Can I keep backyard chickens in Danville, California?
Only on larger lots. Danville's single-family zoning (a 2019 copy) allows up to 10 hens in the R-20 and R-40 districts and up to 20 in R-65 and R-100, and bans roosters in every residential zone. Hens aren't listed as an allowed use in R-6 through R-15, which we read as not allowed there; confirm with the Planning Division. A coop must sit at least 60 feet from the front property line and 40 feet from side and rear lines.
| Hens, R-20 and R-40 districts | Up to 10 (hens or rabbits) [1] |
| Hens, R-65 and R-100 districts | Up to 20 (hens or rabbits) [1] |
| Roosters | Not permitted in any residential zone [1] |
| Coop setback from front property line or street | 60 feet [2] |
| Coop setback from side and rear property lines | 40 feet [2] |
| Livestock | Lots of 40,000+ sq ft; 40,000 sq ft per 2 head [3] |
| Barn/stable setback | 100 ft front, 50 ft side/rear [4] |
These rules come from a November 2019 printout of Danville's single-family zoning code (Sec. 32-22), the only copy we could obtain; later amendments may have changed them, so confirm with the Planning Division before you build.
Which zones allow hens
Danville's single-family zoning chapter (Sec. 32-22) lists the raising of hens as an added permitted use only in the larger-lot districts: up to 10 hens or rabbits in R-20 and R-40, and up to 20 in R-65 and R-100 [1]. The same sentence bans roosters in every residential zoning district [1]. The list of uses allowed in all single-family districts (R-6 through R-100) covers domestic animals, defined as companion pets such as dogs, cats, rabbits and caged birds like canaries and parrots, and doesn't mention poultry [5][8]. The code doesn't say outright that hens are banned in R-6 to R-15; our reading that they aren't allowed there comes from hens being listed only for the larger-lot districts, so confirm with Planning.
Coop placement
A chicken house, rabbit hutch or similar animal structure must be at least 60 feet from the front property line or any street line and 40 feet from any side or rear property line [2]. On smaller lots these setbacks alone may rule out a coop.
Other animals
Livestock (horses, cattle, goats, sheep, llamas, swine and similar hoofed animals [6]) is allowed only on lots of 40,000 sq ft or more, with 40,000 sq ft for each two head and one more head per additional 20,000 sq ft [3]. Barns and stables need 100-foot front and 50-foot side and rear setbacks, and fenced pastures must stay 10 feet from property lines [4]. Aviaries for birds other than poultry are allowed in all single-family districts if they meet the animal-structure setbacks and are kept sanitary [7].
No permit process found
The zoning text doesn't describe a separate chicken permit or license. Animal control in the area is handled at the county level, and we didn't find a separate Danville animal-keeping chapter.
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Next steps
- Confirm your lot's zoning district (R-20, R-40, R-65 or R-100 allow hens) on Danville's zoning map or with the Planning Division (925-314-3310).
- Site the coop at least 60 feet from the front property line or street and 40 feet from side and rear lines.
- Keep to the hen limit for your district and don't keep a rooster.
- Check your HOA's CC&Rs, which may be stricter.
Common questions
- Can I have chickens in Danville, California?
- It depends on your zone. Danville's single-family zoning (a 2019 copy) lists hens only in the larger-lot districts: up to 10 in R-20 and R-40 and up to 20 in R-65 and R-100. Hens aren't listed in R-6 through R-15, which we read as not allowed there; confirm with the Planning Division.
- How many chickens can you have in Danville, California?
- Up to 10 hens or rabbits in the R-20 and R-40 districts and up to 20 in the R-65 and R-100 districts, based on a 2019 copy of the zoning code. Later amendments may have changed this, so confirm with the Planning Division.
- Are roosters allowed in Danville, California?
- No. Danville's single-family zoning bans roosters in every residential zoning district.
- How far does a chicken coop have to be from the property line in Danville, California?
- A chicken house or similar animal structure must be at least 60 feet from the front property line or any street line and 40 feet from any side or rear property line. On smaller lots these setbacks alone may rule out a coop.
- Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Danville, California?
- The zoning text doesn't describe a separate chicken permit or license, and we didn't find a separate Danville animal-keeping chapter. Confirm your lot's zoning district and check your HOA's CC&Rs, which may be stricter.
