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

Chapter 17.89 (Animal Keeping) governs backyard poultry and livestock on agricultural and residentially designated property. PMC § 17.89.030(A)(5) allows poultry and fowl, excluding roosters and peafowl, on a lot or parcel not having less than 20,000 square feet, provided the birds are kept or maintained for the private use of members of the family residing on the premises; roosters are excluded outright regardless of lot size, functionally barring crowing roosters everywhere in the City. Table 17.89.030-1 sets the density limit at a maximum of three such birds in any combination for every 10,000 square feet of lot area. Large hooved animals, horses, mules, donkeys, cattle, goats, hogs, sheep, llamas, alpacas, and similar animals, get the same 20,000-square-foot lot minimum under § 17.89.030(A)(3), capped by the table at a maximum of three animals for every 20,000 square feet, with up to 25 percent of the allowed head count permitted to be boarded for people who don't live on the property. Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs kept as pets are capped at one per dwelling unit regardless of lot size.

Placement is separately restricted under § 17.89.030(C)(2): animal enclosures cannot sit in a required front yard setback and cannot be located closer than 50 feet from any residential structure, while barns, doghouses, hutches, coops, and aviaries cannot be within 20 feet of any side or rear lot line. Anyone wanting to exceed the table's numeric caps must apply for an additional-animals clearance under PMC § 17.26.070, and exotic animals as defined in PMC Chapter 17.16 are prohibited outright, with no clearance available to keep one.