Can I keep backyard chickens in Los Altos, California?
Allowed
Yes. In Los Altos single-family (R1) districts you may keep one small animal, such as a chicken, duck or rabbit, per 1,000 sq ft of lot area, so a 10,000 sq ft lot allows 10 in total. Coops can't be in the front setback and must be at least 10 ft from side and rear property lines.
| Allowed in R1 districts | Yes, by right (no permit mentioned) [2] |
| Max number | 1 small animal (chickens, ducks, rabbits, etc. combined) per 1,000 sq ft of lot [1] |
| Example | 10 on a 10,000 sq ft lot [1] |
| Coop in front yard | Not allowed in the required front setback [3] |
| Coop setback from side/rear lines | 10 ft (unless the confinement area is 2,000+ sq ft) [4] |
| Roosters | Not specifically regulated; noisy animals are a nuisance [8] |
| Goats/sheep | 1 per 10,000 sq ft; no pigs [6] |
| Bees | 1 hive per 5,000 sq ft [7] |
How many hens
Animals are a permitted use in R1 single-family districts under Chapter 5.10 [2]. You may keep one "small animal" for every 1,000 sq ft of lot area, and chickens are listed alongside pigeons, ducks, geese, peafowl and rabbits [1]. The cap is shared, so a 10,000 sq ft lot allows 10 small animals in total, not 10 chickens plus 10 rabbits. The code doesn't require a permit for chickens.
Where the coop can go
A coop or run used only by the animals counts as "permanent confinement" [5], as does any area where an animal is kept more than six hours a day [11]. In R1 districts:
- No permanent confinement in the required front yard setback. A coop between the house and the front line (outside the setback) must be screened by dense plantings or a solid fence [3].
- Keep the coop at least 10 ft from rear and side property lines, unless the confinement area is 2,000 sq ft or larger. On a corner lot, the limit along the secondary street is 5 ft [4].
- Keep the enclosure sanitary [9].
Roosters
The code doesn't ban roosters by name. But owners may not let an animal disturb neighbors' use of their property by "making any other noise," which is a public nuisance that animal control can act on [8]. Crowing roosters are likely to draw complaints.
Other animals
- Sheep, goats and similar: one per 10,000 sq ft; no pigs on any lot [6].
- Horses, cows and similar: two on a lot of at least two acres, plus one per extra acre [10].
- Bees: one hive per 5,000 sq ft, with flyway protection and water on site [7].
R3 lots with a single home follow the same R1 rules; multi-unit R3 properties are limited to dogs and cats.
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Next steps
- Find your lot area (county assessor or your deed) and divide by 1,000 to get your small-animal limit, counting any ducks or rabbits.
- Site the coop outside the front setback and at least 10 ft from side and rear property lines.
- Check HOA rules or CC&Rs, which may be stricter than city code.
- For complaints or questions, contact Palo Alto Animal Services, which administers Los Altos's animal code, or Los Altos Code Enforcement (see the city website).
Common questions
- Can I have backyard chickens in Los Altos, California?
- Yes. In Los Altos single-family (R1) districts you may keep one small animal, such as a chicken, duck or rabbit, per 1,000 sq ft of lot area, and no permit is mentioned.
- How many chickens can I have in Los Altos, California?
- One small animal per 1,000 sq ft of lot area, combined across chickens, ducks and rabbits, so a 10,000 sq ft lot allows 10 in total.
- How far must a chicken coop be from the property line in Los Altos, California?
- Coops can't be in the front setback and must be at least 10 ft from side and rear property lines, unless the confinement area is 2,000+ sq ft.
- Can I keep a rooster in Los Altos, California?
- Roosters are not specifically regulated, but noisy animals are treated as a nuisance.
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. 5.10.010(A)(3) Permitted animals in R1 districts, Municipal Code Chapter 5.10 - Animal Control Regulations in R1/R3 Districts, p. 1
A maximum of one small animal, including pigeons, ducks, geese, chickens, peafowl, rabbits, and other animals of a similar nature, shall be allowed for each one thousand (1,000) square feet of lot area.
- Sec. 14.06.020(E) Permitted uses (R1-10), Municipal Code Chapter 14.06 - R1-10 Single-Family District, p. 1
Animals as provided in Chapter 5.10 of this code; and
- Sec. 5.10.020(B)(1) Confinement of animals in R1 districts, Municipal Code Chapter 5.10 - Animal Control Regulations in R1/R3 Districts, p. 1
No animal may be permanently confined in a required front yard setback, and any animal permanently confined in an area between the residence and the front property line, but outside the required front yard setback, shall be screened from view outside the property line by dense plantings or a solid fence constructed in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 14.72.
- Sec. 5.10.020(B)(3), Municipal Code Chapter 5.10 - Animal Control Regulations in R1/R3 Districts, p. 1
Unless the area of confinement contains two thousand (2,000) square feet or more, no animal may be permanently confined within ten (10) feet of a rear or side property line, excepting the less restrictive five foot setback along a secondary street property line of a corner lot as set forth in subsection (B)(2) of this section.
- Sec. 5.10.020(C)(2) Definitions, Municipal Code Chapter 5.10 - Animal Control Regulations in R1/R3 Districts, p. 1
Any enclosure or structure which is for the exclusive use of an animal shall be considered a place of permanent confinement for the purposes of interpreting these regulations.
- Sec. 5.10.010(A)(4), Municipal Code Chapter 5.10 - Animal Control Regulations in R1/R3 Districts, p. 1
A maximum of one medium-sized animal, including sheep, goats, and other animals of a similar nature, shall be allowed for each ten thousand (10,000) square feet of lot area; provided, however, no swine shall be allowed, regardless of site area.
- Sec. 5.10.010(A)(6), Municipal Code Chapter 5.10 - Animal Control Regulations in R1/R3 Districts, p. 1
A maximum of one honey bee hive shall be allowed for each five thousand (5,000) square feet of lot area; provided, however, neighbors and passersby shall be protected from flyways, and a water supply adequate in quantity shall be provided and maintained on the site.
- Sec. 5.08.010(B)(3) Animals creating nuisances, Municipal Code Chapter 5.10 - Animal Control Regulations in R1/R3 Districts, p. 1
Permit the animal to obstruct the reasonable and comfortable use of property in any neighborhood or community by chasing vehicles, molesting passersby, barking, howling, baying, or making any other noise;
- Sec. 5.10.070 Sanitary maintenance, Municipal Code Chapter 5.10 - Animal Control Regulations in R1/R3 Districts, p. 1
Any enclosure or premises where animals are kept shall be maintained in a sanitary condition as set forth in Chapter 5.04 of this title.
- Sec. 5.10.010(A)(5), Municipal Code Chapter 5.10 - Animal Control Regulations in R1/R3 Districts, p. 1
A maximum of two large animals, including horses, cows, donkeys, and other animals of a similar nature, shall be allowed on a site not less than two acres in area; provided, however, one additional large animal may be kept for each additional acre of the site.
- Sec. 5.10.020(C)(1), Municipal Code Chapter 5.10 - Animal Control Regulations in R1/R3 Districts, p. 1
Any animal which is confined or restrained in an area for more than six hours per day shall be considered permanently confined for the purposes of interpreting these regulations.
This page summarizes Los Altos's posted ordinances as of 2026-10-05. Ordinances are amended, and individual lots can have overlays, subdivision covenants, or HOA rules that are stricter. Confirm with Development Services Department - Code Enforcement Division (Building Division 650-947-2752), 1 N San Antonio Road (650-947-2775) before you build. Spot an error?