Backyard Chickens in Huntington Beach, California

Can you keep chickens in Huntington Beach?

Dreaming of fresh eggs by the beach? Huntington Beach allows backyard hens with a City permit, a six-bird flock cap, and a 25-foot setback from dwellings — but adult roosters are off the table. Here's everything Peggy's Happy Chickens wants you to know before you start your coastal coop.

Yes – with conditions

Yes, hens are legal in Huntington Beach, but the City treats chickens as a regulated activity under Chapter 7.12 of the Huntington Beach Municipal Code, "Miscellaneous Animal Care and Control."

Under § 7.12.130 (Fowl—Number Permitted), a household may not keep more than six total domestic fowl (chickens, geese, ducks, turkeys, pheasants, doves, pigeons or squabs combined), with only one goose, duck, or turkey allowed within that total. Newborn chicks under eight weeks old don't count toward the limit (up to 24 chicks may be kept temporarily).

Under § 7.12.120 (Fowl and Rabbits—Keeping Restrictions), it is a nuisance to keep any rooster over four months old anywhere within city limits, and fowl generally may not be kept within 25 feet of an occupied dwelling, church, school, hospital, or place where food is served/stored unless that structure is the keeper's own home.

Under § 7.12.160 (Residential Animal Permit), a Residential Animal Permit — reviewed and approved by the Director of Planning and Building — is required for keeping any chickens at all (not just flocks above a certain size).

Read the ordinance ↗

The rules at a glance

Hens in city limits: Allowed
How many hens: 6
Roosters: conditional
Permit required: Yes
Setback from property line: 25 ft.

Peggy knows Huntington Beach

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

Flock cap: No more than six total domestic fowl (chickens, geese, ducks, turkeys, pheasants, doves, pigeons, or squabs combined) per household/property, and no more than one goose, duck, or turkey within that total (§ 7.12.130).
Chicks exempt: Newborn chicks under eight weeks old don't count toward the 6-bird cap, up to a maximum of 24 chicks (§ 7.12.130).
Setback: Fowl may not be kept within 25 feet of any dwelling, church, school, hospital, or place where food is stored/served, unless that structure is occupied by the animal's keeper (§ 7.12.120; see also the general § 7.12.040 25-foot rule for animals near inhabited structures).
Roosters: Keeping any rooster over four months old is expressly declared a nuisance and prohibited citywide (§ 7.12.120).
Permit: A Residential Animal Permit from the Director of Planning and Building is required to keep any chickens; approval conditions can include a fee set by City Council resolution, sanitary upkeep of the premises, compliance with the City's noise ordinance (Chapter 8.40), notice to abutting neighbors before permit issuance, and City inspection rights (§ 7.12.160).
General nuisance rules: Fowl cannot run at large or go onto a neighbor's property (§ 7.12.110); noisy fowl that disturb the neighborhood are a nuisance (§ 7.12.070); and coops/pens must be kept clean and sanitary (§ 7.12.030).
Penalty: Violating any of these provisions is an infraction punishable by a fine of up to $100 (§ 7.12.300).

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Huntington Beach

🌡️ Climate

Mediterranean coastal (USDA Hardiness Zone 10b-11a)

Huntington Beach enjoys a mild, dry, coastal Mediterranean climate with cool ocean breezes, minimal frost, and low humidity year-round. Summers are warm but rarely extreme, while winters are mild, making it a comfortable climate for most chicken breeds with minimal need for winterizing coops. The main climate consideration is salty coastal air/moisture, which can accelerate corrosion of wire mesh and metal hardware on coops.

🦝 Who's after your hens

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In this dense coastal urban/suburban environment, raccoons and opossums are the most frequent nighttime coop raiders, while red-tailed hawks and other raptors pose a daytime threat to free-ranging hens. Coyotes are increasingly common in Huntington Beach's greenbelts and residential edges bordering wetlands, and skunks may also target eggs or young chicks. Secure, hardware-cloth-lined coops with covered runs are strongly recommended.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Leghorns, Australorps, Easter Eggers, Plymouth Rocks, Orpingtons, and Silkies all do well in Huntington Beach's mild coastal climate.

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

Questions people ask about Huntington Beach

▸How many chickens can I legally keep in Huntington Beach?

Up to six total domestic fowl (chickens, geese, ducks, turkeys, pheasants, doves, pigeons, or squabs combined) per household, per Municipal Code § 7.12.130. Newborn chicks under eight weeks old don't count toward that limit.

▸Are roosters allowed in Huntington Beach?

No — keeping a rooster over four months old is declared a nuisance and is prohibited citywide under § 7.12.120. Young roosters under four months are not addressed the same way, but once mature they must be removed.

▸Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Huntington Beach?

Yes. Under § 7.12.160, a Residential Animal Permit from the City's Director of Planning and Building is required for keeping any chickens, along with conditions like neighbor notification, premises inspection rights, and noise compliance.

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

Fowl cannot be kept within 25 feet of any occupied dwelling, church, school, hospital, or food-service/storage building unless it's your own home, per § 7.12.120.

▸What happens if I violate the chicken ordinance?

Violations of Chapter 7.12 are infractions punishable by a fine of up to $100 per § 7.12.300.

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