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

Section 1420's Additional Use Regulation L-13 governs poultry and fowl on Agricultural District land: an Agricultural Activities Permit (AAP), a ministerial approval the City Planner issues without a public hearing, is required once a property keeps more than 100 chickens or other small domestic fowl for egg production, and an Administrative Use Permit steps in instead for more than 100 birds kept for purposes other than egg production. 5 acres but at least 20,000 square feet is capped at one adult animal per 10,000 square feet of lot area.

The same regulation bars confining or keeping any domestic animal within 35 feet of a dwelling that isn't the animal owner's own house, or within 25 feet of the street frontage of the lot. An AAP application goes to the City Planner on a prescribed form, doesn't require public notice or a hearing, and still requires any building or grading permit the coop or enclosure would otherwise need; uses within 100 feet of a differently-owned parcel can instead be routed into the more searching Alternate Agricultural Activity Permit process. Decisions are appealable to the Planning Commission and, from there, to the City Council.