Kings County, CA Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Residence-to-structure distance
- 40 ft (RR district)
- Stable setback from property line
- 30 ft minimum
- Zoning status
- Permitted (P) use
- Districts covered
- RR, R-1, RM
Summary
Kings County allows livestock keeping incidental to a residence in RR, R-1, and RM districts, but any structure housing livestock must sit 40 feet from the residence, with stables set back 30 feet from every property line.
Distance Between Structures (ft.) Between residence & structures housing livestock or small animals. 40* No Limitation No Limitation No Limitation No Limitation No Limitation No Limitation No Limitation No Limitation *Stables shall be located a minimum of 30' from any property line.
Full Breakdown
Table 5-1 of the Development Code permits 'livestock keeping incidental to the residential use of the property' by right in the RR, R-1, and RM districts: no conditional use permit needed. But Table 5-2's dimensional standards attach a real distance rule: any structure housing livestock or small animals must sit at least 40 feet from the residence in the RR district, and a stable specifically must be set back a minimum of 30 feet from every property line, on top of that. The other residential districts carry no fixed distance limitation for this standard.
Violations & Fines
Placing a livestock structure closer than 40 feet to the residence, or a stable within 30 feet of a property line, violates Table 5-2; Sec. 2403 makes it an infraction, a misdemeanor on repeat within 12 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep horses or livestock on residential land in unincorporated Kings County?
How far must a barn or stable be from my house in a Kings County RR zone?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kings County
How Kings County compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·California rules heatmap·Compare Kings County to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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