Can you keep backyard chickens in California?
Your California city or county may make its own local, police and sanitary ordinances that don't conflict with general laws (Cal. Const. art. XI, s. 7), so check with it. Whether keepers must register wasn't established.
Read from 19 official sources30 passages quotedChecked October 25, 2026
At a glance
Registering your flock
Where hens can live
Bird-flu housing orders
Welfare rules
Who decides where hens can live
The state law we read gives a named local body its own powers over where hens can live. What the checked sources say:
- A California county or city may make and enforce within its limits all local, police, sanitary and other ordinances and regulations not in conflict with general laws.
- The legislative body of any county or city may adopt zoning ordinances regulating the use of buildings, structures and land as between industry, business, residences, open space including agriculture, and other purposes. The Legislature’s stated aim is that counties and cities may exercise the maximum degree of control over local zoning matters.
- Except as otherwise provided, the state zoning chapter does not apply to a charter city, except to the extent the city adopts it by charter or ordinance.
No statewide permission or prohibition on keeping chickens is established by this finding. Your city or county may make its own local ordinances, including zoning ordinances, so check with it. This page names the state law, not its own ordinances, and doesn't cover HOA, rooster or setback rules.
Registration: not established in the state sources we read.
The law's own words are quoted under state rules on keeping poultry below.
How to check: Look up the local rules where you live (the ordinances, bylaws or zoning of the body named here), or ask that office, before you get hens.
A sourced reading of California's state law, not legal advice. Local ordinances and zoning, HOA rules, and any local rooster or coop limits aren't covered here yet: check your local code before you get hens.
Keeping your flock
These findings cover the national or state scope stated below. They do not determine whether chickens are allowed at a particular home. City zoning, property restrictions and other local rules are outside this research.
Registering as a poultry keeper
Not established from the sources checked
Jurisdiction: California
Applies to: The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Premises Identification Number (PIN) program, as described by CDFA on 25 October 2026.
Outside this finding's scope
- No keeper registration duty was found in the Food and Agricultural Code’s animal quarantine chapter or in a search of the whole Food and Agricultural Code for poultry registration provisions. The California Code of Regulations was not read, so this is not proof that none exists.
What the checked sources say
- CDFA says a PIN is a unique number for a location where livestock or poultry are managed, or another location linked to animal agriculture. Taking part is voluntary, but you need a PIN to order official electronic ID eartags.
- A PIN belongs to one physical location and must match the animals’ “911” address; CDFA says a producer who moves the farm needs a new PIN.
Authority: Not established from the sources checked.
Fee: Not established from the sources checked.
The official wording
A Premises Identification Number (PIN) is a unique alphanumeric number assigned to a geographic location where livestock or poultry are managed or other locations associated with animal agriculture.
CDFA Animal Health ID page, "Premises Identification Number (PIN)", first paragraph · Checked
Participation in this program is voluntary; however, a PIN is required to order official electronic ID eartags.
CDFA Animal Health ID page, "Premises Identification Number (PIN)", third paragraph, last sentence · Checked
PINs are permanently assigned to a single location and must match the “911” address/physical location of the animals. If, for example, a producer moves their farm’s location, they will need to apply for a new PIN.
CDFA Animal Health ID page, "Premises Identification Number (PIN)", second paragraph · Checked
Bird-flu housing orders
Current status needs rechecking
Check the official current-status pageOrders can change between checks. A missed check or an expired order does not establish that no order applies.
Housing-order finding as checked on 2026-10-25
The scope and conditions below are a dated record, not confirmation of today's position.
Conditions apply to this finding
Uses housing orders in this scope: Yes, according to the checked evidence, within the limits listed under “Outside this finding’s scope” below.
Jurisdiction: California
Applies to: The State Veterinarian’s quarantine powers under the Food and Agricultural Code (ss. 9502, 9503, 9561, 9562, 9564 and 9569), where animal includes poultry.
Outside this finding's scope
- These powers do not in terms require birds to be kept indoors, and this finding does not establish that any quarantine or order applies now.
What the checked sources say
- In the Food and Agricultural Code’s animal quarantine chapter (Division 5, Part 1, Chapter 3), animal, livestock or domestic animal includes poultry, and poultry includes all domesticated fowl and any wild fowl or bird reduced to captivity.
- The State Veterinarian shall impose a quarantine on a belief, reasonably supportable by standard epidemiological practice or credible scientific research, that a population of domestic animals has or may carry an illness, infection, pathogen, contagion, toxin or condition that, without intervention, could transmit an illness that could kill or seriously damage other animals or humans. Those powers expressly include ordering movement, segregation, isolation or destruction of animals, and holding animals in place.
- The State Veterinarian may also set quarantine, sanitary and police regulations, proclaim the boundaries of a quarantine area instead of issuing separate orders to each owner, and order all animals in a quarantine area detained for examination or inspection at a named place.
