Can I keep backyard chickens in Woodside, California?
Yes. Woodside allows fowl, rabbits and other small animals as an accessory use in its residential districts, up to 25 per acre and no more than 50 per lot, with no Town permit required. Coops must be at least 40 to 50 feet from neighboring property lines (depending on the zone), 50 feet from the front line, and 50 to 100 feet from neighbors' homes. Fenced runs must be at least 25 feet from any property line.
| Max number | 25 small animals per acre, max 50 per lot (all species combined) [1] |
| Coop distance from neighbor's house | 80 ft (SR, R-1) or 100 ft (SCP, RR, OS) [2] |
| Coop distance from side/rear property line | 40 ft (SR, R-1) or 50 ft (SCP, RR, OS) [3] |
| Coop distance from front line/street | 50 ft [4] |
| Fenced run setback | 25 ft from any property line [5] |
| Horses and cattle | 1-acre minimum lot; 1 animal per half acre [6] |
| Sheep and goats | 2 per half acre [7] |
| Horse permit | Stable permit needed to keep a horse more than 30 days [8] |
How many birds
The accessory-use table for residential districts lists "keeping of fowl, rabbits, or other small animals" up to 25 per acre and no more than 50 per lot [1]. The count covers all small animals combined, and animals of one species use up that area's allowance for other species. Under the code's numbers, a half-acre lot could keep about 12 birds. Seasonal and educational group projects are exempt. The code doesn't mention roosters separately, so they appear to count toward the same limit. Noise and nuisance rules may still apply.
Where the coop can go
A coop or other structure housing fowl or small animals has strict setbacks. It must be at least 80 ft from a house on an adjoining lot in the SR and R-1 districts, and 100 ft in the OS, SCP and RR districts [2]. It must be 40 ft from neighboring property lines in SR or R-1, or 50 ft where either lot is OS, SCP or RR [3]. It must also be 50 ft from the front property line or any line along a street [4]. A fenced run for fowl must be at least 25 ft from every property line [5]. These distances can rule out a coop on smaller R-1 lots, so measure before you build.
Other livestock
Horses and cattle need a lot of at least 1 acre, with one animal per half acre [6]. Sheep and goats are limited to two per half acre [7]. Keeping a horse for more than 30 consecutive days requires an annual stable permit from the Town Clerk [8]. The code doesn't call for any Town permit for chickens.
See how Woodside compares with 8+ other California towns on backyard chickens →
Next steps
- Confirm your zoning district and lot size with the Planning Department (650-851-6790).
- Site the coop on a plot plan using the 40/50-ft property-line, 50-ft front and 80/100-ft neighbor-house distances; a building permit may be needed for a larger coop.
- Keep fenced runs at least 25 ft from all property lines.
- If you also plan to keep horses, apply to the Town Clerk for a private stable permit.
Common questions
- Can I have chickens in Woodside, California?
- Yes. Woodside allows fowl, rabbits and other small animals as an accessory use in its residential districts, and the code doesn't call for any Town permit for chickens. Noise and nuisance rules may still apply.
- How many chickens can I have in Woodside, California?
- Up to 25 small animals per acre and no more than 50 per lot, counting all species combined. Under those numbers, a half-acre lot could keep about 12 birds.
- How far must a chicken coop be from the property line in Woodside, California?
- A coop must be 40 ft from neighboring property lines in SR or R-1, or 50 ft where either lot is OS, SCP or RR; 50 ft from the front line or any street; and 80 ft (SR, R-1) or 100 ft (OS, SCP, RR) from a neighbor's house. Fenced runs must be 25 ft from every property line.
- Are roosters allowed in Woodside, California?
- The code doesn't mention roosters separately, so they appear to count toward the same limit of 25 small animals per acre and 50 per lot. Noise and nuisance rules may still apply.
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. 153.107, Table A-3 (Accessory uses: animals), Municipal Code §153.107 Residential and commercial districts: permitted, conditional and accessory uses (Table A-1); §153.111 Home occupations
Keeping of fowl, rabbits, or other small animals not to exceed an aggregate total of 25 in number per acre up to a maximum of 50 per lot . Structures housing such fowl or animals shall comply with § 153.207
- Sec. 153.207(A)(3)(b)(1), Municipal Code §153.207 Setbacks (ministerial and discretionary exceptions)
Not less than 80 feet from any main dwelling existing on an adjoining lot in an SR and R-1 District, and 100 feet from any main dwelling , on an adjoining lot , in an OS, SCP and RR District at the time such structure is erected;
- Sec. 153.207(A)(3)(b)(2), Municipal Code §153.207 Setbacks (ministerial and discretionary exceptions)
Not less than 50 feet from any neighboring property line, when either the parcel upon which the structure is located or the adjoining parcel is in the OS, SCP or RR District; and not less than 40 feet from any neighboring property line, when either the parcel upon which the structure is located or the adjoining parcel is in the SR or R-1 District; and
- Sec. 153.207(A)(3)(b)(3), Municipal Code §153.207 Setbacks (ministerial and discretionary exceptions)
Not less than 50 feet from any front property line or a property line adjoining a street.
- Sec. 153.207(A)(3)(c), Municipal Code §153.207 Setbacks (ministerial and discretionary exceptions)
Fenced enclosures, other than those included in division (a) of this division (3), for the concentration of fowl and other small animals shall not be less than 25 feet from any property line.
- Sec. 153.107, Table A-3 (Accessory uses: animals), Municipal Code §153.107 Residential and commercial districts: permitted, conditional and accessory uses (Table A-1); §153.111 Home occupations
Horses and cattle—the minimum property size shall be one acre and the maximum allowable livestock shall be one equine or bovine for each one-half acre
- Sec. 153.107, Table A-3 (Accessory uses: animals), Municipal Code §153.107 Residential and commercial districts: permitted, conditional and accessory uses (Table A-1); §153.111 Home occupations
Sheep and goats—the maximum allowable shall be two animals for each one-half acre
- Sec. 115.10, Municipal Code Ch. 115 Stables (Private Stable Regulations)
No horse shall be kept for more than 30 consecutive days without obtaining a stable permit therefor pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.