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

On February 8, 2011, the Placer County Board of Supervisors adopted the 'Fowl and Poultry Ordinance,' a zoning text amendment to Section 17.56.050 of the County Code. It allows the keeping of no more than six chicken hens within the RS (Residential Single-Family), RM (Residential Multi-Family), and RES (Resort) zone districts on lots with a minimum gross area of 5,000 square feet. The keeping of roosters, guinea hens, or peahens (peacock family) is prohibited in those zones. On larger parcels, no more than nine chicken hens are permitted on parcels less than one-half acre, and in the RF (Residential Forest) zone no more than 15 chicken hens are permitted on parcels less than one acre in the -AG (Agriculture Combining) zone district. The amendment did not require that the fowl or poultry be penned or corralled, but County Animal Services still requires owners to confine birds to their own property if they stray. Where fowl and poultry are otherwise allowed, in the -AG zone (minimum half-acre) and RF zone (minimum one acre) no more than 24 such animals per acre may be maintained (Section 17.56.050(F)(6)(a)). Keeping more than 100 fowl or poultry is considered a 'chicken/turkey ranch,' which requires a separate land-use permit. Animal enclosures must be kept free of excessive manure to control odor, flies, and vectors.