- As checked on 25 October 2026, CDFA’s avian influenza page said poultry owners whose flocks have had any unusual or suspicious illness or deaths should call the CDFA Sick Bird Hotline at 866-922-BIRD (2473).
- Current mandatory housing status remains unconfirmed.
- Checked
- Recheck due
Historical evidence, as checked
These quotations record what was checked on the dates shown. They do not confirm an order's current status.
“Animal,” “livestock,” or “domestic animal,” includes poultry.
Food & Agric. Code s. 9502 · Checked
“Poultry” includes all domesticated fowl and any wild fowl or bird which is reduced to captivity.
Food & Agric. Code s. 9503 · Checked
the State Veterinarian shall impose a quarantine if he or she believes, upon any basis reasonably supportable by standard epidemiological practice or credible scientific research, that a population of domestic animals or food product from animals has contracted, or may carry, an illness, infection, pathogen, contagion, toxin, or condition that, without intervention, could transmit an illness
without intervention, could transmit an illness that could kill or seriously damage other animals or humans,
Food & Agric. Code s. 9562(a), main clause, closing · Checked
(3) The State Veterinarian’s quarantine powers set forth in this section expressly include the power to order movement, segregation, isolation, or destruction of animals or food products, as well as the power to hold animals or food products in place.
Food & Agric. Code s. 9562(b)(3) · Checked
The State Veterinarian may establish such quarantine, sanitary, and police regulations as may be necessary to prevent, circumscribe, or exterminate, any condition designated pursuant to Section 9562.
Food & Agric. Code s. 9561 · Checked
If it is necessary to restrict the movements of animals pursuant to Section 9562, the State Veterinarian may fix and proclaim the boundaries of a quarantine area in lieu of separate, individual orders issued to each owner pursuant to Section 9562.
(c) Order all animals within the quarantine area to be detained for purposes of examination or inspection at any place which is specified by him or her in the order.
Food & Agric. Code s. 9569(c) · Checked
Poultry owners with flocks that have experienced any unusual/suspicious illness or deaths should call our CDFA Sick Bird Hotline at 866-922-BIRD (2473).
Unless the context otherwise requires, the definitions in this article govern the construction of this chapter.
Food & Agric. Code s. 9501 · Checked
Small-flock welfare minimums
Conditions apply to this finding
Jurisdiction: California
Applies to: California’s Penal Code cruelty and confinement provisions (ss. 597, 597t, 599b and 599c), where animal includes every dumb creature, and the farm-animal confinement law for egg-laying hens kept on a farm (Health and Safety Code ss. 25990 and 25991, from Proposition 12).
Outside this finding's scope
- The Penal Code title is not to be read as interfering with the right to kill all animals used for food, with the game laws or laws for or against the destruction of certain birds, or with properly conducted scientific experiments under the authority of the faculty of a regularly incorporated medical college or university of California, among other listed matters.
- The farm-animal confinement law applies to a farm, meaning land, buildings, support facilities and equipment wholly or partially used for the commercial production of animals or animal products for food or fiber, but not live animal markets, federally inspected meat establishments or official egg-products plants. Whether a backyard flock that sells some eggs is a farm was not established.
What the checked sources say
- It is a crime to deprive an animal of necessary sustenance, drink or shelter. Anyone who has charge or custody of an animal, as owner or otherwise, commits a crime by subjecting it to needless suffering or by failing to give it proper food, drink, or shelter or protection from the weather. These offences can be punished as a felony, by imprisonment, a fine of up to $20,000 or both, or alternatively as a misdemeanor.
- Everyone who keeps an animal confined in an enclosed area must give it an adequate exercise area; breaking this rule is a misdemeanor. It does not apply to an animal in transit, in a vehicle or in a person’s immediate control.
- A farm owner or operator must not knowingly cause an egg-laying hen kept on a farm (a female domesticated chicken, turkey, duck, goose or guineafowl kept for egg production) to be confined in a cruel manner, which includes confining it so it cannot lie down, stand up, fully extend its limbs or turn around freely.
The official wording
In this title, the word “animal” includes every dumb creature;
Penal Code s. 599b, opening · Checked
a person who overdrives, overloads, drives when overloaded, overworks, tortures, torments, deprives of necessary sustenance, drink, or shelter, cruelly beats, mutilates, or cruelly kills an animal,
Penal Code s. 597(b), opening clause · Checked
and whoever, having the charge or custody of an animal, either as owner or otherwise, subjects an animal to needless suffering, or inflicts unnecessary cruelty upon the animal, or in any manner abuses an animal, or fails to provide the animal with proper food, drink, or shelter, or protection from the weather,
Penal Code s. 597(b), second clause · Checked
(d) A violation of subdivision (a), (b), or (c) is punishable as a felony by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170, or by a fine of not more than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment, or alternatively, as a misdemeanor
Penal Code s. 597(d), opening · Checked
Every person who keeps an animal confined in an enclosed area shall provide it with an adequate exercise area.
Penal Code s. 597t, first sentence · Checked
Violation of this section constitutes a misdemeanor. This section shall not apply to an animal which is in transit, in a vehicle, or in the immediate control of a person.
