Modesto Municipal Code Title 5, Chapter 4 permits backyard hens in R-1 residential zones. Up to 12 hens are allowed; roosters are prohibited. Coop placement and lot-size minimums apply.
Under Modesto MMC Title 5, Ch. 4 (Animals), residents in R-1 single-family residential zones may keep up to 12 hens without a permit. Roosters are not allowed due to noise. Coops must be set back at least 40 feet from any residential dwelling, including the keeper's own home, and 20 feet from property lines. Hens must be confined; free-ranging onto neighboring property is a nuisance. Slaughter on-site is prohibited. Larger livestock (goats, pigs, cows) are not allowed in R-1; agricultural zones (A-2) permit livestock subject to Stanislaus County standards. Code Enforcement responds to complaints.
Nuisance citation under MMC Title 4 Ch. 9 starts at $100, escalating to $250 and $500. Repeated violations can trigger civil penalties up to $2,500/day and forced removal of animals.
Modesto, CA
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Modesto, CA
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Modesto, CA
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