On single residential (RS) and rural living (RL) zoned property in unincorporated San Benito County, residents may keep up to 12 small farm animals total in any combination, per Zoning Code Section 25.08.013. Coops must be kept clean, vermin-free, and odor-free, and animals may not disturb the peace.
San Benito County regulates backyard poultry and small farm animals through its Zoning Code, not its animal-control title. Section 25.08.013 ('Animal Keeping and Number of Small Farm Animals, Small Livestock, and Dog and Cats') allows the keeping of 'small farm animals' on single residential (RS) and rural living (RL) zoned parcels, limited to a total of 12 small farm animals in any combination of chicken hens, pigeons or similar fowl, crowing fowl (roosters), rabbits or similar animals, ducks, geese, turkeys, goats, sheep, or other livestock. Notably, San Benito County's small-farm-animal allowance does include crowing fowl such as roosters, unlike many cities that ban them outright. Owners must keep enclosures regularly cleaned and maintained, free of rodents and vermin, and not allow the accumulation of foul odors, and the animals may not disturb the peace. Larger agricultural and rural zoning districts allow more extensive livestock keeping. In June 2025 the County circulated proposed revisions to its rural livestock rules; those changes were not adopted at the time of writing, so the 12-animal small-farm allowance under 25.08.013 reflects the current standard. Within the City of Hollister and other incorporated cities, separate city codes apply.
Keeping more than the permitted number of small farm animals, keeping them on a zoning district that does not allow them, or maintaining a dirty, odorous, or vermin-attracting enclosure can be cited as a County Code / zoning violation enforced by the Building & Code Enforcement Division. Noise from crowing fowl that disturbs the peace may also be cited.
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