Chickens & Livestock: Compton vs South Gate
How do chickens & livestock rules compare between Compton, CA and South Gate, CA?
Compton has fewer restrictions than South Gate.
Compton, CA
Los Angeles County
Compton's zoning code (Chapter 30) and adopted LA County Animal Code regulate keeping chickens and livestock. Roosters are restricted. Keeping animals beyond household pets may require a conditional use permit depending on the zoning district and number of animals.
View full Compton 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 | Compton | South Gate |
|---|---|---|
| Roosters | Restricted under LA County Title 10 | Treated as a nuisance under Ch. 7.22; not allowed in residential zones |
| Hens | Allowed in some zones with limits | - |
| Livestock | May require conditional use permit | - |
| Violations | $100-$500 infraction fines | - |
| Primary code | - | South Gate MC Title 4 ANIMALS & Ch. 7.22 ANIMAL CONTROL (eCode360 SO4650) |
| Zoning | - | Ch. 11.25 Residential Neighborhood Zones — livestock not a permitted use |
| 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.
Compton FAQ
Can I keep chickens in Compton?
Yes. Hens are generally permitted in residential zones under the adopted LA County Code. Roosters are prohibited in most residential zones. The Richland Farms R-A zone allows broader agricultural uses.
Can I keep horses in Compton?
Horses and larger livestock are generally permitted in the R-A (Residential Agriculture) zone, which includes the Richland Farms area. Other zones have more restrictive animal limits.
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.
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