Palm Springs, CA Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)

Palm Springs is predominantly an urban resort city, and PSMC Chapter 10.80 and the zoning code impose tight restrictions on keeping poultry, goats, pigs, cattle, horses, and other livestock. In standard R-1 single-family residential zones, keeping chickens is generally not permitted; the allowance for backyard hens common in other Coachella Valley cities has not been broadly adopted in Palm Springs. Equestrian overlay and large-lot rural residential zones (if any) may permit a small number of hens on parcels meeting minimum-acreage requirements, with setbacks (typically 40 feet from any residence), coop limits, sanitation standards, and prohibition on slaughtering. Roosters are prohibited citywide due to the crowing noise-nuisance concerns, particularly acute in Palm Springs where homes sit close together and outdoor living is year-round. Pot-bellied pigs, goats, sheep, cattle, and pigs are not allowed as pets in residential zones. Horses are allowed only in designated equestrian overlays such as portions of the eastern city near Desert Hot Springs boundary if applicable. Violations are investigated by Riverside County Animal Services, which contracts with Palm Springs, and the city's Code Enforcement. First-offense animal-keeping violations typically receive warning and compliance deadlines; repeat violations and nuisance citations escalate to fines. Residents who want backyard chickens should verify zoning at the Planning counter before purchase; selling eggs requires separate cottage-food or agricultural permitting under California law.