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

Del Norte County does not have a separate 'backyard chicken' ordinance. Poultry is treated as livestock under Title 8, Chapter 3 (Livestock) of the County Code, which defines 'livestock' to mean any bovine animal, goats, pigs, sheep and poultry, as poultry is defined in the California Food and Agricultural Code (Section 24657). Chapter 3 imposes a duty of care: the owner or custodian must provide necessary food, proper drink, proper shelter, veterinary care, and must securely confine the animal in a building, lawful fence, pen, or other enclosure of which it cannot escape, so that the animal cannot roam at large and is not left unattended. Livestock (including poultry) found at large is subject to immediate seizure and impoundment. The County Code does not set a numeric cap on the number of chickens or other poultry for ordinary residential keeping; where and whether you can keep poultry depends on your parcel's zoning under the County's land-use code, so confirm your zoning district with Del Norte County Planning. Smith River and Fort Dick host working dairies, and small-flock poultry keeping is common throughout the rural unincorporated county.