designation and lot size of the parcel. As a master-planned community, the vast majority of Irvine's approximately 308,000 residents live in medium- or high-density residential zones where the keeping of chickens, roosters, ducks, turkeys, geese, goats, sheep, pigs, cattle, and other livestock or poultry is prohibited. This reflects the city's planned community structure, where residential neighborhoods are designed with relatively compact lot sizes, shared community amenities, and homeowner association governance that typically impose additional animal restrictions beyond those in the municipal code.

The keeping of chickens (hens only) and other poultry or livestock is permitted only on parcels zoned Agricultural (AG) or on qualifying low-density estate residential lots (typically EA — Exclusive Agricultural Estate zones) with a minimum lot area of one acre. On qualifying parcels, animal enclosures and shelters must be set back at least 20 feet from any neighboring dwelling, and coops or stables must be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition at all times to prevent odor, pest attraction, and nuisance complaints. The number of animals permitted scales with lot size — the Zoning Ordinance establishes maximums based on acreage, and larger parcels may keep correspondingly more animals. Roosters are effectively prohibited in all areas due to Irvine's noise ordinance (Municipal Code Title 4, Chapter 6), which prohibits animal noise that disturbs neighbors' peace, and rooster crowing is consistently found to violate these standards.

For residents on standard residential lots, the Zoning Ordinance permits small household pets including dogs, cats, and a limited number of small caged animals such as rabbits (up to 4 without additional permits). Anything beyond these limits requires written approval from the Community Development Department and potentially a minor conditional use permit. The Irvine Ranch Water District also imposes water-use considerations that affect agricultural and animal-keeping activities. Many Irvine neighborhoods are governed by homeowner associations (HOAs) that impose additional restrictions beyond the municipal code — some HOAs prohibit outdoor animal keeping entirely, and residents should verify both city zoning and HOA rules before acquiring any animals. Contact the Community Development Department at (949) 724-6000 or visit the public counter at Irvine City Hall, One Civic Center Plaza, to determine what animals are allowed on a specific property.