Animal Ordinances in Chico, CA (2026)
7 verified animal ordinances for Chico, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Chico Municipal Code (CMC) Title 19.76.040 allows hens as accessory animal keeping at a ratio of 1 bird per 250 sq ft of lot area, with coops set back 50 ft from any dwelling. Roosters are prohibited and no coop permit is required. Larger livestock (goats, horses, cattle) is limited to AG/RR-zoned parcels under Title 19.
Backyard Chickens & Livestock in Chico
Some RestrictionsDog Leash Laws
Chico Municipal Code Title 6 (Animals) prohibits dogs from running at large. Dogs must be restrained on a leash or otherwise under physical control when off the owner's premises. Bidwell Park has dedicated off-leash areas; outside those, leash rules apply throughout city parks and public spaces.
Dogs at Large Prohibited; Leash Required
Some RestrictionsBreed Restrictions
Chico does not impose breed-specific bans. California Food & Agricultural Code §31683 preempts cities from declaring a dog dangerous or vicious based solely on breed. Chico Municipal Code Title 6 regulates dangerous and vicious dogs based on individual behavior, not breed. Mandatory spay/neuter by breed is permitted under state law but Chico has not enacted breed-targeted spay/neuter.
No Breed-Specific Bans; State Preempts BSL
Few RestrictionsBeekeeping
Chico does not have a stand-alone hive-density ordinance; beekeeping is regulated as accessory animal keeping under CMC §19.76.040. State law (Cal. Food & Agric. Code §29040) requires every California beekeeper to register apiaries annually with the County Agricultural Commissioner by January 1, regardless of hive count. Butte County administers registration via the state BeeWhere portal.
Beekeeping & Apiary Registration in Chico
Few RestrictionsExotic Pets
Chico has no local exotic-pet code; the controlling law is state. Cal. Fish & Game Code §2118 and 14 CCR §671 prohibit possession of restricted live wild animals (most primates, large carnivores, non-domestic felids, alligators, venomous reptiles, ferrets, etc.) without a CDFW permit, and CDFW does not issue permits for pet keeping. Common-domestic species (dogs, cats, rabbits, most reptiles, birds in the parrot family) remain legal.
Exotic Pets & Restricted Species in Chico
Heavy RestrictionsWildlife Feeding
Chico has no city-specific wildlife-feeding prohibition in its Municipal Code; the controlling rule is state. 14 CCR §251.1 defines feeding game and non-game mammals or birds in a way that disrupts normal behavior as 'harassment,' which is a misdemeanor under Cal. Fish & Game Code §12000. Chico Animal Services actively encourages residents to eliminate food sources to prevent conflicts with raccoons, deer, coyotes, skunks, and bears moving in from the Bidwell Park and Camp Fire burn-scar corridor.
Wildlife Feeding Rules in Chico
Some RestrictionsAnimal Hoarding
Chico Municipal Code Title 7 limits residential dog keeping to 3 dogs over 3 months of age per single street address. Hoarding beyond welfare capacity is prosecuted under Cal. Penal Code §§597 / 597t (cruelty) and §599aa (animal seizure). Title 7 fines escalate from $75 (first offense) to $300 (third offense).
Animal Hoarding & Dog Limits in Chico
Some RestrictionsLooking for Butte County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Chico city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Butte County →