Santa Barbara County, CA Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)

Santa Barbara County regulates the keeping of poultry and livestock through two layers of code: the Land Use and Development Code (LUDC) Chapter 35, which controls land use by zoning district and lot size, and County Code Chapter 7 (Animals and Fowl), which sets animal-care, sanitation, and nuisance standards. The LUDC's Article 35.2 (Zones and Allowable Land Uses) lists which animals are allowed in each zone: in Residential 1-Family (1-E-1, R-1) and other single-family residential zones, a limited number of hens (typically no roosters) for personal use is allowed, with coops required to be set back from neighboring dwellings (commonly 20-40 feet, with specific distance set by the applicable zone) and screened. Mountainous (MTN) and Rural Residential (RR) zones allow more poultry and a limited number of small livestock (goats, sheep) depending on lot size. Agricultural-I (AG-I) and Agricultural-II (AG-II) zones allow horses, cattle, swine, and other livestock at densities set by lot size and the type of agricultural operation, subject to manure-management and water-quality rules. The County's Williamson Act Land Conservation contracts add further use limits on enrolled parcels. County Code Chapter 7 (Animals and Fowl) requires that all animals be provided humane care and sanitary housing; that pens, coops, and corrals be kept free of accumulated manure that would create a nuisance or attract vermin; that water and feed be provided; and that no animal be kept in a manner that constitutes a public nuisance to neighbors. Roosters are commonly restricted in residential zones because of early-morning crowing nuisance; nuisance complaints are administered by Animal Services under Chapter 7. The Santa Barbara County Agricultural Commissioner regulates commercial agricultural operations and apiaries (bees). Beekeeping is generally allowed countywide subject to LUDC and Agricultural Commissioner standards (registered hives, setbacks from property lines and dwellings, water source). Within incorporated cities, each city has its own ordinance: the City of Santa Barbara, for example, generally allows up to 15 chickens, rabbits, or fowl per parcel in residential zones (no roosters in most areas), and up to 30 in agricultural or rural-residential zones, with coop sanitation and setback rules. Santa Maria, Lompoc, Goleta, and Carpinteria each set their own backyard-chicken thresholds.