Can I keep chickens in Santa Rosa, CA?
Yes — Santa Rosa allows backyard chickens, up to 30 hens with no permit required. Roosters are prohibited, and coops must be at least 5 ft from neighboring lines/homes. (Santa Rosa City Code § 20-42.040(B)-(C) and Table 4-1 (Number of Hens Allowed), verified September 2026)
The full rules
| Chickens allowed | Yes |
|---|---|
| Maximum hens | 30 |
| Roosters | Prohibited |
| Permit required | No |
| Coop setback | 5 ft |
| Coop rules | Hens must be in a securely fenced rear-yard area with a coop and pen. Coops sit at least 5 ft from side/rear property lines for 6 or fewer hens (10 ft for more than 6) and at least 20 ft from habitable structures on adjacent properties; coops may be no taller than 8 ft and must be rodent-proof. Roosters are prohibited. |
| Code section | Santa Rosa City Code § 20-42.040(B)-(C) and Table 4-1 (Number of Hens Allowed) |
Santa Rosa allows hens on residential lots without a permit, scaled to lot size: 3 hens on lots of 5,000 sq ft or less, 6 on 5,001 to 10,000 sq ft, 6 per 10,000 sq ft up to 12 on 10,001 sq ft to 1 acre, and 6 per 10,000 sq ft up to 30 on lots over 1 acre. Hens stay in a fenced rear yard with a coop set back 5 ft (or 10 ft for more than 6 hens) from side and rear lines and 20 ft from neighbors' habitable structures. Roosters are prohibited.
Common questions
Can I keep chickens in Santa Rosa?
Yes — chickens are allowed in Santa Rosa (Santa Rosa City Code § 20-42.040(B)-(C) and Table 4-1 (Number of Hens Allowed)).
How many chickens can I keep in Santa Rosa?
Up to 30 hens. Tiered by lot size: 3 up to 5,000 sq ft; 6 up to 10,000 sq ft; 6 up to 19,999 sq ft; 12 up to 43,560 sq ft; 24 up to 49,999 sq ft.
Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Santa Rosa?
No — no permit is required for the base allowance in Santa Rosa.
Are roosters allowed in Santa Rosa?
No — roosters are prohibited in Santa Rosa.
How far must a chicken coop be from the property line in Santa Rosa?
5 feet minimum. Hens must be in a securely fenced rear-yard area with a coop and pen. Coops sit at least 5 ft from side/rear property lines for 6 or fewer hens (10 ft for more than 6) and at least 20 ft from habitable structures on adjacent properties; coops may be no taller than 8 ft and must be rodent-proof. Roosters are prohibited.
What law covers backyard chickens in Santa Rosa?
Santa Rosa City Code § 20-42.040(B)-(C) and Table 4-1 (Number of Hens Allowed). Read the official text at the source linked on this page.
The actual law
Santa Rosa City Code § 20-42.040(B)-(C) and Table 4-1 (Number of Hens Allowed) — read the official code
“3 hens (≤5k sq ft), 6 hens (5-10k sq ft), 12 hens (10k-43.5k sq ft), 30 hens (>1 acre); roosters prohibited; 20-ft setback required” source
“Table 4-1 Number of Hens Allowed: Lots 5,000 sq ft or less: 3; Lots 5,001-10,000 sq ft: 6; Lots 10,001-43,560 sq ft: 6 hens per 10,000 sq ft of lot area up to 12 hens; Lots over one acre: 6 hens per 10,000 square feet of lot area up to 30 hens.” source
“C. Development standards for hen keeping. ... 1. Roosters are prohibited. 2. Hens shall be kept in a securely fenced area within the rear yard of the residential property. A coop and pen are required.” source
“a. Setbacks. For keeping of six or fewer hens, the coop shall be set back a minimum of five feet from side or rear property lines. For keeping of more than six hens, the coop shall be set back a minimum of 10 feet from side or rear property lines. For all hen keeping, the coop shall be located a minimum of 20 feet from habitable structures on adjacent properties.” source
Last verified September 20, 2026. Always confirm with your municipality — HOA rules can be stricter than city code. How we verify →
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