Can you keep backyard chickens in San Diego? The rules on hens, roosters, goats and bees
Yes, at a single-family home in the City of San Diego: up to 5 hens with the coop outside required setbacks, 15 if it's 15 ft from property lines, 25 if 50 ft from any home. Roosters are banned outright.
- Hens, typical lot
- 5
- Hen maximum
- 25
- Roosters
- 0
- Municipal Code
- §42.0709
Coop outside required setbacks
Coop and run 50 ft from any home
Banned at single-family homes
Amended 2012 and 2017
The short version
- Since 2012, the City of San Diego has let single-family homes, community gardens and retail farms keep chickens (Municipal Code §42.0709).
- Flock size depends on where the coop sits: 5 hens outside setbacks, 15 at 15 feet from property lines, 25 at 50 feet from any home.
- Roosters are banned on these properties, with no exceptions for small flocks.
- Coops need at least 6 sq ft per bird and the outdoor run at least 10 sq ft per bird.
- Two miniature, pygmy or dwarf goats and two beehives are also allowed; hives must be registered with the County Agricultural Commissioner within 30 days.
Fresh eggs from your own backyard are legal in most of the City of San Diego. In 2012 the City Council amended the Municipal Code to let residents keep chickens, goats and bees "under certain conditions," and those conditions are specific. The key number isn't your lot size; it's how far the coop sits from your property lines and from houses. We checked the City's urban farming pages and the Municipal Code (Chapter 4, Article 2, Division 7) on November 7, 2026.
| Hens allowed | Where the coop has to be |
|---|---|
| Up to 5 | Outside all required zoning setbacks |
| Up to 15 | Outside required setbacks or 15 feet from every property line, whichever is greater |
| Up to 25 | Coop and enclosure at least 50 feet from any building used as a residence |
Up to 5
Outside all required zoning setbacks
Up to 15
Outside required setbacks or 15 feet from every property line, whichever is greater
Up to 25
Coop and enclosure at least 50 feet from any building used as a residence
San Diego Municipal Code §42.0709(e)(2), as amended Feb. 22, 2017. Applies to premises zoned or developed for a single dwelling unit, community gardens and retail farms.
The rules for the coop and run
- No roosters. §42.0709(e)(1) says plainly: "No rooster shall be permitted on the premises."
- Coop: predator-proof, ventilated, watertight, easy to clean, and at least 6 square feet per chicken.
- Outdoor run: directly connected to the coop, predator-proof, fenced so the birds stay on your property, with at least 10 square feet of ground per chicken.
- Feed: stored in rodent-proof containers.
- Cleanup: droppings and food scraps disposed of properly at least once a week.
Chickens, goats and bees side by side
| Chickens | Goats | Bees | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How many | 5, 15 or 25 hens, by coop distance | 2 (kids may stay until 12 weeks) | 2 hives |
| Biggest catch | No roosters | Miniature, pygmy or dwarf breeds only; males neutered; all dehorned | 6-ft barrier around the hive unless it's 8 ft off the ground |
| Space | 6 sq ft per bird in the coop, 10 sq ft per bird outside | Shed of 10+ sq ft and a 400+ sq ft yard with a 5-ft fence | Outside setbacks, or 15 ft from property line and 20 ft from the street |
| Paperwork | Not stated on the City's page; call 619-446-5000 | Not stated on the City's page | No City permit; register with the County Agricultural Commissioner within 30 days |
| Code | §42.0709 | §44.0307 | Ch. 4, Art. 4, Div. 4 |
Chickens
- How many
- 5, 15 or 25 hens, by coop distance
- Biggest catch
- No roosters
- Space
- 6 sq ft per bird in the coop, 10 sq ft per bird outside
- Paperwork
- Not stated on the City's page; call 619-446-5000
- Code
- §42.0709
Goats
- How many
- 2 (kids may stay until 12 weeks)
- Biggest catch
- Miniature, pygmy or dwarf breeds only; males neutered; all dehorned
- Space
- Shed of 10+ sq ft and a 400+ sq ft yard with a 5-ft fence
- Paperwork
- Not stated on the City's page
- Code
- §44.0307
Bees
- How many
- 2 hives
- Biggest catch
- 6-ft barrier around the hive unless it's 8 ft off the ground
- Space
- Outside setbacks, or 15 ft from property line and 20 ft from the street
- Paperwork
- No City permit; register with the County Agricultural Commissioner within 30 days
- Code
- Ch. 4, Art. 4, Div. 4
Goat milk and cheese are for your own household only; the City's goat page says selling them is prohibited. Beekeepers with one or two hives must also requeen every two years and keep the hive out of view of the street.
Hens are a draw for wildlife: see how to keep pets safe from coyotes. Planning the rest of the yard? Our San Diego planting calendar has what to grow when.
Is this still right?
We last checked this tip against its sources on November 7, 2026, and we re-research every tip on a schedule. Things in San Diego change, sometimes overnight.
Prices, fees, hours and rules change, often at the start of a year or season. Confirm with the official source linked below before you rely on a number.
This is general information, not legal, financial, tax, medical or safety advice.
KEEP READING
SOURCES
Everything above traces back to one of these. Follow them — if one has changed and we haven't, that's our mistake, not yours.
- PrimaryChickens
City of San Diego · Checked November 7, 2026
Where chickens are allowed, 5/15/25 limits, typical setback example, no roosters, coop and run rules
City of San Diego · Checked November 7, 2026
§42.0709 text (amended 2012 and 2017), 50-ft rule, 6 sq ft coop space, weekly cleanup; §42.0712 nuisance
- PrimaryBees and Livestock
City of San Diego · Checked November 7, 2026
2012 code amendment allowing bees, chickens and goats
- PrimaryGoats
City of San Diego · Checked November 7, 2026
Two miniature goats, neutering, dehorning, shed and enclosure sizes, no sale of milk
- PrimaryBees
City of San Diego · Checked November 7, 2026
Two hives, setbacks, 6-ft barrier, County registration within 30 days