Napa County, CA Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Parcel <0.5 acre
- 0 roosters allowed
- Parcel 0.5-1.5 acres
- 1 rooster allowed
- Parcel >1.5 acres
- 4 roosters maximum
- Setback from dwellings
- 50 feet minimum from enclosures
- Tethering
- Prohibited
- Definition of rooster (2026)
- Male chicken 6 months or older
- Effective date of new limits
- February 1, 2026
- Penalty cap
- Up to $1,000 per day per violation
Summary
Napa County Code Chapter 6.18 (Keeping of Roosters), as amended by Ordinance 1431 effective Feb. 1, 2026, prohibits roosters on parcels under 0.5 acre, allows 1 rooster on 0.5-1.5 acres, and 4 roosters on parcels over 1.5 acres. Roosters must have water, shelter, room to spread wings and turn around, sanitary housing, a 50-foot setback from neighboring dwellings, and may not be tethered. Hens and other livestock are regulated by zoning (Title 18).
Rooster Limits by Parcel Size: Less than 0.5 acres - 0 roosters; 0.5 to 1.5 acres - 1 rooster; Greater than 1.5 acres - 4 roosters. Roosters must be provided sufficient room to spread both wings fully and to be able to turn in a complete circle without any impediment and without touching the side of an enclosure, and clean and sanitary premises that are kept in good repair. Enclosures shall maintain a minimum set back from adjacent residences of fifty feet. No rooster shall be restrained by tether.
Full Breakdown
18 of the Napa County Code was originally adopted in 2013 as Ordinance 1381 (allowing up to 25 roosters per acre / 100 per parcel) and was substantially tightened by an ordinance adopted by the Board of Supervisors on December 16, 2025 with an effective date of February 1, 2026. 030 caps roosters at zero on parcels under one-half acre, one rooster on parcels between one-half and one and one-half acres, and a maximum of four roosters on parcels greater than one and one-half acres.
The amendment redefines 'rooster' as any male chicken six months or older (down from twelve months). 045 exempts commercial agricultural producers, public/private schools registered with the California Department of Education, government-operated animal shelters, FFA/4-H projects, and approved poultry exhibitors. All roosters must be provided with continuous access to potable water, weather-resistant shelter, and an enclosure large enough to fully extend both wings and turn in a complete circle without touching the sides; enclosures must be set back a minimum of 50 feet from any adjacent dwelling, kept clean and in good repair, and roosters may not be restrained by tether. 108) rather than by Title 6.
Violations & Fines
Violations of Chapter 6.18 are infractions or misdemeanors and may also be enforced through administrative citations and civil penalties of up to $1,000 per day per violation. Roosters kept in excess of the caps must be removed; commercial cockfighting violations are separately prosecutable as misdemeanors or felonies under Penal Code 597b-597j.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep backyard chickens in unincorporated Napa County?
Do the rooster limits apply to my farm?
How far must my rooster pen be from neighbors?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Napa County
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