Backyard Chickens in Chula Vista, California

Can you keep chickens in Chula Vista?

Thinking about keeping a backyard flock in Chula Vista? The city allows hens on qualifying residential lots, but roosters are off the table and there are specific setback and lot-size rules to follow. Here's what Peggy's Happy Chickens found in the actual municipal code.

Yes – with conditions

Yes, backyard chickens are allowed in Chula Vista, but the rules are strict about lot size, flock composition, and placement. Under Chula Vista Municipal Code (CVMC) §6.04.080, a family may keep six chickens (along with up to six rabbits, two turkeys, two ducks, two geese, and 10 pigeons, in any combination not exceeding 25 total fowl/rabbits) on a tract of land with a minimum of 7,000 square feet that contains no more than one single-family dwelling.

Roosters are expressly prohibited citywide under CVMC §6.04.060, with only narrow exceptions for animals lawfully kept before an area was annexed into the City (for a limited transition period) or animals kept for bona fide educational purposes with City Council approval.

Housing is also regulated: per CVMC §6.04.090, chickens/domestic fowl must be kept in a building or fenced enclosure in the rear yard, at least 50 feet from any residence other than the owner's, and at least 5 feet from any adjacent property line.

Read the ordinance ↗

The rules at a glance

Hens in city limits: Allowed
How many hens: 6
Roosters: No
Permit required: No
Permit cost: Not specified
Setback from property line: 50 ft.

Peggy knows Chula Vista

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

Per CVMC §6.04.090, rabbits and domestic fowl (including chickens) must be kept or maintained within a building or fenced enclosure located in the rear yard. The enclosure must be:

Not less than 50 feet from any residence other than the owner's own home;
Not less than 5 feet from any property line adjacent to the owner's property.

These housing rules do not apply to parakeets, canaries, and similar small caged birds. The minimum 7,000 sq ft lot requirement (CVMC §6.04.080) effectively limits chicken-keeping to larger residential parcels — smaller lots common in denser Chula Vista neighborhoods may not have room to satisfy both the lot-size and 50-ft setback requirements simultaneously.

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Chula Vista

🌡️ Climate

USDA Hardiness Zone 10a/10b; Sunset Climate Zone 24

Chula Vista has a mild Mediterranean/marine climate typical of coastal San Diego County — warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters, with the ocean moderating extreme temperatures. Frost is rare, but inland pockets of the city can see occasional hot summer days, so coop ventilation and shade are important for flock comfort.

🦝 Who's after your hens

RaccoonHawkCoyoteOpossumSkunk

Coastal San Diego County backyards, including those in Chula Vista's canyon-adjacent and open-space-bordering neighborhoods, can attract raccoons, opossums, and skunks at night, along with hawks during the day. Coyotes are also present in areas near canyons, parks, and undeveloped land. Secure, hardware-cloth enclosures with buried perimeters and covered runs are recommended.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Australorp, Leghorn, Plymouth Rock, Rhode Island Red, Orpington, Easter Egger — heat-tolerant, easy-going breeds that do well in mild coastal Southern California climates.

Our package comes with two Rhode Island Reds – hardy in heat and cold, and friendly with kids.

Questions people ask about Chula Vista

▸How many chickens can I keep in Chula Vista?

Up to six chickens per family, as part of a combined total of fowl and rabbits not exceeding 25 animals, per CVMC §6.04.080. Your property must have a minimum of 7,000 square feet and contain only one single-family dwelling.

▸Are roosters allowed in Chula Vista?

No. CVMC §6.04.060 expressly prohibits keeping roosters within the City, with only very limited exceptions for pre-annexation keeping or bona fide school educational programs approved by the City Council.

▸How far must my coop be from my neighbor's house?

Per CVMC §6.04.090, the coop or fowl enclosure must be at least 50 feet from any residence other than your own, and at least 5 feet from any adjacent property line, and must be located in your rear yard.

▸Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Chula Vista?

The Chula Vista Municipal Code sections governing chicken-keeping (CVMC §§6.04.080 and 6.04.090) do not state a permit requirement for keeping a small residential flock — the rules instead focus on lot size, animal quantity, and enclosure placement.

▸Can I keep chickens on a smaller residential lot in Chula Vista?

Not under this ordinance. The 7,000-square-foot minimum lot size in CVMC §6.04.080, combined with the 50-foot residence setback in CVMC §6.04.090, means many standard-sized suburban lots in Chula Vista may not have enough room to legally keep chickens.

City rules change, and this page is a summary rather than legal advice. Please confirm with Chula Vista or your HOA before you order – and call us on (559) 321-7271 if you'd like a hand. Last checked August 6, 2026.