Ridgecrest, CA Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Chicken limit
- 24 chickens per 10,000 sq ft
- Zone
- PA Primary Agriculture District only
- Setback from dwellings
- 50 feet minimum
- Setback from front lot line
- 100 feet minimum
- Commercial slaughter
- Prohibited on-site
Summary
Ridgecrest limits backyard chickens and livestock to its Primary Agriculture (PA) zoning district in Kern County, California, capping animals by lot size and requiring 50- to 100-foot setbacks from dwellings and public areas.
No fowl or animals, nor any pen, coop, stable, barn or corral shall be kept or maintained within 50 feet of any dwelling or other building used for human habitation, or within 100 feet of the front lot line of the lot upon which it is located, or within 100 feet of any public park, school, hospital or similar institution....a.One hog or pig per 10,000 square feet of area;b.Three goats or three sheep or three similar livestock per 10,000 square feet of area;c.24 chickens per 10,000 square feet of area;
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 6).
Full Breakdown
Ridgecrest City Code § 106-311(b)(3) allows keeping bovine and equine animals, plus hogs, goats, sheep, and up to 24 chickens per 10,000 square feet of site area, but only in the PA Primary Agriculture District. No pen, coop, stable, barn, or corral may sit within 50 feet of any dwelling, within 100 feet of the front lot line, or within 100 feet of a public park, school, or hospital. Raising animals or poultry for commercial slaughter is barred. Standard R-1 through R-4 residential zones do not list livestock or chickens as a permitted use.
Violations & Fines
Keeping chickens or livestock outside the PA district, exceeding the per-10,000-square-foot density caps, or violating the 50-/100-foot setbacks is a zoning code violation enforceable under Ridgecrest City Code § 106-63.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep backyard chickens in Ridgecrest?
What livestock can I keep on residential-zoned land in Ridgecrest?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ridgecrest
How Ridgecrest compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·California rules heatmap·Compare Ridgecrest to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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Chickens & Livestock in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Kern County handle chickens & livestock.