Can I keep backyard chickens in Sierra Madre, California?
Unclear, and Sierra Madre's code contradicts itself. The animal ordinance treats chickens as a nuisance only within 50 feet of a neighbor's house or 100 feet of any street, or above 24 birds, which implies small flocks are tolerated; but the R-1 zoning chapter allows only listed uses, doesn't list poultry, and its pet definition excludes chickens. Get a written answer from Planning before buying hens.
| Distance from a neighbor's dwelling | At least 50 feet [1] |
| Distance from any street | At least 100 feet [1] |
| Maximum number | 24 of any one kind or combination of fowl [2] |
| Roosters / noisy birds | Fowl that disturb the neighborhood by any sound or cry are a nuisance [3] |
| Hogs | Prohibited citywide [6] |
| Beehives | Not within 200 feet of another person's dwelling [7] |
What the animal ordinance says
Title 6 doesn't ban chickens outright. Instead, Section 6.08.010 declares it a nuisance and unlawful to keep chickens, geese, ducks, turkeys, pigeons, doves or similar fowl (and rabbits and other small animals raised for food) within 50 feet of any dwelling other than your own, or within 100 feet of any street [1]. It is also unlawful to keep more than 24 of any one kind or combination of these animals [2]. On a typical in-town lot, the 100-foot street distance alone may rule out a coop.
Roosters and noise
The code has no separate rooster ban, but any animal "including any fowl or fowls" whose sound or cry disturbs the neighborhood is a nuisance [3]. Crowing roosters would likely fall under this.
What the zoning code says
The R-1 chapter says property in the zone may be used only for the listed uses [4]. That list includes dogs and cats as household pets (up to three adults) but doesn't mention poultry. The zoning definition of household pets covers cats, dogs, fish and indoor birds, and says "bird" excludes chickens, hens, roosters, geese and ducks [5]. The R-H (Hillside) zone allows any use permitted in R-1 plus noncommercial animal facilities for animals "that it is lawful to keep" under other parts of the code, and bans livestock, so it points back to the same question. Read together, the zoning code may not treat backyard hens as an allowed residential use even where the Title 6 distances can be met. Nothing we reviewed resolves this conflict, so ask Planning for a written answer before you build a coop.
Other animals
Hogs are banned citywide [6]. Beehives must be at least 200 feet from any dwelling other than the beekeeper's [7]. The City also adopts the Los Angeles County animal control ordinance by reference, which we didn't review.
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Next steps
- Call Planning & Community Preservation at (626) 355-7138 to ask whether hens are allowed on your R-1 or R-H lot under the zoning code.
- Measure the distance from your planned coop to every neighbor's house (50 ft minimum) and to the street (100 ft minimum).
- Keep the flock well under 24 birds and avoid roosters or other birds whose noise could draw a nuisance complaint.
Common questions
- Can I have backyard chickens in Sierra Madre, California?
- It's unclear, because the code contradicts itself. The animal ordinance implies small flocks are tolerated at a distance, but the R-1 zoning chapter allows only listed uses and doesn't list poultry. Get a written answer from Planning before buying hens.
- How far does a chicken coop need to be from neighbors in Sierra Madre, California?
- Under the animal ordinance, keeping chickens is a nuisance within 50 feet of any dwelling other than your own or within 100 feet of any street. On a typical in-town lot, the street distance alone may rule out a coop.
- How many chickens can I have in Sierra Madre, California?
- The animal ordinance makes it unlawful to keep more than 24 of any one kind or combination of fowl, but whether zoning allows hens at all is unresolved, so ask Planning first.
- Are roosters allowed in Sierra Madre, California?
- There's no separate rooster ban, but any fowl whose sound or cry disturbs the neighborhood is a nuisance, and crowing roosters would likely fall under this.
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. 6.08.010(A), Municipal Code Title 6 Ch. 6.08 Animals Generally (6.08.010 poultry and rabbits), p. 1
It is declared to be nuisance and it is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to suffer or permit any: 1. Chickens, geese, ducks, turkeys, pigeons, doves, squabs or similar fowl; or 2. Hares, rabbits, chinchillas, hamsters; or 3. Other small animals raised for food, scientific or furbearing purposes; within fifty feet of any dwelling house or structure used as a dwelling house, unless such dwelling house or structure be occupied by him/her or it, or to keep the fowl or hares or rabbits or other small animals within one hundred feet of any street.
- Sec. 6.08.010(B), Municipal Code Title 6 Ch. 6.08 Animals Generally (6.08.010 poultry and rabbits), p. 1
It is declared to be a nuisance and it is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to keep on any premises owned or controlled by him/her or it more than twenty-four in number of any one kind or combination of:
- Sec. 6.08.050, Municipal Code Title 6 Ch. 6.08 Animals Generally (6.08.010 poultry and rabbits), p. 1
It is declared to be a nuisance and it is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation, to keep, maintain or permit upon any lot or parcel of land within the city under his/her or its control, any animal or animals, including any fowl or fowls, which by any sound or cry shall disturb the peace and comfort of any neighborhood.
- Sec. 17.20.020, Municipal Code Title 17 Ch. 17.20 R-1 One-Family Residential Zone (17.20.020 permitted uses; 17.20.060 accessory structures; 17.20.065 swimming pools), p. 1
No person shall use, nor shall any property owner permit the use of any property or lot located in any R-1 zone for any use other than the following:
- Sec. 17.08.020 ("Household pets"), Municipal Code Title 17 Ch. 17.08 Definitions (incl. household pets), p. 1
Kept, at all times, within a dwelling unit; specifically, "bird" shall not include, among others, for the purpose of these regulations, chickens, hens, roosters, geese or ducks.
- Sec. 6.08.030, Municipal Code Title 6 Ch. 6.08 Animals Generally (6.08.010 poultry and rabbits), p. 1
It is declared to be nuisance and it is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to keep or maintain any hog or hogs within the limits of the city.
- Sec. 6.08.040, Municipal Code Title 6 Ch. 6.08 Animals Generally (6.08.010 poultry and rabbits), p. 1
It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to keep to maintain or suffer or permit to be kept or maintained, upon premises owned or controlled by him/her or it in the city, any hive of bees within two hundred feet of any dwelling house other than that occupied by the owner or person in control of such bees.