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

Although Merced sits on the agricultural edge of the Central Valley, the City of Merced keeps backyard fowl tight. Section 6.04.080 ("Livestock and poultry") makes it unlawful to keep more than two (2) livestock or poultry on any residential lot within the city (subsection I). The same section prohibits keeping livestock or poultry for the purpose of slaughter or for use of any product associated with them (subsection G), bars hog pens, pigsties, or live hogs kept longer than 24 hours except for governmental educational purposes (subsection C), and forbids herding or picketing animals in any street or alley (subsection E). Horses and cows are barred entirely within a defined downtown district bounded by Bear Creek, Parsons Avenue, Eighth Street and V Street (subsection D). Anyone keeping livestock or chickens must contain them within a "lawful fence" (Sec. 6.04.090). The general code does not set a separate hen-only allowance and does not require a coop permit, but the two-animal cap effectively limits backyard flocks. Section 6.04.081 carves out three specific legacy areas annexed from Merced County (near McKee Road, Pettinotti Road, and Mather Road) where larger-parcel owners may keep cattle, goats, sheep, horses, fowl and more, with up to two roosters permitted per parcel (educational FFA/4-H exceptions allowed). Most Merced homeowners fall under the two-animal limit of Sec. 6.04.080.