Backyard Chickens in Moreno Valley, California

Can you keep chickens in Moreno Valley?

Thinking about raising backyard chickens in Moreno Valley? The city permits hens on qualifying rural and agricultural-zoned lots, but roosters are banned citywide and standard subdivided residential lots have restrictions. Here's exactly what Moreno Valley's municipal code requires before you start your flock.

Yes – with conditions

Yes, Moreno Valley allows the keeping of chickens/poultry, but only as a right within specific rural/agricultural zoning districts and lot sizes — it is not automatically allowed on every residential lot in the city.

Per Moreno Valley Municipal Code §9.09.090 (Agricultural and Animal Uses) and Table 9.09.090-11 (Animal Keeping Requirements), "poultry, fowl" may be kept only in the Rural Residential (RR), Hillside Residential (HR), Residential-1 (R1), Residential Agriculture-2 (RA2), and Agricultural (AG) zoning districts, on a lot of at least 20,000 square feet, at a rate of 15 birds per 20,000 sq. ft. of lot area.

Roosters are NOT allowed anywhere in the city. Table 9.09.090-11, Note 4 states poultry keeping excludes "roosters, guinea fowl or peafowl," and the city's own Zoning FAQ page confirms: "Roosters are prohibited in the City." The code's Farm Project provision likewise states "Roosters and pigs shall be allowed only in agricultural zones" (§9.09.090(F)(1)(b)(ii)).

On smaller, typically subdivided residential lots (e.g., R2, R3, R5, R10, RS10) that are NOT on the eligible-zone list, ordinary hen-keeping is not a permitted use. A limited exception exists for a registered school/4-H/FFA "Farm Project," which the Community Development Director may approve (no fee, minor development review with neighbor notice) on lots as small as 7,200 sq. ft., subject to reduced bird limits (§9.09.090(F)).

Where poultry keeping is permitted, no conditional use permit is required beyond compliance with the standards of §9.09.090 and the underlying zoning district; it is a by-right use subject to setback, sanitation, and district requirements.

Read the ordinance ↗

The rules at a glance

Hens in city limits: Allowed
How many hens: 15
Roosters: No
Permit required: No
Permit cost: Not specified
Setback from property line: 20 ft.

Peggy knows Moreno Valley

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

Per MVMC §9.09.090(E)(1)(a) (Table 9.09.090-11 general animal-keeping standards), the area where animals/poultry are housed must maintain:

Front setback: per underlying district requirement (or the front yard may be used if the main house is set back at least 75 ft. from the front property line)
Side and rear setback: minimum 0 feet
Setback from any habitable dwelling: minimum 20 feet
Fence height (where corrals/enclosures are used): minimum 5 feet

Additional rules: no roosters, guinea fowl, or peafowl are permitted (Table 9.09.090-11, Note 4); waste must be managed per the waste removal requirements of MVMC Chapter 6.04; and any offspring may only be kept until weaned per the timelines in §9.09.090(E)(1)(c).

Permit note: No permit/fee is required for standard poultry keeping within eligible zoning districts under MVMC 9.09.090. A no-fee 'Farm Project' minor development review approval letter is required for school/FFA/4-H animal projects on smaller lots.

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Moreno Valley

🌡️ Climate

USDA Hardiness Zone 9b/10a — Hot-summer Mediterranean/semi-arid (inland Southern California, Riverside County)

Moreno Valley sits in the Inland Empire and experiences hot, dry summers (often 95–105°F) and mild, occasionally frosty winters. Flock owners should prioritize shade, ventilation, and constant fresh water in summer, and wind-blocking, dry bedding in winter cold snaps.

🦝 Who's after your hens

HawkCoyoteRaccoonSnakeOpossumBobcat

Moreno Valley backs up to open scrubland and hillside habitat, so coyotes and hawks are common daytime and dusk threats, while raccoons, opossums, and snakes are frequent nighttime visitors to unsecured coops. Bobcats are occasionally reported in the hillside/rural residential fringe areas where poultry keeping is permitted.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Heat-tolerant, hardy breeds recommended for Moreno Valley's inland desert-edge climate include Leghorns, Easter Eggers, Australorps, Rhode Island Reds, and Plymouth Rocks — all of which handle heat reasonably well and remain productive layers.

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

Questions people ask about Moreno Valley

▸Can I keep chickens on a regular residential lot in Moreno Valley?

Only if your property is zoned Rural Residential (RR), Hillside Residential (HR), Residential-1 (R1), Residential Agriculture-2 (RA2), or Agricultural (AG) and is at least 20,000 sq. ft. Standard subdivided lots in zones like R5 or RS10 generally do not qualify for routine poultry keeping under MVMC §9.09.090.

▸Are roosters allowed in Moreno Valley?

No. The city's Zoning FAQ page explicitly states roosters are prohibited citywide, and the municipal code's animal-keeping table excludes roosters, guinea fowl, and peafowl from permitted poultry.

▸How many hens can I keep?

Up to 15 poultry/fowl per 20,000 sq. ft. of lot area in an eligible zoning district, per Table 9.09.090-11 of the Moreno Valley Municipal Code.

▸Do I need a permit to keep chickens?

No separate permit is required for standard poultry keeping if you are in an eligible zone and comply with the setback and sanitation standards of §9.09.090. A 'Farm Project' approval letter (no fee) is required only for school-affiliated animal projects on smaller lots.

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

The animal housing area must be set back at least 20 feet from any habitable dwelling, per MVMC §9.09.090(E)(1)(a).

City rules change, and this page is a summary rather than legal advice. Please confirm with Moreno Valley or your HOA before you order – and call us on (559) 321-7271 if you'd like a hand. Last checked August 2, 2026.