Unincorporated Orange County allows up to 4 hens on qualifying residential properties with a $57 Residential Backyard Chicken Permit effective November 2021. Roosters and other poultry are prohibited. Livestock is permitted separately on agriculturally zoned properties.
The Residential Backyard Chicken ordinance, effective November 1, 2021, allows up to four hens only on owner-occupied single-family residential properties with qualifying zoning designations (R-1AAAA, R-1AAA, R-1AA, R-1A, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-CE-C, RT-1, RT-2, R-L-D, NC, NAC, or NR). Roosters, ducks, geese, quail, turkeys, peafowl, and pigeons are not permitted under the residential chicken permit. The $57 permit requires a site plan and proof of training completion. Coops or pens must be located at least 30 feet from a house on an adjacent property. On agriculturally zoned (A1) properties, keeping livestock and poultry is permitted under separate regulations in OCCO Section 38-79(36) without the residential permit limitations.
Keeping chickens without a permit or exceeding the 4-hen limit may result in code enforcement citations and required removal of the animals. Roosters in residential zones will be ordered removed. Violations on agricultural property are handled separately.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Mission Viejo, CA
Mission Viejo uses a nuisance-based noise standard rather than fixed decibel limits for most residential situations. The General Plan Noise Element establish...
Mission Viejo, CA
Mission Viejo is not within the primary noise contour of any major airport. The nearest commercial airport is John Wayne Airport (SNA), approximately 15 mile...
Mission Viejo, CA
Outdoor music in Mission Viejo must not be audible beyond property boundaries at levels that disturb neighbors. The city hosts outdoor concerts at the Lake a...
Mission Viejo, CA
Mission Viejo does not have a citywide overnight parking ban on public streets, but the 72-hour storage limit applies. Most HOA communities restrict or prohi...
Mission Viejo, CA
Mission Viejo generally allows street parking but restricts it in certain areas through posted signage. The 72-hour vehicle storage limit on public streets i...
Mission Viejo, CA
Mission Viejo actively enforces abandoned vehicle regulations on public streets and private property. Vehicles that are inoperable, unregistered, or parked f...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Orange County.
See how other cities in Orange County handle chickens & livestock.
See how Mission Viejo's chickens & livestock rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.