Can I keep backyard chickens in Malibu, California?
Under Malibu's coastal zoning plan, raising poultry is limited to parcels of at least one acre, and the use table permits it in the Rural Residential (RR) zone but not in the Single Family (SF) zone. Most typical in-town lots are too small or zoned SF, so backyard chickens generally aren't allowed there. The city's separate animal-control code (Title 6) wasn't available to us, so check with the city before getting hens.
| Minimum parcel size for poultry | 1 acre [1] |
| Zone where poultry raising is permitted | Rural Residential (RR) [2] |
| RR zone purpose | Large lots with animal keeping as an accessory use [3] |
| Horses, goats, sheep (personal use) | Min. 15,000 sq ft lot; max 8 animals per acre (4 horses) [4] |
| Large-animal setback | 50 ft from any dwelling [5] |
| Animal facilities | Not on slopes over 4:1; no fuel-modification expansion into ESHA [6] |
Poultry needs at least one acre
Malibu's Local Implementation Plan (LIP) says raising poultry, fowl, birds, rabbits, fish, bees and similar animals may only occur on a parcel of at least one acre [1]. The LIP doesn't set a hen limit, rooster rule or coop setback, and it has no small-flock exception.
Zones
Table B (Permitted Uses) lists "raising of poultry, fowl, birds, rabbits, fish, bees and other animals of comparable nature" as permitted in the Rural Residential (RR) zone [2]. In that row the table marks RR with "P" (permitted use), shows the table's "not permitted" symbol for the Single Family (SF), multifamily and mobile home zones, and requires a conditional use permit in two non-residential zones (CR and I). The RR zone is meant for large-lot homes with agricultural uses and animal keeping as accessory uses [3]. RR lots range from 1 to 40 acres.
The table also allows "domestic animals kept as pets or for personal use" as an accessory use in residential zones. The LIP defines a domestic animal as one commonly kept in a residence with people. We read the poultry row and the 1-acre rule as covering hens, but whether the city treats a few pet hens as "domestic animals" instead is a judgment call to confirm with Planning.
Other livestock
- Horses, sheep, goats and similar animals for personal use need a lot of at least 15,000 sq ft, with no more than 8 animals per acre, including no more than 4 horses [4].
- Those animals must be kept at least 50 ft from any building used as a home [5].
- Animal shelters and pens are allowed with a home only if they're not on slopes steeper than 4:1 and don't push fuel-modification clearing into sensitive habitat (ESHA) [6].
- Any confined animal use must include water-quality protection measures.
What we couldn't check
These rules come from the Local Implementation Plan as of September 2020. Malibu's Municipal Code Title 6 (Animals) may have more rules on poultry numbers, roosters, noise or coops. It's published only on eCode360, which we couldn't access. Its rules could be stricter or more detailed than the zoning summarized here.
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Next steps
- Check your zoning (RR or SF) and parcel size on the city's GIS map; poultry raising needs at least one acre and is permitted in the RR zone.
- Call the Planning Department (310-456-2489) to confirm whether hens are allowed on your lot and whether a coastal development permit is needed for a coop or pen.
- Ask about Municipal Code Title 6 (Animals) limits on numbers, roosters and coop placement before buying birds.
- Site any coop or pen off steep slopes and away from sensitive habitat areas.
Common questions
- Can I have chickens in Malibu, California?
- Generally not on typical in-town lots. Malibu's coastal zoning plan limits raising poultry to parcels of at least one acre, and permits it in the Rural Residential (RR) zone but not the Single Family (SF) zone. The city's animal-control code wasn't available to us, so check with the city before getting hens.
- How big does my lot need to be for chickens in Malibu, California?
- At least one acre. Malibu's Local Implementation Plan says raising poultry, fowl, birds, rabbits and similar animals may only occur on a parcel of at least one acre, with no small-flock exception.
- Are roosters allowed in Malibu, California?
- The zoning rules we reviewed don't set a hen limit, rooster rule or coop setback. Malibu's Municipal Code Title 6 (Animals) may have rules on roosters, numbers and coops, but we couldn't access it, so ask the city before buying birds.
- Can pet hens count as domestic animals in Malibu, California?
- It's unclear. The use table allows domestic animals kept as pets as an accessory use in residential zones, but we read the poultry row and the one-acre rule as covering hens. Whether the city treats a few pet hens as domestic animals is a judgment call to confirm with Planning.
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
- LIP Sec. 3.13.2(F), Malibu LCP Local Implementation Plan (current through Supp. 13, Sept. 2020; Ord. 461, 4-13-2020), p. 143
Raising of poultry, fowl, birds, rabbits, fish, bees and other animals of comparable nature shall only occur on a parcel that is a minimum of one acre in size.
- LIP Appendix 1, Table B (Permitted Uses), Malibu LCP Local Implementation Plan (current through Supp. 13, Sept. 2020; Ord. 461, 4-13-2020), p. 383
Raising of poultry, fowl, birds, rabbits, fish, bees and other P
- LIP Sec. 3.3(A)(1), Malibu LCP Local Implementation Plan (current through Supp. 13, Sept. 2020; Ord. 461, 4-13-2020), p. 52
The RR District is intended for sensitively designed, large lot single family residential develop- ment, with agricultural uses and animal keeping which respects surrounding residents and the natural environment as accessory uses.
- LIP Sec. 3.13.2(G)(1)-(2), Malibu LCP Local Implementation Plan (current through Supp. 13, Sept. 2020; Ord. 461, 4-13-2020), p. 143
The subject property is a minimum of 15,000-sq. ft. in size. 2. The maximum number of animals listed above does not exceed eight animals (over 6 months of age) for every acre of lot area, of which a maximum of four animals per acre may be horses.
- LIP Sec. 3.13.2(G)(3), Malibu LCP Local Implementation Plan (current through Supp. 13, Sept. 2020; Ord. 461, 4-13-2020), p. 143
The animals shall be maintained in an area a minimum of 50 ft. from any building used for hu- man habitation.
- LIP Sec. 3.13.2(B), Malibu LCP Local Implementation Plan (current through Supp. 13, Sept. 2020; Ord. 461, 4-13-2020), p. 143
Accessory structures used for confined animal facilities may be permitted in conjunction with an exist- ing or new single family residence if such use is not located on a slope greater than 4:1and does not re- sult in any expansion to the required fuel modification area into ESHA or ESHA buffer.