National City, CA Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)

The rules sit in National City Municipal Code § 8.32.015, Restrictions on keeping certain animals, birds and reptiles, in Chapter 8.32 of Title 8 (Animals). Any property zoned for single-family residential use can keep up to six hen chickens. When the lot equals or exceeds seven thousand square feet, the allowance becomes one hen chicken per one thousand square feet of lot area, but never more than twelve hen chickens in total. Every hen counts toward the twenty-animal allowance that covers small livestock on larger lots.

Other small stock is limited to single-family lots greater than twenty thousand square feet. Any combination of the listed classes is allowed up to twenty animals, with each class capped at four adult rabbits, four chinchillas, four turkeys, four ducks, four geese or twenty pigeons. Large stock is narrower still: only horses, cows, goats, sheep, burros, mules, jackasses, llamas or alpacas, alone or in combination, not to exceed five combined, on a parcel of at least twenty thousand square feet.

Roosters are prohibited by § 8.32.010 even when surgically de-crowed, and § 8.04.015 defines a rooster as a male chicken regardless of age. Pigs, ferrets and skunks are also on the prohibited list.

How you keep the flock is regulated by § 8.32.020. Manure, feathers and dead birds must be removed within forty-eight hours and stored in fly-tight, air-tight containers until then. Coops and pens must be cleaned at intervals not to exceed two days, and an odor is offensive if it can be detected at the adjoining property line. Enclosures must be painted at an interval not to exceed twelve months. Birds must be kept in an enclosure at least twenty-five feet from any dwelling used for human habitation, situated in the rear yard and outside any side or rear yard setback required by Title 18. Sounds that carry across a property line between ten p.m. and seven a.m. for more than three minutes count as a noise disturbance.

An owner who wants more animals than the code allows can apply to the city council or city manager for an animal permit for educational, conservation, religious or preservation purposes. The permit fee is set in the National City fee schedule and is paid at application and each renewal. Section 8.32.015(C) adds that these allowances do not override lease terms, condominium or mobile home park rules, zoning or restrictive covenants that prohibit the animals.