Chickens & Livestock: Rohnert Park vs Santa Rosa
How do chickens & livestock rules compare between Rohnert Park, CA and Santa Rosa, CA?
Rohnert Park and Santa Rosa have similar restriction levels.
Rohnert Park, CA
Sonoma County
Sonoma County Zoning Code Chapter 26 allows chickens and livestock in unincorporated areas with caps that scale to parcel size and zoning district. In rural residential zones, one horse or cow, five goats, or fifty chickens are allowed per 20,000 square feet. There is no countywide ban on roosters, and the agricultural-residential and rural districts permit a broad range of farm animals.
View full Rohnert Park rules →Santa Rosa, CA
Sonoma County
Santa Rosa City Code Section 20-42.040 allows hens (no roosters) on any residential lot, with a sliding-scale limit of 3 to 30 hens depending on lot size, plus rear-yard coop setbacks of 5 to 20 feet. Larger livestock - horses, cows, hogs, goats, sheep - are permitted only in Rural Residential zones on parcels of at least 20,000 square feet.
View full Santa Rosa rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Rohnert Park | Santa Rosa |
|---|---|---|
| Code Section | Sonoma County Zoning Code, Chapter 26 (Articles 8, 9, 18) | Santa Rosa City Code Section 20-42.040 |
| Rural Residential ratio | 1 horse/cow, 5 goats, or 50 chickens per 20,000 sq ft | - |
| Small-parcel chicken cap | Max 50 chickens on parcels under threshold size | - |
| Roosters | Permitted countywide in unincorporated areas | Prohibited citywide |
| Permitting agency | Permit Sonoma (Planning & Zoning) | - |
| Hens on lots up to 5,000 sq ft | - | 3 hens |
| Hens on lots 5,001-10,000 sq ft | - | 6 hens |
| Hens on lots up to 1 acre | - | Up to 12 hens (6 per 10,000 sq ft) |
| Hens on lots over 1 acre | - | Up to 30 hens (6 per 10,000 sq ft) |
| Coop setback (6 or fewer hens) | - | 5 ft from side/rear property lines |
| Coop setback (more than 6 hens) | - | 10 ft from side/rear property lines |
| Coop distance from neighbor house | - | Minimum 20 ft |
| Maximum coop height | - | 8 ft |
| Larger livestock | - | Rural Residential zones only, 20,000+ sq ft parcel |
| Permit required | - | No, if all standards are met |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Rohnert Park FAQ
Can I keep chickens in unincorporated Sonoma County?
Yes, in most rural and agricultural zones. In the Rural Residential zone, you may have up to 50 chickens per 20,000 square feet. Some agricultural parcels over 2 acres have no numerical chicken cap.
Are roosters allowed?
Yes. Sonoma County's code does not ban roosters in unincorporated areas, though they can still trigger a public nuisance complaint under § 5-126 if they unreasonably disturb neighbors.
How many goats or cows can I have on a 1-acre RR parcel?
About two horses or cows, ten goats, or one hundred chickens (since the RR ratio is 1 horse/cow, 5 goats, or 50 chickens per 20,000 sq ft and one acre is ~43,560 sq ft). Confirm with Permit Sonoma before stocking.
Santa Rosa FAQ
Can I keep chickens in Santa Rosa?
Yes. Santa Rosa allows hens on any residential lot under City Code Section 20-42.040 without a permit if you meet the standards. Roosters are prohibited.
How many chickens am I allowed?
3 hens on lots up to 5,000 sq ft, 6 hens on lots 5,001-10,000 sq ft, up to 12 hens on lots up to one acre, and up to 30 hens on lots over one acre - all at a rate of 6 hens per 10,000 sq ft.
Where can my chicken coop be placed?
In the rear yard only, inside a securely fenced area. Coops for six or fewer hens need to be at least 5 feet from side and rear property lines; coops for more than six need 10 feet. All coops must be at least 20 feet from any habitable structure on a neighboring property and no taller than 8 feet.
Can I keep a horse, goat, or cow in Santa Rosa?
Only in Rural Residential (RR) zoning districts, and only on parcels at least 20,000 square feet (about 1/2 acre). They are not allowed in single-family or multi-family residential zones.
Compare other topics
See how Rohnert Park and Santa Rosa 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