San Leandro, CA Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- By-right limit
- 4 chickens, parcel 4,500 sq ft+
- Permitted maximum
- 10 chickens, any parcel, with Animal Permit
- Roosters
- Prohibited on any parcel
- Coop size cap
- 60 sq ft total, 7 ft tall max
- Coop setback
- 5 ft from side/rear line, 20 ft from dwelling
- Permit renewal
- Every 2 years
Summary
San Leandro allows up to four chickens by right on parcels of 4,500 square feet or larger, and up to 10 with an Animal Permit on any size lot. No roosters are allowed anywhere, and coops face strict size and setback rules under SLMC §§ 4-11-1200 and 4-11-1205.
§ 4-11-1200. LIMITATION ON NUMBER. Up to four chickens may be kept on parcels with an area of 4,500 square feet or larger. Chickens may be kept on parcels of less than 4,500 square feet with an Animal Permit. Up to 10 chickens may be kept on a parcel with an Animal Permit, but in no case may more than 10 chickens be kept on any single parcel. No roosters are to be kept on the property.
§ 4-11-1205. KEEPING OF CHICKENS. Chickens shall be kept outside in the rear yard, in a fenced area, and must be provided with a coop...The total area of all chicken coops on a lot may not exceed 60 square feet. No single coop, or combination of coops, shall exceed seven feet in height. No coop shall be located less than five feet from any side or rear lot line on which the primary use is residential and 20 feet from an adjacent dwelling.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4967405; v8 updated 2026-07-06).
Full Breakdown
Article 12 of Chapter 4-11 sets the numeric cap: up to four chickens may be kept on a parcel of 4,500 square feet or larger without a special permit, while parcels under that size need an Animal Permit to keep any chickens at all, and no parcel of any size may keep more than 10 chickens total even with a permit. Roosters are barred outright regardless of parcel size (§ 4-11-1200). Chickens must live outside in a fenced rear yard and cannot roam beyond that fenced area; every flock needs a coop, and the combined footprint of all coops on a lot cannot exceed 60 square feet, with no single coop or combination of coops taller than seven feet.
Coops must sit at least 5 feet from any side or rear lot line abutting a residential use and at least 20 feet from an adjacent dwelling, and the cages must stay stationary in the back yard (§ 4-11-1205). Coops also have to meet the general housing and care standards in § 4-11-1110, covering daily feeding and watering, sanitary and vermin-free enclosures, weekly removal of stored feces, weatherproof shelter, and a ban on any cage in a front yard. An Animal Permit for chickens beyond the by-right count, or for any other animal exceeding the code's limits, requires a fee, a pre-issuance site inspection, and findings that the animals will not endanger neighborhood peace, health or safety (§ 4-11-1305); permits must be renewed every two years.
Violations & Fines
Keeping chickens or a rooster in excess of these limits, or without a required Animal Permit, is enforceable as a Chapter 4-11 violation abated under Chapter 1-12; unresolved nuisance complaints against a permit holder can be routed to the Alameda County Mediation Program before the City proceeds with citation or abatement under § 4-11-1305(d).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many backyard chickens can I keep in San Leandro?
Are roosters allowed in San Leandro?
What are the setback rules for a chicken coop in San Leandro?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Leandro
How San Leandro compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·California rules heatmap·Compare San Leandro to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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