California state rules on backyard chickens
California has no statewide right to keep backyard chickens, and no state law sets hen limits, rooster bans or coop setbacks for homes. Those rules come from your city or county, usually in the zoning code, the animal-control ordinance or both. Some cities allow a few hens by right, some require a permit, some ban poultry in residential zones, and many ban roosters.
A few state laws still matter:
- Right-to-farm protection is for commercial farms: Civil Code §3482.5 shields commercial agricultural operations that have run for more than three years from new nuisance claims. It doesn't protect a backyard flock from local rules or neighbor complaints.
- Cockfighting is a crime: under Penal Code §597b, making roosters fight for amusement or gain, or allowing it on your property, is a criminal offense. That's one reason some cities limit roosters.
- Bird flu (H5N1): the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) asks all poultry and livestock owners to practice biosecurity (limit contact with wild birds, monitor flock health) and to report sick birds. The CDFA bird flu line is 1-866-922-2473.
- Hen housing standards (Prop 2 / Prop 12, Health & Safety Code §25990 et seq.) set minimum space for egg-laying hens. They're aimed at commercial egg production and sales, not typical backyard flocks.
- Nuisance and health rules still apply: cities and counties can address odor, noise, flies and rodents under local nuisance and health ordinances.
Check your city's municipal code, and any HOA rules, before getting birds.
What the ordinance says
- Sec. 32-22.3(b)(1), Municipal Code Sec. 32-22 Single Family Residential Districts (printed 11/15/2019, with illustrations), p. 7
1. The raising of a maximum of ten (10) hens or rabbits in the R-20 and R-40 zoning districts and a maximum of twenty (20) hens or rabbits in the R-65 and R-100 zoning districts. No roosters shall be permitted in any residential zoning district.
- Sec. 32-22.9(b)(1), Municipal Code Sec. 32-22 Single Family Residential Districts (printed 11/15/2019, with illustrations), p. 14
Animal Structures/Aviaries. Where permitted within the applicable zoning district, a chicken house, rabbit hutch, or similar accessory structure provided for the housing of animals, and aviaries for housing birds other than poultry, shall be set back not less than sixty (60) feet from the front property line or any street line, and shall be not less than forty (40) feet from any side or rear property line;
- Sec. 32-22.3(b)(2), Municipal Code Sec. 32-22 Single Family Residential Districts (printed 11/15/2019, with illustrations), p. 7
Keeping livestock on lots forty thousand (40,000) or more square feet in area. The lot must be at least forty thousand (40,000) square feet for each two (2) head of livestock and all contiguous in one fee ownership. On lots over forty thousand (40,000) square feet, the owner is allowed one (1) head of livestock per each additional twenty thousand (20,000) square feet in area.
- Sec. 32-22.9(b)(1), Municipal Code Sec. 32-22 Single Family Residential Districts (printed 11/15/2019, with illustrations), p. 14
a barn, stable or other building or structure used to shelter livestock shall be set back not less than one-hundred (100) feet from the front property line or any street line, and may not be less than fifty (50) feet from any side or rear property line; a fenced pasture, paddock or other enclosed livestock area may not be located nearer than ten (10) feet to any property line.
- Sec. 32-22.3(a)(3), Municipal Code Sec. 32-22 Single Family Residential Districts (printed 11/15/2019, with illustrations), p. 6
3. Raising or keeping of domestic animals, with a limit of three (3) dogs and/or three (3) cats over the age of four (4) months;
- Sec. 32-22.2 (Livestock), Municipal Code Sec. 32-22 Single Family Residential Districts (printed 11/15/2019, with illustrations), p. 4
Livestock shall mean domestic hoofed animals such as horses, donkeys and mules or domestic cattle, goats, sheep, llamas, or swine.
- Sec. 32-22.3(a)(11), Municipal Code Sec. 32-22 Single Family Residential Districts (printed 11/15/2019, with illustrations), p. 7
11. Aviaries which comply with subsection 32-22.9.b. and which are maintained in a sanitary manner as determined by the Health Department;
- Sec. 32-22.2 (Domestic animal), Municipal Code Sec. 32-22 Single Family Residential Districts (printed 11/15/2019, with illustrations), p. 1
Animal, domestic or Domestic animal shall mean any animal customarily kept by humans for companionship, including domesticated dogs and cats, non-restricted birds (e.g., canaries, parrots, parakeets, and the like), rabbits or hares, and hamsters, mice, guinea pigs and similar animals.