Santa Monica, CA Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Fowl (chickens, ducks, etc.) without permit
- Up to 13 allowed
- Hogs, bulls, billy goats
- Require permit; must be ≥300 feet from R or C districts
- Horses or mules (open corral)
- Up to 2; must be ≥300 feet from R or C districts
- Cows
- 1 maximum in open corral; ≥300 feet from R or C districts
- Goats
- 2 maximum in open corral; ≥300 feet from R or C districts
Summary
Up to thirteen fowl of any kind may be kept without a permit; pigs, bulls, and billy goats require a permit and must stay at least 300 feet from any residential or commercial district.
§ 4.04.090. Fowl. No person shall keep more than thirteen fowl of any sort within the City, unless such person shall have first obtained a permit from the Animal Control Officer so to do.
§ 4.04.100. Hogs, bulls or billy goats. No person shall keep any pigs, bulls, or billy goats within the City unless such person first shall have obtained a permit from the Animal Control Officer so to do and in no event shall any person keep any hog, bull, or billy goat within three hundred feet of any 'R' or 'C' district as defined in Article 9 of this Code.
§ 4.04.110. Cows or goats. No person shall keep more than one cow or two goats in an open corral within the City without first having obtained a permit from the Animal Control Officer so to do and in no event shall any person keep any cow or goat within three hundred feet of any 'R' or 'C' district as defined in Article 9 of this Code.
Full Breakdown
The 13-fowl limit applies to chickens, ducks, and all other fowl; exceeding it requires an Animal Control Officer permit. Horses and mules are limited to two per open corral and must be 300 feet from any R or C zoning district. Cows are limited to one and goats to two in open corrals, both requiring the same 300-foot setback. Hogs, bulls, and billy goats require a permit regardless of location and must also stay 300 feet from residential or commercial zones.
Violations & Fines
Keeping animals without required permits or violating setbacks is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $500 or 6 months in jail, or an infraction up to $250. Permits are revocable and violation of permit conditions carries the same penalties.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many chickens can I keep without a permit?
Can I keep a pig in Santa Monica?
Are goats allowed in a backyard that is near neighbors?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Monica
How Santa Monica compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Monica to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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