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

Section 19.34.060 allows animal keeping in any residential zoning district, subject to the permit requirements in Table 3-13 and the standards in Table 3-14. Table 3-13 marks each animal type by district as P, permitted with no City approval when Table 3-14 is met, UP, which needs Use Permit approval under § 19.42.050, or a dash, not allowed. Fowl and poultry are split into 12 or fewer total and 13 or more total. The larger flock needs a Use Permit in the RR, RVL and R1 districts and is not allowed in R4/R5, R10 or R20.

Table 3-14 sets the numbers. Fowl and poultry are limited to 12 or less per site on a minimum lot area of 5,000 square feet with 10-foot setbacks, and roosters, quacking ducks, geese, guinea fowl and peafowl are not allowed. Setbacks are measured from all property lines for areas and structures where animals are kept, and animals cannot be kept in any required front yard setback. Offspring are allowed in addition to the maximum until weaned. Chickens carry extra rules under subsection E.5: the enclosure must stay 25 feet from any dwelling other than the keeper’s, both a henhouse and a pen are required, birds must stay within one of them and cannot roam freely, the henhouse and enclosure must be roofed, and overcrowding is prohibited. The City considers less than four square feet per hen within the enclosure to be overcrowding.

Livestock face larger thresholds. Large animals, meaning horses, cows, goats, llamas, sheep and similar sized animals, are limited to 1 animal per 20,000 square feet on a minimum lot of 20,000 square feet with 20-foot setbacks, and in the R1 district they are allowed only where a lot contains 20,000 square feet or more of land not subject to restricted use. Hogs and swine are limited to 1 animal per 40,000 square feet on a minimum lot of 80,000 square feet with 20-foot setbacks. Keeping horses or cattle within 50 feet of any waterway first requires Director approval of a good housekeeping plan. All enclosures must be kept free from litter, garbage and manure accumulation, and animal keeping must meet the noise standards of § 19.22.060.