Chickens & Livestock: Pomona vs South Gate
How do chickens & livestock rules compare between Pomona, CA and South Gate, CA?
Pomona has fewer restrictions than South Gate.
Pomona, CA
Los Angeles County
Pomona allows up to 24 chickens on residential property but roosters are prohibited. Swine, dangerous reptiles, bees, male goats, and exotic animals without permits are banned within city limits. Slaughtering is prohibited except rabbits and chickens for domestic use.
View full Pomona 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 | Pomona | South Gate |
|---|---|---|
| Chickens | Up to 24 allowed, no roosters | - |
| Prohibited | Swine, bees, male goats, dangerous reptiles | - |
| Slaughter | Only rabbits/chickens for domestic use | - |
| Code | Pomona City Code Ch. 6 (Animals) | - |
| 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) |
| Roosters | - | Treated as a nuisance under Ch. 7.22; not allowed in residential zones |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Pomona FAQ
Can I keep chickens in Pomona?
Yes, chickens are allowed as an accessory use under Section 11.32.050. However, roosters are explicitly prohibited under Section 11.32.030.
Do I need a permit for livestock in Pomona?
Livestock may be permitted as an accessory use in appropriate zones under Section 11.32.060. An excess animal permit under Section 11.32.100 may be needed.
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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