Backyard Chickens in Lancaster, California

Can you keep chickens in Lancaster?

Thinking about raising backyard chickens in Lancaster, California? In the heart of the Antelope Valley's Mojave high desert, Lancaster residents can potentially keep hens — but only on parcels zoned Rural Residential, making zoning check the first step before you build a coop.

Yes – with conditions

Yes, keeping chickens is legally possible in Lancaster, but with an important zoning catch: the City's Animal Control Regulations (Lancaster Municipal Code Chapter 6.04) adopt the Los Angeles County Animal Control Ordinance (Title 10 of the L.A. County Code) by reference, but the ordinance itself states that where the County Animal Control Ordinance conflicts with the City's Zoning Ordinance regarding the keeping of animals, the Zoning Ordinance controls. That zoning control is found in Lancaster Municipal Code Title 17 (Zoning), specifically §§ 17.08.040, 17.08.050 and 17.08.310 (Table 17.08.310A), which limits the keeping of chickens and other fowl to properties zoned Rural Residential (RR) (and certain agricultural/industrial-zoned parcels) — chickens are generally not a permitted use on standard single-family (R-1) residential lots in Lancaster.

Within the zones where fowl-keeping is allowed, secondary sources citing § 17.08.050 report a cap on hens with roosters restricted, subject to required setbacks from property lines and neighboring dwellings. No permit is reported as being required for a standard backyard flock kept within the allowed zone.

Read the ordinance ↗

The rules at a glance

Hens in city limits: Allowed
How many hens: 6
Roosters: conditional
Permit required: No
Permit cost: Not specified
Setback from property line: 40 ft.

Peggy knows Lancaster

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

Zoning is the critical factor in Lancaster. Multiple sources (including a 2010 resident's letter to the Lancaster City Council quoting the operative sections) confirm the City's animal-keeping rules for fowl are governed by the Zoning Code, not a stand-alone "chicken ordinance," and that keeping of chickens is restricted to parcels zoned Rural Residential (RR) — described by residents as being effectively excluded from the City's ordinary urban/suburban residential zones. A city council response from that same period confirmed no interest in extending chicken-keeping rights to standard in-city residential zoning.

Where permitted (RR-zoned lots), reported standards include: a maximum on the order of several hens per parcel (secondary-source figures range from about 3 to 6 hens depending on the source), roosters generally disfavored/not allowed outside RR zones, and coop/enclosure setbacks cited at roughly 20 feet from any property line and 40 feet from any adjacent dwelling. Because these figures come from secondary aggregators rather than a directly-read current code section, verify your specific parcel's zoning designation and the current numeric limits with the City of Lancaster Community Development/Planning Division before acquiring birds.

Regardless of zone, general L.A. County/City animal-control sanitation, nuisance, and cruelty provisions (adopted via LMC Chapter 6.04) also apply.

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Lancaster

🌡️ Climate

Hot desert / high desert (Mojave Desert, Antelope Valley) — USDA Hardiness Zone 8b-9a

Lancaster sits in the western Mojave Desert at roughly 2,300 feet elevation, giving it a high-desert climate with very hot, dry summers (regularly 95-105°F+) and cold, sometimes frosty winter nights. Large day-to-night temperature swings and strong seasonal winds are common, so coops need excellent shade/ventilation for summer and wind-blocking, insulated draft protection for winter.

🦝 Who's after your hens

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The Antelope Valley's open desert and foothill terrain around Lancaster puts backyard flocks at risk from coyotes and bobcats (common on the valley's edges), red-tailed hawks and other raptors overhead, plus raccoons and snakes that can exploit weak coop seams. Fully enclosed, hardware-cloth-secured runs with a buried predator apron are strongly recommended.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Heat- and cold-tolerant, hardy breeds do best given the wide temperature swings: Leghorns, Easter Eggers, Plymouth Rocks, Australorps, Rhode Island Reds, and Egyptian Fayoumis (excellent heat tolerance) are popular choices for the high desert.

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

Questions people ask about Lancaster

▸Can I keep chickens on a regular single-family residential lot in Lancaster?

Generally, no. Lancaster's zoning code reportedly limits fowl-keeping to Rural Residential (RR) zoned parcels (and certain agricultural/industrial zones) per LMC §§ 17.08.040, 17.08.050 and Table 17.08.310A, rather than allowing it citywide on standard R-1 lots. Confirm your parcel's zoning with the City before getting birds.

▸Are roosters allowed in Lancaster?

Sources conflict: some indicate roosters are not allowed at all, while others indicate roosters may be permitted only within Rural Residential-zoned properties. Because of this ambiguity, treat rooster ownership as conditional on your specific zoning and check directly with Lancaster Animal Care & Control or Community Development before keeping one.

▸Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Lancaster?

No permit is reported as required for a standard backyard flock kept within a qualifying zone, though you should still confirm compliance with zoning, setback, and sanitation rules.

▸How far must a chicken coop be from my neighbor's house in Lancaster?

Reported setback standards call for coops to be kept roughly 20 feet from property lines and about 40 feet from any adjacent dwelling, though exact figures should be verified against the current zoning code for your parcel.

▸What predators should Lancaster chicken keepers watch for?

Coyotes and bobcats are active in and around the Antelope Valley, along with hawks, raccoons, and snakes, so a fully enclosed, hardware-cloth run with a buried predator apron is strongly advised.

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