Caldwell, ID Animal Ordinances: Livestock (2026)

Caldwell treats animals housed outside the home as livestock and regulates them through the land use code. Section 10-02-15 defines livestock as animals kept and housed outside the home or in enclosures such as pens, barns, corrals, or paddocks, including chickens, cows, ducks, geese, goats, horses, llamas, peacocks, rabbits, roosters, sheep, and swine. A minimum lot size of one-half acre is required to qualify for keeping livestock in the city; exceeding the pet-level animal numbers or adding animal types also pushes a property into this category and may require special use permit approval. Section 10-12-03-3, 'Animal Regulations,' sets the operational standards: livestock enclosures, regardless of square footage, must meet the setback requirements of the zoning district in which they are located, and enclosures at residential dwellings in commercial or industrial districts must meet the setbacks of the R-3 (high density residential) zone. All fencing must meet the requirements of the fence ordinance for the applicable zone. The maximum number of livestock is governed by a density table in the code, and that maximum animal density does not count offspring born on the property until the offspring reach nine months of age. Owners must keep livestock in a manner that does not cause adverse impact to neighboring properties. Because exact density figures depend on the code's table and the specific zone, residents should confirm allowable counts, setbacks, and any permit requirements with Caldwell Planning and Zoning before adding animals.