2 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Santa Barbara County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Whether you can keep chickens, goats, horses, pigs, or other livestock on your property in Santa Barbara County depends on your zoning under the Land Use and Development Code (LUDC) Chapter 35. Residential (R-1, R-2) and Mountainous (MTN) zones generally allow a limited number of hens (no roosters) for personal use, subject to coop setbacks from neighboring dwellings. Larger livestock - cattle, horses, sheep, goats, swine - are allowed only in agricultural and rural-residential zones (AG-I, AG-II, RR, MTN with minimum lot sizes). County Code Chapter 7 (Animals and Fowl) imposes animal-care and nuisance standards regardless of zoning. Cities (Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Lompoc, Goleta, Carpinteria, etc.) each set their own backyard-chicken and livestock rules.
In unincorporated Santa Barbara County, dogs in public places must be restrained on a leash not longer than 6 feet, held by a person able to control the animal. Dogs may be off-leash only in posted designated off-leash areas. County Code Chapter 7 (Animals and Fowl) administered by Santa Barbara County Animal Services governs leashing, licensing, rabies vaccination, and dog-at-large violations. Every dog four months of age or older must be currently rabies-vaccinated and licensed with the County. Within city limits (Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Lompoc, Goleta, Carpinteria, etc.) the corresponding city ordinance applies, though County Animal Services typically provides field enforcement under contract with most cities.
1 cities in Santa Barbara County have their own animal ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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