Nevada County, CA Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing code
- Land Use & Development Code Sec. 12.03.041 (Backyard Chicken Keeping)
- Where allowed
- R1 district and RA parcels under 0.5 acre with a single-family dwelling and fenced rear yard
- Max chickens by lot size
- 4 at 6,000 sq ft; 8 at 10,000 sq ft; 14 at 20,000 sq ft (Table 12.03.041.A)
- Roosters
- Not allowed (excluded from the 'backyard chicken' definition)
- Coop setbacks
- 10 ft from property line; 30 ft from adjacent residence
Summary
Unincorporated Nevada County allows backyard chickens in RA and R1 zoning on lots under 0.5 acre, scaled by lot size: 4 hens at 6,000 sq ft, 8 at 10,000 sq ft, 14 at 20,000 sq ft. Roosters, guinea hens, and loud exotic varieties are excluded. Coops need 10-ft property-line and 30-ft residence setbacks.
Section L-II 3.4.1 Backyard Chicken Keeping. A. Purpose. To provide opportunities for the onsite raising of domestic chickens in single-family residential (R1) neighborhoods and residential agricultural (RA) zoned properties with lot size less than 0.5 acres. B. Definitions. For purposes of this ordinance, Backyard Chicken shall mean a domestic chick or hen kept on a property and does not include roosters, guinea hens or loud exotic varieties. C. Standards. The keeping of backyard chickens shall be allowed in the RA and R1 Zoning Districts based on compliance with the following requirements and standards: 1. The raising of backyard chickens shall be allowed only on properties containing a single-family dwelling with a fenced rear yard area. Backyard chickens and their eggs are for domestic purposes only with no commercial sales allowed at the property. 2. All backyard chicken coops shall maintain the following setbacks: a. Property line: 10 feet b. Adjacent Residence: 30 feet 3. All chicken feed shall be kept within an enclosed container to prevent the attraction of vermin. 4. All chicken manure produced from backyard chickens shall be managed in a manner that prevents odors, flies and pests. 5. The following minimum lot size and corresponding maximum number of chickens shall apply: TABLE 3.4.1.A PROPERTY SIZE/MAXIMUM NUMBER OF CHICKENS: R1 & RA (RA parcels of less than 0.5 acres in size) - 6,000 sq. ft: 4 chickens; 10,000 sq. ft: 6 chickens; 20,000 sq. ft: 12 chickens.
Full Breakdown
Under the Land Use and Development Code's Backyard Chicken Keeping provisions (Sec. 5 acre. A 'backyard chicken' is defined as a domestic chick or hen and expressly does not include roosters, guinea hens, or loud exotic varieties. Chickens are allowed only on properties with a single-family dwelling and a fenced rear yard, and both the birds and their eggs are for domestic purposes only, with no commercial sales at the property. A: 4 chickens at a minimum 6,000 square feet, 8 at 10,000 square feet, and 14 at 20,000 square feet.
Coops must keep a 10-foot setback from any property line and a 30-foot setback from an adjacent residence. Feed must be stored in an enclosed container to prevent attracting vermin, and manure must be managed to prevent odors, flies, and pests. 5 acre and up) fall under the broader Animal Keeping and Raising standards (Sec. 040) rather than the backyard-chicken table.
Violations & Fines
Keeping roosters in R1/small-lot RA, exceeding the lot-size chicken limits, violating coop setbacks, or making commercial egg/poultry sales in a residential district are zoning violations enforced by Nevada County Planning/Code Compliance, in addition to any nuisance enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many backyard chickens can I keep on a small lot in unincorporated Nevada County?
Are roosters allowed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Nevada County
How Nevada County compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·California rules heatmap·Compare Nevada County to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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