Backyard Chickens in Elk Grove, California

Can you keep chickens in Elk Grove?

Backyard chicken keeping is legal in Elk Grove, California — residents have been allowed to keep small flocks of hens since a 2010 ordinance change. With no permit required and a simple six-hen limit, Elk Grove is a chicken-friendly Sacramento County suburb, provided owners follow the City's general animal care and sanitation rules.

Yes – with conditions

Yes, hens are allowed in the City of Elk Grove. City records and reporting confirm that Elk Grove's Planning Commission and City Council considered and passed an ordinance allowing residents to keep chickens, and multiple sources report that Elk Grove allows for up to six backyard hens since 2010. Roosters are not permitted, and no permit is required to keep a small backyard flock. General animal-care, sanitation, and cage/pen-size standards found in the City's codified animal ordinance (EGMC Title 8, Animals) also apply to any fowl kept on residential property.

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: Not specified

Peggy knows Elk Grove

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

Elk Grove's animal-keeping code (EGMC Title 8) sets general, citywide standards that apply to any animal or fowl enclosure:

Cage/Pen Size: No person may keep an animal in a cage, coop, hutch, pen, yard, or space smaller than three (3) times the floor space and twice the height needed for the animals kept, and the enclosure must allow each animal to stand in a natural, erect position (EGMC § 8.02.160).
Sanitation: Coops, runs, and other enclosures must be kept clean and sanitary at all times, with excreta and manure removed daily or as often as necessary to prevent nuisance conditions such as odors or fly/insect infestation (EGMC § 8.02.170).
No Slaughtering in Residential Areas: Killing or butchering any animal on residentially zoned property is prohibited (EGMC § 8.02.130).
Setback: According to residents who contacted the City's Planning Commission after the 2010 ordinance change, the prior coop setback requirement from property lines was eliminated when the ordinance allowing hens was adopted, though the City recommends confirming current setback expectations with Development Services since this detail was not located in the numeric zoning table.
Zoning: Elk Grove's Zoning Code (EGMC Title 23) separately classifies "Animal Keeping" uses, with "Fowl" (chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, and similar birds) defined as a distinct sub-category subject to the allowed-use table for each zoning district.

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Elk Grove

🌡️ Climate

USDA Hardiness Zone 9b (Sacramento Valley / Central Valley Mediterranean climate)

Elk Grove sits in California's Central Valley and has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers (frequently 95–105°F) and cool, wet winters (rarely below freezing). Flock owners should prioritize shade, ventilation, and constant fresh water in summer, and ensure coops are well-drained during the winter rainy season.

🦝 Who's after your hens

RaccoonHawkFoxCoyoteOpossumSkunk

Elk Grove borders agricultural and riparian areas along the Cosumnes and Sacramento River corridors, so backyard flocks may encounter raccoons, opossums, and skunks at night, as well as red-tailed hawks and coyotes, especially near open space, greenbelts, and drainage channels.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Leghorns, Australorps, Rhode Island Reds, Easter Eggers, and other heat-tolerant breeds do well in Elk Grove's hot Central Valley summers.

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

Questions people ask about Elk Grove

▸How many chickens can I keep in Elk Grove?

Reports from the City's Planning Commission and local news indicate that up to six (6) hens are allowed per residential property.

▸Are roosters allowed in Elk Grove?

No. Roosters are not permitted under Elk Grove's backyard chicken allowance; only hens may be kept.

▸Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Elk Grove?

No permit is required to keep a small backyard flock of hens in Elk Grove.

▸Is there a required setback for chicken coops in Elk Grove?

According to residents who confirmed details with the City's Planning Commission, the prior coop setback requirement was removed when the hen-keeping ordinance was adopted. Owners should still keep coops clean, sanitary, and appropriately sized, and should confirm current requirements with the City's Development Services Department before building.

▸What sanitation rules apply to my coop?

Elk Grove Municipal Code requires that all animal enclosures, including coops, be kept clean and sanitary, with manure removed daily or as often as needed to prevent nuisance odors, flies, or pests (EGMC § 8.02.170), and that enclosures provide adequate space and height for the animals kept (EGMC § 8.02.160).

City rules change, and this page is a summary rather than legal advice. Please confirm with Elk Grove or your HOA before you order – and call us on (559) 321-7271 if you'd like a hand. Last checked August 4, 2026.