Santa Clara County, CA Animal Ordinances: Livestock (2026)

The County Zoning Ordinance classifies and limits farm animals by size. 'Animal, large' includes horses, cattle, bison, and donkeys; 'Animal, medium' includes sheep, goats, pigs, ostriches, emus, llamas, and alpacas; 'Animal, small' includes chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, and rabbits. In Hillside (HS) rural districts, Table 2.20-3, Note 1 limits livestock breeding, raising, and keeping to 'Not more than three (3) large animals or six (6) medium animals per acre as a matter of right, or a proportional combination totaling three (3) animal units,' where each large animal is one unit and each medium animal is 0.5 unit; a special permit is required to exceed these limits, and there are 'no specified numerical limits for small animals.' For horses in urban residential districts, the minimum lot size is one-half acre, not to exceed two horses per acre (Table 2.30-1, Note 7). Livestock shelters (stables, barns, confinement structures) 'should be located at least 100 feet from any well or established watercourse' and 'shall not be constructed on slopes exceeding 15 percent' under Section 4.20 supplemental standards; closer placement is reviewed case-by-case by the County Department of Environmental Health. Intensive commercial operations are separate uses: dairies and feed lots require a 20-acre minimum lot size, and commercial poultry/egg farms a 10-acre minimum. Confirm your zoning district and acreage before adding livestock.