Penal Code s. 597t, closing sentences · Checked
or to interfere with the right to kill all animals used for food, or with properly conducted scientific experiments or investigations performed under the authority of the faculty of a regularly incorporated medical college or university of this state.
Penal Code s. 599c, closing · Checked
No part of this title shall be construed as interfering with any of the laws of this state known as the “game laws,” or any laws for or against the destruction of certain birds,
Penal Code s. 599c, opening · Checked
(a) A farm owner or operator within the state shall not knowingly cause any covered animal to be confined in a cruel manner.
Health & Safety Code s. 25990(a) · Checked
(f) “Covered animal” means any calf raised for veal, breeding pig, or egg-laying hen who is kept on a farm. (g) “Egg-laying hen” means any female domesticated chicken, turkey, duck, goose, or guineafowl kept for the purpose of egg production.
Health & Safety Code s. 25991(f)-(g) · Checked
(i) “Farm” means the land, building, support facilities, and other equipment that are wholly or partially used for the commercial production of animals or animal products used for food or fiber;
(1) Confining a covered animal in a manner that prevents the animal from lying down, standing up, fully extending the animal’s limbs, or turning around freely.
Health & Safety Code s. 25991(e)(1) · Checked
and does not include live animal markets, establishments at which mandatory inspection is provided under the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. Sec. 601 et seq.), or official plants at which mandatory inspection is maintained under the federal Egg Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. Sec. 1031 et seq.).
National or state rules on keeping poultry
Conditions apply to this finding
Jurisdiction: California
Applies to: California counties’ and cities’ constitutional police power (Cal. Const. art. XI, s. 7) and their zoning power (Government Code ss. 65800, 65803 and 65850).
Outside this finding's scope
- No statewide permission or prohibition on keeping chickens is established by this finding. Your city or county may make its own local ordinances, including zoning ordinances, so check with it. This page names the state law, not its own ordinances, and doesn't cover HOA, rooster or setback rules.
What the checked sources say
- A California county or city may make and enforce within its limits all local, police, sanitary and other ordinances and regulations not in conflict with general laws.
- The legislative body of any county or city may adopt zoning ordinances regulating the use of buildings, structures and land as between industry, business, residences, open space including agriculture, and other purposes. The Legislature’s stated aim is that counties and cities may exercise the maximum degree of control over local zoning matters.
- Except as otherwise provided, the state zoning chapter does not apply to a charter city, except to the extent the city adopts it by charter or ordinance.
The official wording
A county or city may make and enforce within its limits all local, police, sanitary, and other ordinances and regulations not in conflict with general laws.
Cal. Const. art. XI, s. 7 · Checked
The legislative body of any county or city may, pursuant to this chapter, adopt ordinances that do any of the following: (a) Regulate the use of buildings, structures, and land as between industry, business, residences, open space, including agriculture, recreation, enjoyment of scenic beauty, use of natural resources, and other purposes.
Gov. Code s. 65850, opening and (a) · Checked
it is its intention to provide only a minimum of limitation in order that counties and cities may exercise the maximum degree of control over local zoning matters.
Except as otherwise provided, this chapter shall not apply to a charter city, except to the extent that the same may be adopted by charter or ordinance of the city.
Gov. Code s. 65803 · Checked
Bird flu right now? PoultryPal's bird-flu tracker for California has the latest we've checked.
Next door
Every state on the map →Common questions
- Do I have to register backyard chickens in California?
- Registration: not established. The finding covers: The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Premises Identification Number (PIN) program, as described by CDFA on 25 October 2026. Outside this finding's scope: No keeper registration duty was found in the Food and Agricultural Code’s animal quarantine chapter or in a search of the whole Food and Agricultural Code for poultry registration provisions. The California Code of Regulations was not read, so this is not proof that none exists.
- Can I keep chickens in my backyard in California?
- The state law we read gives a named local body its own powers over where hens can live. A California county or city may make and enforce within its limits all local, police, sanitary and other ordinances and regulations not in conflict with general laws. The legislative body of any county or city may adopt zoning ordinances regulating the use of buildings, structures and land as between industry, business, residences, open space including agriculture, and other purposes. The Legislature’s stated aim is that counties and cities may exercise the maximum degree of control over local zoning matters. Except as otherwise provided, the state zoning chapter does not apply to a charter city, except to the extent the city adopts it by charter or ordinance. No statewide permission or prohibition on keeping chickens is established by this finding. Your city or county may make its own local ordinances, including zoning ordinances, so check with it. This page names the state law, not its own ordinances, and doesn't cover HOA, rooster or setback rules. Look up the local rules where you live (the ordinances, bylaws or zoning of the body named here), or ask that office, before you get hens.
- Do I have to keep my hens indoors for bird flu in California?
- Housing orders come and go, so we never show one as current. This page links the official status page to check today. PoultryPal's bird-flu tracker page for California has the latest we've checked.
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