Palm Springs, CA Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Defined as livestock
- Horses, sheep, goats, chickens, roosters, ducks, geese, swine
- Default rule
- Unlawful without zoning authorization
- Household pets
- Excludes livestock by definition
- Governing section
- Municipal Code § 10.24.011(a)
Summary
Palm Springs treats chickens, roosters, ducks, geese and other farm animals as 'livestock,' not household pets, and its animal code makes it unlawful to keep livestock anywhere in the city unless the zoning code expressly permits that animal in the particular zone or district. Most residential lots cannot legally keep backyard chickens without that zoning authorization.
"Livestock" means any domestic animal customarily kept, used, maintained, or raised on a farm or ranch, including but not limited to, horses, ponies, burros, mules, donkeys, sheep, cows, goats, chickens, roosters, ducks, geese, and swine. ... The term "household pets" does not include livestock or any animal or bird that is a dangerous or prohibited species or is commonly kept for commercial or agricultural purposes. ... It shall be unlawful for any person to own, possess, harbor, keep, maintain upon his or her property, for any reason, any animal other than a household pet or any animal expressly permitted within a particular zone or district as provided in the zoning code of the city.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4923139; v14 updated 2026-06-24).
Full Breakdown
100 expressly excludes livestock from the definition of 'household pets,' the only category of animal residents may keep by right. 011(a), captioned 'Prohibited animals,' makes it unlawful for any person to own, possess, harbor, keep, or maintain on their property any animal other than a household pet or an animal expressly permitted within a particular zone or district under the city's zoning code. That means chickens and other fowl are not automatically legal on a residential lot in Palm Springs: the zoning code, not Title 10, is where a property owner must look for a district that expressly authorizes keeping livestock or fowl, and absent that express zoning permission the animal control prohibition controls.
015 permit process or otherwise expressly authorized by the city council; that exception does not extend general permission to keep livestock, it only reaches non-domestic wild animals under a separate registration track. 030.
Violations & Fines
Keeping livestock, including chickens or other fowl, on property not zoned to expressly permit it is a violation of Section 10.24.011(a) enforced by the Animal Control Officer, who may order the animal removed or impounded under the Title 10 impoundment procedures in Chapter 10.20, with impoundment and care fees set by City Council resolution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep backyard chickens in Palm Springs?
Are goats or other farm animals treated the same as chickens?
What if my animal is a wild species rather than livestock?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Palm Springs
How Palm Springs compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·California rules heatmap·Compare Palm Springs to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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How other cities in Riverside County handle chickens & livestock.