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

San Bernardino County Development Code allows poultry and livestock under a tiered system tied to zoning and lot size. In the Rural Living (RL) zones that dominate the High Desert (Lucerne Valley, Phelan, Pinon Hills, Oak Hills, Johnson Valley, Apple Valley area outside town boundaries), homeowners can typically keep chickens, ducks, rabbits, goats, and small livestock with animal count tied to parcel size (often one animal unit per half-acre). Agricultural (AG) zones permit broader commercial operations including cattle, horses, and swine. Single-family Residential (RS) suburban zones such as parts of Mentone, Muscoy, and Bloomington permit a limited number of hens (typically 4-12) for personal use but prohibit roosters due to noise. Setback requirements for coops and enclosures from dwellings and property lines typically run 20-50 feet depending on species and zone. The California Right to Farm Act (Civil Code 3482.5) protects established agricultural operations (at least 3 years prior to complainant moving in) from nuisance suits for smells, flies, and noise inherent to normal farming practices. County Animal Care works with code enforcement on complaint-based cases including sanitation, feed storage (wildlife attractant), and runoff.