Traditional livestock such as cattle, horses, goats, and pigs are generally prohibited on Mountain View residential lots, with limited exceptions for large agricultural-zoned parcels.
Mountain View is a fully built-out Silicon Valley city with no remaining agricultural zoning, so traditional livestock keeping is not permitted in any standard residential zone. Horses, cattle, goats (including miniature breeds as regular use), pigs (excluding licensed potbellied pets under certain conditions), sheep, and large fowl such as peacocks are prohibited. A very small number of lots on the western edge near foothills may have legal nonconforming uses grandfathered from prior decades but these cannot be expanded. Potbellied pigs may qualify as pets with SVACA registration if they meet weight and behavior standards. Residents interested in livestock keeping typically need to look toward unincorporated San Mateo or Santa Cruz counties.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
See how other cities in Santa Clara County handle livestock.
See how Mountain View's livestock rules stack up against other locations.
Quick Compare
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.