Pleasanton, CA Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Chicken cap
- Up to 6 female chickens, R-1 districts
- Governing section
- § 18.32.030(F), Chapter 18.32 R-1 District
- Roaming fowl
- Nuisance to run at large, § 7.36.040
- Coop sanitation
- Must be kept clean, § 7.36.050
- Horse allowance
- 2 horses on 40,000 sq ft site, § 18.32.030(E)
Summary
Pleasanton's R-1 single-family zoning permits keeping household pets "including up to six female chickens" by right, no roosters implied and no permit needed, while a separate citywide nuisance rule bans letting chickens, geese, ducks or other fowl run or fly loose onto a neighbor's property.
The following uses shall be permitted in the R-1 districts: ... F. Household pets including up to six female chickens.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4955754; v17 updated 2026-06-02).
Full Breakdown
030(F) allows "household pets including up to six female chickens" as a matter of right alongside other accessory uses like private stables (two horses on a 40,000-square-foot site, one more per additional 40,000 square feet, with 50- and 100-foot setbacks from stables to dwellings). 030. 040 declares it "a nuisance" for anyone to "suffer or permit any chickens, geese, ducks, turkeys, pheasants, doves, pigeons, squabs, or similar fowl or rabbits" to run or fly at large or onto another person's property. 070. Together the rules let a Pleasanton household keep a small hen flock without a permit as long as the birds stay confined to the property and the coop is kept sanitary.
Violations & Fines
Title 18, Zoning, and Title 7, Animals, are both designated infraction chapters under § 1.12.020: a first violation (for example, hens running loose on a neighbor's property) draws a fine up to $100, a second within 12 months up to $200, a third up to $500, and a fourth becomes a misdemeanor carrying the general penalty of up to $1,000 or six months in jail under § 1.12.010.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many chickens can I keep in Pleasanton?
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pleasanton
How Pleasanton compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·California rules heatmap·Compare Pleasanton to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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