Backyard Chickens in Santa Clarita, California

Can you keep chickens in Santa Clarita?

Dreaming of fresh eggs in the Santa Clarita Valley? Before you build that coop, know that Santa Clarita's Zoning Code ties chicken-keeping tightly to lot size — standard suburban lots under 15,000 square feet don't qualify at all, while larger properties can keep a modest, shared allotment of hens. Read on for the full breakdown straight from the municipal code.

Yes – with conditions

Yes, chickens (hens) may be kept in Santa Clarita, but the City's Zoning Code treats poultry as a shared-quota "Other Small Animal" category rather than giving chickens their own flat citywide cap, and the allowance is directly tied to lot size (Santa Clarita Municipal Code § 17.62.030).

Under the Table in § 17.62.030(A), lots under 15,000 square feet are allowed ZERO poultry/other small animals — meaning a typical suburban tract-home lot in Santa Clarita cannot legally keep any chickens. Once a lot reaches 15,000 sq ft, a limited number of "Other Small Animals" (a shared category that includes poultry excluding roosters, goats, sheep, miniature horses, and potbellied pigs) is allowed, increasing with lot size up to 8 per acre on parcels over one acre.

Roosters are treated separately and are only allowed on parcels larger than one acre, at a ratio of one rooster per acre — effectively banning roosters on almost all residential lots in the city.

Read the ordinance ↗

The rules at a glance

Hens in city limits: Allowed
How many hens: 3
Roosters: conditional
Permit required: No
Setback from property line: 50 ft.

Peggy knows Santa Clarita

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

Because chickens fall under the "Other Small Animals" line of Table in SCMC § 17.62.030(A), the numeric allowance is shared with any goats, sheep, miniature horses, or potbellied pigs also kept on the property — keeping other animals reduces the number of chickens allowed.

Lot up to 15,000 sq ft: 0 poultry allowed
15,000–20,000 sq ft: up to 3
20,001–25,000 sq ft: up to 4
25,001–30,000 sq ft: up to 5
30,001–35,000 sq ft: up to 6
35,001 sq ft – 1 acre: up to 7
Greater than 1 acre: up to 8 per acre

Roosters are only permitted on parcels greater than one acre, at one rooster per acre (SCMC § 17.62.030, Table Note 2).

Enclosures: all animals must be properly caged/housed in fenced or enclosed structures, which are treated as accessory structures subject to the underlying zone's development standards (§ 17.62.030(C)(1)). Coops/enclosures must be kept free of litter, garbage, and manure accumulation, with waste disposed of regularly to control flies and odor (§ 17.62.030(C)(2)). All such structures must be located a minimum of 50 feet from any street/highway or any building used for human habitation (§ 17.62.030(C)(3)), and noise must be attenuated to the ambient level for the zone at the property line (§ 17.62.030(C)(4)). Sale of eggs from lawfully-kept flocks is expressly permitted (§ 17.62.030(A)(3)). A minor use permit is required only if a resident wants to keep more animals than the table allows (§ 17.62.030(B)).

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Santa Clarita

🌡️ Climate

USDA Hardiness Zone 9b/10a — Mediterranean/semi-arid inland valley climate

Santa Clarita has hot, dry summers (frequently 90–100°F+) and mild, wet winters typical of inland Southern California valleys. Coop ventilation, shade, and access to cool water are critical in summer, while winter cold stress is rarely a major concern.

🦝 Who's after your hens

CoyoteHawkBobcatRaccoonOpossumSnake

Santa Clarita borders large open-space wildland areas; nearby preserves report

Resident wildlife in the hills surrounding Santa Clarita includes bobcat, coyote, red-tailed hawk, and desert cottontail populations, all of which can pose a threat to unprotected backyard flocks. A secure, roofed run with buried hardware-cloth fencing is strongly recommended given the proximity of chaparral habitat to residential neighborhoods.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Leghorn, Australorp, Easter Egger, Plymouth Rock, Rhode Island Red, Orpington (heat-tolerant, hardy breeds suited to hot dry summers)

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

Questions people ask about Santa Clarita

▸Can I keep chickens on a standard suburban lot in Santa Clarita?

Likely not. Under SCMC § 17.62.030, lots under 15,000 square feet are allowed zero poultry or other small animals, which excludes most standard tract-home lots from keeping any chickens.

▸How many hens can I keep if my lot qualifies?

The number scales with lot size, starting at 3 on lots between 15,000 and 20,000 sq ft and rising to 8 per acre on parcels over one acre — but this cap is shared with any goats, sheep, miniature horses, or potbellied pigs also kept on the property.

▸Are roosters allowed in Santa Clarita?

Only on parcels larger than one acre, at a ratio of one rooster per acre. Roosters are effectively prohibited on typical residential lots.

▸Do I need a permit to keep chickens?

No permit is required if you stay within the numeric limits set by the lot-size table. A minor use permit is only required if you want to keep more animals than the table allows.

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

Structures used for keeping small animals, including poultry, must be located at least 50 feet from any street/highway or any building used for human habitation.

City rules change, and this page is a summary rather than legal advice. Please confirm with Santa Clarita or your HOA before you order – and call us on (559) 321-7271 if you'd like a hand. Last checked August 3, 2026.