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

Santa Rosa City Code Section 20-42.040 governs urban hen keeping and rural farm animals. Hens (female chickens) may be kept in any residential zoning district without a permit if all development standards are met; roosters are expressly prohibited. The maximum number of hens depends on lot size: 3 hens on lots of 5,000 square feet or less; 6 hens on lots of 5,001-10,000 sq ft; 6 hens per 10,000 sq ft up to a maximum of 12 hens on lots of 10,001 sq ft to 1 acre; and 6 hens per 10,000 sq ft up to a maximum of 30 hens on lots over 1 acre. Hens must be kept in a securely fenced area in the rear yard only, inside a coop and pen. Coops for six or fewer hens must be at least five feet from side and rear property lines; coops for more than six hens must be at least ten feet from side and rear property lines. Coops must be at least 20 feet from any habitable structure on adjacent property and may not exceed 8 feet in height. Coops and runs must be kept clean, designed to prevent rodents, and feed must be stored to minimize pest attraction. Larger farm animals (horses, mules, cows, steers, hogs, pigs, goats, sheep, rabbits, ducks, pigeons, ornamental birds) are not allowed in single-family or multi-family residential zones; they are permitted only in Rural Residential zones on parcels of at least 20,000 square feet, at allowances such as one horse/mule/cow/steer per 20,000 sq ft, one hog per 20,000 sq ft, 3 goats or sheep per 20,000 sq ft, 10 ducks or rabbits per 20,000 sq ft, and 25 pigeons or 50 ornamental/song birds per 20,000 sq ft. The City of Santa Rosa publishes these standards directly on its Hen Keeping page and Farm Animals FAQ, both .gov sources.