Chickens & Livestock: El Monte vs South Gate
How do chickens & livestock rules compare between El Monte, CA and South Gate, CA?
El Monte and South Gate have similar restriction levels.
El Monte, CA
Los Angeles County
El Monte contracts animal-control enforcement to LA County Department of Animal Care & Control, so LA County Code Title 10 governs poultry and livestock. Roosters are tightly capped, and any keeping of livestock requires the land to be zoned for it.
View full El Monte 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 | El Monte | South Gate |
|---|---|---|
| Enforcement agency | LA County Dept of Animal Care & Control (contract) | - |
| Governing code | LA County Code Title 10 + El Monte Title 17 (zoning) | - |
| Roosters | Capped per LACC §10.38; license required above cap | Treated as a nuisance under Ch. 7.22; not allowed in residential zones |
| Baby chicks as gifts/prizes | Prohibited under LACC §10.20 (under 3 months) | - |
| Livestock (cows, goats, pigs) | Not permitted in El Monte R-zones | - |
| 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.
El Monte FAQ
Can I keep backyard hens in El Monte?
El Monte's residential zoning code does not list poultry as a permitted accessory use in standard R-zones, and LA County Code Title 10 (which El Monte enforces by contract) restricts fowl sales and rooster keeping. Residents should contact El Monte Planning at 626-580-2001 before adding hens.
Are roosters allowed?
LA County Code Chapter 10.38 limits roosters per parcel; any number above the cap requires a license from LA County Animal Care & Control. Crowing roosters that disturb neighbors can also be cited under El Monte's noise nuisance provisions.
Who handles complaints about livestock in El Monte?
Call El Monte Animal Control at 626-580-2081 during business hours. After-hours and emergency calls (vicious animals, injured strays) go to LA County DACC.
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 El Monte 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