Pasadena, CA Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Max flock size
- 10 birds/rabbits total per lot
- Roosters
- Not allowed anywhere in city
- Chicken setback
- 35 ft from dwellings/schools
- Registration
- Required with poundmaster
- Cattle/hogs
- Declared a nuisance/banned
- Horse registration fee
- $5 per year
Summary
Pasadena caps backyard flocks at 10 birds or rabbits total, bans roosters outright, and requires registering chickens with the poundmaster under Municipal Code Section 6.20.032. Chickens must sit at least 35 feet from any dwelling, church, school, or hospital, live in predator-proof shelter, and get at least 10 square feet of enclosed yard each; larger livestock like cattle and hogs are barred entirely.
Adequate enclosure or fencing shall be required sufficient to contain live chickens on the property to prevent escape. The enclosure shall be a minimum size of ten (10) square feet of permeable land per chicken. Adequate shelter shall be required sufficient to protect chickens from the elements, and to prevent wildlife or other predators from gaining entry. ... No person shall have, keep, maintain, or have custody or control of live chickens on residential property within the city without first registering with the poundmaster, and submitting a completed self-certification which verifies that the owner complies with the requirements of this chapter.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 79 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
031 requires adequate enclosure or fencing sufficient to contain live chickens on the property to prevent escape, with a minimum of 10 square feet of permeable land per bird, plus shelter that protects the flock from weather and keeps out predators. 032 bars keeping chickens on residential property without first registering with the poundmaster and submitting a completed self-certification that the coop meets the chapter's requirements. 030(A). 040 declares it a nuisance to keep more than 10 total birds, rabbits, or psittacine birds on one property, exempting veterinary hospitals, pet shops, and research labs.
090 requires a horse or mule to be registered for $5 a year, limits owners to two horses within 200 feet of a neighbor's home, and keeps stables 100 feet from any street. 270, following a noticed hearing and a right of appeal to the city manager within 15 days.
Violations & Fines
Violating any Fowl and Livestock Restrictions provision is treated as a public nuisance and prosecuted under the general Title 6 penalty in Section 6.04.050: a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $500 fine, up to six months in jail, or both, with each day of a continuing violation counted as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many chickens can I keep in Pasadena?
Are roosters legal in Pasadena?
Can I keep goats or a horse in my backyard?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pasadena
How Pasadena compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·California rules heatmap·Compare Pasadena to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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