Kauai County, HI Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)

The Kaua'i County Code 1987 Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance (CZO), Chapter 8, sets the line between casual backyard chicken-keeping and regulated poultry raising in its definitions section, § 8-1.5: 'Poultry raising' means the breeding, feeding, sheltering, or gathering of more than four game or domestic fowl for the purpose of sale, food or egg production, or pets. A household keeping four or fewer chickens, ducks, or other fowl falls outside that definition and outside the CZO's poultry-raising controls entirely. Once a property crosses the four-bird line, the Table of Uses in § 8-2.4 governs where the activity can occur.

Section 8-2.4(r)(18) lists poultry raising as a Permitted Use (P), meaning only a Zoning Permit may be required, in the district covered by that row of the table. The same table's § 8-2.4(s)(15) carves out the exception written into (r)(18): poultry raising located within 3,000 feet of any Use District is reclassified as requiring a Use Permit (U), the CZO's discretionary permit reviewed by the Planning Commission or Planning Director rather than an over-the-counter Zoning Permit. The Table's key at § 8-2.4 defines U as 'Use Permit Required' and P as 'Permitted Use or Structure (Zoning Permit may be required).' Livestock definitions sit in the same section: 'Livestock' covers domestic animals customarily raised or kept on farms for profit or other productive purposes, and a 'Piggery' is any parcel maintaining 10 or more weaned hogs, which triggers its own 3,000-foot Use Permit trigger under § 8-2.4(s)(14). The Planning Department administers all Zoning and Use Permits for the CZO.