Chickens & Livestock: Burbank vs South Gate
How do chickens & livestock rules compare between Burbank, CA and South Gate, CA?
Burbank has fewer restrictions than South Gate.
Burbank, CA
Los Angeles County
Chickens and small livestock are regulated by zone in Burbank. Roosters are generally prohibited in residential areas due to noise. No state ban exists on backyard poultry; the city regulates through zoning.
View full Burbank rules →South Gate, CA
Los Angeles County
South Gate is a dense urban Los Angeles County city built on R-1, R-2 and R-3 residential zoning. Title 4 (Animals) and Chapter 7.22 (Animal Control) of the South Gate Municipal Code govern animal keeping, and zoning Chapter 11.25 (Residential Neighborhood Zones) excludes commercial livestock and poultry operations from residential lots. Field enforcement is contracted to the Southeast Area Animal Control Authority (SEAACA), which serves South Gate alongside 13 neighboring southeast LA County cities. Roosters, goats, pigs and cattle are not a permitted residential use in South Gate's R-zones, and back-yard hens are tightly constrained by setback and nuisance rules.
View full South Gate rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Burbank | South Gate |
|---|---|---|
| Hens | Allowed in some zones with restrictions | - |
| Roosters | Generally prohibited in residential | Treated as a nuisance under Ch. 7.22; not allowed in residential zones |
| State Law | No state ban; cities regulate locally | - |
| Zoning | BMC Title 10 zoning governs | Ch. 11.25 Residential Neighborhood Zones — livestock not a permitted use |
| Primary code | - | South Gate MC Title 4 ANIMALS & Ch. 7.22 ANIMAL CONTROL (eCode360 SO4650) |
| Enforcement | - | SEAACA (Southeast Area Animal Control Authority), Downey CA — 562-803-3301 |
| State cruelty law | - | Cal. Penal Code §597, §597.1 (neglect / inadequate shelter) |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Burbank FAQ
How many chickens can I keep in Burbank?
Up to 25 chickens are allowed without a special permit under BMC 5-1-304. Roosters are not permitted.
Can I keep a goat in Burbank?
One pygmy goat is allowed per property with a permit under BMC 5-1-302. Standard goats may not be permitted.
South Gate FAQ
Can I keep backyard chickens in South Gate?
A small number of hens (no roosters) may be kept on a residential lot under Title 4 / Chapter 7.22, but coops must be set back from neighbors and kept sanitary. Verify the current hen count limit and setback at eCode360.com/SO4650 before building a coop, because South Gate has historically enforced this strictly.
Are roosters allowed?
No. Roosters create the kind of recurring noise nuisance that Chapter 7.22 (Animal Control) and Chapter 7.44 (Noise) expressly authorize SEAACA to abate, and they are not consistent with the R-1 residential character protected by Chapter 11.25.
Can I keep goats, pigs or a cow?
No. South Gate is a dense urban LA County city; livestock are not an enumerated permitted use in any residential zone under Chapter 11.25, and a use-variance for residential livestock is not realistic on a typical South Gate lot.
Who do I call about a livestock or animal complaint?
SEAACA — Southeast Area Animal Control Authority — at 562-803-3301. SEAACA is South Gate's contracted animal control agency and handles licensing, impoundment, and code enforcement for animal nuisances.
Compare other topics
See how Burbank and South Gate compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool