Backyard Chickens in Garden Grove, California

Can you keep chickens in Garden Grove?

Dreaming of fresh eggs in Garden Grove? The city welcomes small backyard flocks under its Municipal Code, making it a friendly spot for Peggy's Happy Chickens fans in Orange County — just remember: hens only, no roosters, and keep that coop 25 feet from the neighbors!

Yes – with conditions

Yes, backyard hens are allowed in Garden Grove. Under the Garden Grove Municipal Code (Chapter 6.04), residential properties may keep a limited number of fowl as part of the city's general pet-keeping limits, but roosters are banned citywide.

The Municipal Code permits a maximum of four fowl, rabbits, birds or household pets (excluding dogs and cats) on any residential premises within the corporate city limits (§ 6.04.060). These animals must be kept at all times in a fully enclosed pen, coop, cage or similar appropriate enclosure, maintaining a minimum setback of twenty-five feet from all adjacent dwelling units and all property lines (§ 6.04.060).

Section 6.04.030 makes it unlawful to keep or maintain roosters and livestock animals (including bulls, steers, cows, calves, cattle, sheep, swine, equine, and bovine) within the corporate city limits. No permit is required to keep the allowed hens, but roosters are prohibited outright.

Read the ordinance ↗

The rules at a glance

Hens in city limits: Allowed
How many hens: 4
Roosters: No
Permit required: No
Permit cost: Not specified
Setback from property line: 25 ft.

Peggy knows Garden Grove

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

Fowl, rabbits, birds or household pets (excluding dogs and cats) must be kept at all times in a fully enclosed pen, coop, cage, or similar appropriate enclosure.
The enclosure must maintain a minimum setback of twenty-five feet from all adjacent dwelling units and all property lines.
No more than four fowl, rabbits, birds or household pets (in any combination) may be kept on a residential property.
Roosters are not permitted anywhere within city limits, grouped in the code alongside a ban on livestock animals such as cattle, sheep, swine, and equines.
No permit or fee is required for keeping the allowed hens, but nuisance rules (noise, odor, sanitation) still apply and can trigger code enforcement complaints.

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Garden Grove

🌡️ Climate

Mediterranean / USDA Zone 10b (Sunset Zone 22-24)

Garden Grove enjoys a mild, dry Mediterranean climate typical of coastal Orange County — warm summers, cool wet winters, and rare frost. Coops should focus more on shade, ventilation, and cooling during occasional heat waves than on cold protection.

🦝 Who's after your hens

RaccoonHawkOpossumCoyoteSnake

Predator-proofing is crucial to protect the flock from common threats such as raccoons and hawks. Suburban Orange County flocks should also watch for opossums, the occasional coyote in green-belt adjacent neighborhoods, and snakes seeking eggs, so hardware-cloth enclosures with buried perimeter mesh and secure locking latches are recommended.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Leghorn, Australorp, Easter Egger, Orpington, Rhode Island Red

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

Questions people ask about Garden Grove

▸How many chickens can I keep in Garden Grove?

Garden Grove's Municipal Code allows a maximum of four fowl, rabbits, birds or household pets (in any combination) on a residential property (§ 6.04.060).

▸Are roosters allowed in Garden Grove?

No. Section 6.04.030 makes it unlawful to keep or maintain roosters and livestock animals within the corporate city limits.

▸Do I need a permit to keep hens in Garden Grove?

No permit is required under the city's animal-keeping ordinance for the allowed number of hens; however, coops must meet the required 25-foot setback from dwellings and property lines.

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

Fowl enclosures must maintain a minimum setback of twenty-five feet from all adjacent dwelling units and all property lines.

▸What kind of enclosure do I need for my chickens?

Chickens must be kept at all times in a fully enclosed pen, coop, cage, or similar appropriate enclosure, in addition to meeting the 25-foot setback rule.

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