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

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Fowl cap
10 ducks/chickens/pigeons combined, off-ag land
Geese/turkeys
Banned outright off agricultural zones
Coop setback
20 feet from every property line
Livestock registration
Report to animal control within 5 days
Horses/goats exception
Fenced 75 ft from any dwelling
Default penalty
Up to $1,000 fine or 6 months jail

Summary

Roseville caps backyard poultry at 10 birds total, in any mix of ducks, chickens, or pigeons, and bans geese and turkeys outright on any lot that isn't zoned agricultural. Municipal Code § 7.36.010 sets the limit; keepers who exceed it, or who want livestock like horses or goats on a residential lot, must follow separate enclosure, setback, and registration rules in Chapters 7.28 and 7.36.

Except upon premises zoned for agricultural purposes pursuant to the zoning code, no person shall keep any goose or turkey, or more than 10, whether singly or in combination, of the following: ducks, chickens, or pigeons.

Source: Roseville Municipal CodeView official code

Full Breakdown

010 of the Roseville Municipal Code bars keeping any goose or turkey outside an agriculturally zoned parcel, and caps every other combination of ducks, chickens, and pigeons at 10 birds total per property. 020 then requires that any outdoor coop or enclosure sit at least 20 feet from every property line, so a flock right up against a fence line is not code-compliant even if the bird count is legal. 040. 010). 030). 040). 050). 110).

Violations & Fines

Chapter 7.36 carries no fine of its own, so exceeding the fowl cap, skipping the 20-foot setback, or keeping livestock without required registration or fencing falls under the citywide general penalty in Municipal Code § 1.20.010: a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine, up to six months in jail, or both, unless the city attorney elects to charge it as an infraction under § 1.20.020, which starts at $100 and rises to $200 and then $500 for repeat violations of the same provision within 12 months.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many chickens can I keep in Roseville without a permit?
Up to 10 total, counting ducks, chickens, and pigeons together, as long as your property is not zoned agricultural, under Municipal Code § 7.36.010. Geese and turkeys aren't included in that cap because they're banned outright off agricultural land. The birds must also be kept in a sanitary enclosure at least 20 feet from every property line under § 7.36.020.
Can I keep a horse or goat on a residential lot?
Only if your parcel was created by a subdivision or parcel map recorded on or after April 1, 1974, and the animal is kept in a fenced enclosure at least 75 feet from any neighboring dwelling, per § 7.28.050. Without that exception, livestock is limited to agriculturally zoned property meeting Chapter 7.28's fencing, shelter-setback, and per-animal space standards.
Do I need to register my chickens or livestock with the city?
Chickens under the 10-bird cap don't need individual registration, but anyone keeping livestock, five or fewer of one kind or more than five, must report the animal's type, description, location, and owner contact information to the animal control officer within five days of bringing it into Roseville, under §§ 7.28.020 and 7.28.030.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Roseville

All Roseville rules

How Roseville compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·California rules heatmap·Compare Roseville to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview

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