Can I keep backyard chickens in Del Mar, California?
Possibly, but only on a large lot. Del Mar's R1-10 zone allows 'other domestic animals' as long as any animal or coop is at least 75 feet from any window or door of a home and 40 feet from every adjacent property line. The code doesn't name chickens or set a hen limit, and outside such zone allowances only household pets are permitted.
| Default rule citywide | Only household pets, unless another code section allows more [1] |
| Other domestic animals (R1-10) | Allowed with distance limits [2] |
| Coop distance from homes | 75 ft from any window or door of a dwelling [2] |
| Coop distance from property lines | 40 ft from any adjacent property line [2] |
| R1-10 minimum lot width | 75 ft (too narrow to meet 40 ft from both side lines) [5] |
| Horses | 1 per acre [3] |
| Hen limit / roosters | Not specified in city code [2] |
| Animal licenses/permits | San Diego County livestock code adopted; apply to County through the City [4] |
The basic rule
Del Mar's zoning code makes it unlawful to keep animals other than household pets, except as other code sections allow [1]. The R1-10 single-family zone allows dogs, cats and other household pets normally kept in the house. It also allows other domestic animals, as long as no animal, pen, coop, stable or barn is within 75 ft of any window or door of a building people live in, or within 40 ft of any adjacent property line [2]. The other single-family zones have parallel accessory-use sections.
What that means for chickens
The city code never mentions chickens, hens, roosters or poultry, so whether backyard hens count as 'other domestic animals' isn't spelled out. If they do, the distance rules make a coop practical only on a big lot. Since the 75 ft is measured from windows and doors of any home, including a neighbor's, a coop would need to sit well inside a wide, deep lot. The R1-10 zone's minimum lot width is 75 ft [5], so on a lot of that width a coop can't be 40 ft from both side property lines. The code sets no hen limit and no rooster ban. The zoning definition of 'aviary' excludes poultry kept for meat or eggs, so the bird-keeping allowance doesn't cover hens.
County rules
Del Mar adopts by reference the San Diego County Code chapter regulating livestock, along with the county's animal control rules. Applications for any required license or permit go to the County through the City [4]. We didn't review the county livestock chapter, so any county limits on poultry numbers or setbacks aren't reflected here.
Other animals
The R1-10 zone allows one horse per acre of contiguous land [3].
California has no statewide right to keep backyard hens, so local rules control.
See how Del Mar compares with 8+ other California towns on backyard chickens →
Next steps
- Ask the Planning & Community Development Department (858-375-9516) whether hens count as 'other domestic animals' in your zone.
- Measure your lot: a coop must be at least 75 ft from every window or door of any home and 40 ft from all adjacent property lines.
- Contact San Diego County Animal Services through the City about any county livestock permit or poultry rules before getting birds.
Common questions
- Can I have backyard chickens in Del Mar, California?
- Possibly, but only on a large lot. Del Mar's R1-10 zone allows 'other domestic animals', but the code doesn't name chickens or set a hen limit. Outside such zone allowances only household pets are permitted.
- How far must a chicken coop be from neighbors in Del Mar, California?
- In R1-10, any animal or coop must be at least 75 feet from any window or door of a home and 40 feet from every adjacent property line.
- Can I keep roosters in Del Mar, California?
- The city code doesn't specify a hen limit or rooster rule. San Diego County's livestock code is adopted, so apply to the County through the City.
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. 30.86.020 Animals, Municipal Code Chapter 30.86 - Supplemental Regulations (animals, fences/retaining walls, swimming pools, temporary structures, yards), p. 1
Except as may be permitted by other provisions of this Code, it shall be unlawful for any person to keep animals within the City except domestic animals as household pets.
- Sec. 30.12.040(G), Municipal Code Chapter 30.12 - Low Density Residential (R1-10), p. 1
The keeping of other domestic animals, providing however, that no such animal or any pen, coop, stable, or barn shall be located, kept or maintained within 75 feet of any window or door of any building used for human habitation, nor within 40 feet of any adjacent property line; and
- Sec. 30.12.040(E), Municipal Code Chapter 30.12 - Low Density Residential (R1-10), p. 1
The keeping of not more than one horse for each acre of land held in contiguous, single ownership.
- Sec. 4.04.050(A), Municipal Code Chapter 4.04 - Animal Regulations, p. 1
Each applicant for a license or permit required by this Chapter shall apply to the County of San Diego through the City of Del Mar.
- Sec. 30.12.070(B)(3), Municipal Code Chapter 30.12 - Low Density Residential (R1-10), p. 1
Minimum lot width: 75 feet.