San Francisco, CA Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)

SF allows backyard chickens. Under Health Code Section 37, residents may keep up to four small animals (hens, ducks, rabbits, pigeons) without any permit. Roosters are entirely prohibited due to noise. Coops and enclosures must be kept clean, rodent-proof, and located at least 20 feet from any dwelling (including the keeper's own house) and at least 10 feet from property lines. More than 4 birds, or any keeping of goats, sheep, pigs, cows, or horses, requires a special permit from the Department of Public Health and is generally only granted on large lots with substantial setbacks, effectively limiting large livestock to a handful of rural edges of the city. Slaughter and butchering are prohibited on residential lots. Sale of eggs from backyard flocks is allowed in small quantities directly to neighbors without a food license, but commercial sale requires CDFA egg-handler registration. HOAs may further restrict or ban chickens even where the city allows them. Noise from a permitted coop that disturbs neighbors is still a violation of the Noise Ordinance.