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

Chapter VII of Division D4 governs backyard poultry. Section D4-72 limits the chapter to personal, non-commercial chicken raising and specifically states 'hens only, roosters are prohibited'; anyone raising chickens commercially falls instead under the separate Animal Husbandry standards, not this chapter. Section D4-73 sets the numeric rules: the lot must be at least 6,000 square feet and have direct access to a private yard, and no more than five hens are allowed on the property at one time. Any coop or other structure built to house the hens must sit in the backyard and observe the same minimum setback that applies to the primary residence on the lot, and it cannot exceed six feet in height.

The coop must be thoroughly ventilated, fully enclosed with a solid roof, and built so the flock stays securely contained, both to control odor and nuisance and to keep the birds from escaping onto neighboring property. 1, so a taller coop can eat into the square footage otherwise available for a shed or other accessory building on the same lot.