Section L-II 3.4 of the Land Use & Development Code allows backyard chickens (hens only, no roosters) in the R1 and RA zoning districts. Hen counts range from 4 to 12 depending on parcel size. Coops must be set back at least 10 feet from any property line and at least 30 feet from any adjacent residence. Roosters, guinea hens, and loud exotic varieties are prohibited.
L-II 3.4 (Animal Keeping and Raising) authorizes a 'backyard chicken' use - defined as a domestic chick or hen - in the R1 (single-family residential) and RA (residential agricultural) zones. The hen count is tied to parcel size and tops out at roughly 12 hens on the larger qualifying lots. Coops, pens, and runs must sit 10 ft from any property line and 30 ft from a neighbor's residence. Roosters, guinea hens, and other loud exotic poultry are not classified as backyard chickens and are not permitted under the backyard-chicken allowance. Larger livestock (goats, sheep, horses, cattle) are regulated separately under L-II 3.4 as agricultural uses, with density limits based on animal type and lot size and most commonly allowed in AG, AE, FR, and TPZ zones. All animals must be kept in a manner that does not create a public-health problem or nuisance; enclosures must be maintained to discourage flies, disease vectors, and odors.
Violations of L-II 3.4 are zoning violations enforced by Code Compliance; administrative penalties apply per occurrence and per day. Nuisance odor or vector conditions can also be cited by Environmental Health.
Nevada County, CA
Nevada County Code Title 8 (Animal Regulation) makes it unlawful for an owner to allow a dog or other animal to disturb the peace by habitual barking, howlin...
Nevada County, CA
Unincorporated Nevada County applies a tiered exterior noise standard set in Land Use & Development Code Section L-II 4.1.7. At residential receivers the day...
Nevada County, CA
RVs, travel trailers, and boats may be stored on a residential parcel in unincorporated Nevada County, but full-time occupancy of an RV as a dwelling is proh...
Nevada County, CA
Outdoor burning of dry landscape vegetation is allowed in unincorporated Nevada County only on permissive burn days during the declared open burn season (typ...
Nevada County, CA
Nearly the entire unincorporated Nevada County is mapped by CAL FIRE as a High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) in the State Responsibility Area...
Nevada County, CA
Nevada County's Hazardous Vegetation Abatement Ordinance extends California Public Resources Code 4291 by requiring 100 feet of defensible space around struc...
See how Nevada County's chickens & livestock rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.