Turlock, CA Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Fowl allowed
- Six per property
- Roosters
- Prohibited at any residence
- Rear setback
- 20 feet
- Side setback
- 25 feet
Summary
Turlock residential parcels may keep up to six domesticated fowl, but no rooster is allowed at any residence, and fowl pens must sit at least twenty feet from the rear line and twenty-five from the side line.
No person shall keep or maintain a domestic animal except as hereinafter specified:
(1) Four (4) rabbits or hares; and
(2) Six (6) domesticated fowl; and
(3) Six (6) chinchillas, hamsters, or white mice or similar animals (combined total); and
(4) One (1) potbellied pig; and
(5) On parcels of land one-half (1/2) acre or larger, one (1) horse, or one (1) cow, or one (1) sheep, or one (1) goat.
(b) Facilities for domestic animals shall be subject to the following requirements:
(1) Stables or barns shall not be located within one hundred feet (100') of a residential dwelling located on an adjacent property;
(2) Pens or other quarters for animals or fowl shall be kept or maintained only at a distance of twenty feet (20') from the rear property line and twenty-five feet (25') from the side property line.
(c) It shall be unlawful to own or keep at any residence any rooster. (963-CS, Added, 03/30/2001; 1064-CS, Amended, 05/23/2006)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4937289; v6 updated 2026-06-25).
Full Breakdown
The city's domestic-animal standards cap backyard poultry at six domesticated fowl per property, alongside separate allowances for four rabbits and other small animals under the same section. Roosters are banned outright at any residence: the Code lists no exceptions. Fowl pens and other animal quarters must sit at least twenty feet from the rear property line and twenty-five feet from the side property line. Separately, it's unlawful for chickens, geese, ducks, turkeys, or other domestic fowl to run at large or be herded in a street or public place (TMC § 6-1-108).
Violations & Fines
Enforced by Animal Services and Control; a violation is an infraction by default under TMC § 1-2-01, and fowl found running at large are subject to seizure and impoundment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many chickens can I keep in Turlock?
How far must a chicken coop be from my property line?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Turlock
How Turlock compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·California rules heatmap·Compare Turlock to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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