Sacramento, CA Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Max hens per lot
- 3 (permit required)
- Roosters
- Banned citywide, no exception
- Enclosure setback
- 20 ft from neighbor's dwelling
- Front-yard coops
- Prohibited
- On-site slaughter
- Prohibited on residential lots
- Permit issuer
- Animal Care Services manager
Summary
Sacramento allows up to three hen chickens per residential lot, but only under an annual permit from the animal care services manager. Roosters are banned outright, hens must stay enclosed at least 20 feet from a neighbor's dwelling and out of the front yard, and slaughtering hens on residential lots is prohibited under City Code Chapter 9.44, Article XI.
A. It is unlawful to keep, possess, or maintain chickens on any parcel of property located in the city, except in accordance with the following restrictions: 1. A maximum of three hen chickens may be kept on a developed lot used exclusively for residential purposes, but only if authorized under a permit issued pursuant to this article. 2. All hen chickens shall be confined in a pen, coop, or cage, or other enclosure at all times. 3. All hen chickens shall be kept within an enclosure that is at least 20 feet distant from any dwelling unit on an adjacent parcel... Enclosures shall be situated in the rear yard... 4. No hen chickens shall be kept in the front yard on any developed lot used exclusively for residential purposes. 5. No hen chickens kept on a lot shall be allowed to create a noise disturbance audible on any adjoining lot. 6. No hen chickens shall be slaughtered on any developed lot used exclusively for residential purposes. B. Roosters are not permitted on any developed lot used exclusively for residential purposes.
Full Breakdown
900) governs backyard poultry inside the city limits. 050. Front-yard coops are banned outright, hens may not create a noise disturbance audible on an adjoining lot, and on-site slaughter is prohibited on any residential lot. Roosters are banned everywhere in a residential district, with no permit exception. To obtain a permit, an owner applies to the animal care services manager, pays a nonrefundable annual fee set by city council resolution, and discloses the number of hens and the location of every enclosure relative to neighboring dwellings; any change in that information must be reported within five days.
Approved permits run one year and require a new application and fee to renew. The animal care services manager may inspect any permitted coop unannounced to confirm humane treatment and compliance, and may adopt further regulations by council resolution, violation of which is treated as a violation of the chapter. The article exempts land zoned for agricultural use, the Valley View Acres rural-estates area near Sotnip and Sorento Roads, the M-1(S)R-AOL Ascot Avenue overlay zone, and any chicken-keeping that qualifies as a legal nonconforming use under the Planning and Development Code.
Violations & Fines
Keeping hens without a permit, keeping roosters, housing hens closer than 20 feet to a neighbor's dwelling, keeping hens in a front yard, or slaughtering hens on a residential lot each violate Chapter 9.44 Article XI. Unless the code specifies a misdemeanor, violations of Title 9 are infractions under §9.48.010, and animal care services may deny or revoke a permit found out of compliance during an unannounced inspection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Sacramento?
Can I keep roosters in Sacramento?
How much does a chicken permit cost and how long does it last?
What happens if I violate the chicken-keeping rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sacramento
How Sacramento compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·California rules heatmap·Compare Sacramento to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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Chickens & Livestock in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Sacramento County handle chickens & livestock.