Backyard Chickens in Santa Rosa, California

Can you keep chickens in Santa Rosa?

Thinking about starting a backyard flock in Santa Rosa? The Sonoma County seat welcomes hen keeping on residential lots city-wide with no permit needed, provided you keep your flock hen-only, size it to your lot, and follow the City's coop setback and design rules.

Yes – with conditions

Yes. The City of Santa Rosa allows the keeping of hens (female chickens) on any lot in a residential zoning district, or in conjunction with a residential use in other zoning districts, without requiring a permit as long as all standards are met (Zoning Code § 20-42.040).

Roosters are prohibited everywhere within city limits (§ 20-42.040.C.1). The number of hens allowed is scaled to lot size: 3 hens on lots of 5,000 sq ft or less; 6 hens on lots of 5,001–10,000 sq ft; 6 hens per 10,000 sq ft (up to 12) on lots of 10,001–43,560 sq ft; and 6 hens per 10,000 sq ft (up to 30) on lots over one acre.

Read the ordinance ↗

The rules at a glance

Hens in city limits: Allowed
How many hens: 6
Roosters: No
Permit required: No
Permit cost: Not specified
Setback from property line: 5 ft.

Peggy knows Santa Rosa

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

Under Santa Rosa Zoning Code § 20-42.040(C), all hen keeping must comply with the following development standards:

Location: Hens must be kept in a securely fenced area within the rear yard of the property, in a coop and pen (required).
Number of hens by lot size (Table 4-1): 3 hens on lots ≤ 5,000 sq ft; 6 hens on lots 5,001–10,000 sq ft; 6 hens per 10,000 sq ft of lot area (up to 12) on lots 10,001–43,560 sq ft; and 6 hens per 10,000 sq ft of lot area (up to 30) on lots over one acre.
Setbacks: For 6 or fewer hens, the coop must be set back a minimum of 5 feet from side/rear property lines; for more than 6 hens, a minimum 10-foot setback is required. In all cases, the coop must be at least 20 feet from any habitable structure on an adjacent property.
Height: Coops may not exceed 8 feet in height.
Design/maintenance: The coop and pen must be designed and maintained so hens are securely contained, kept clean and sanitary, built to prevent rodents from harboring within or under the structure, and feed must be managed to minimize rodent attraction.
Roosters: Prohibited under all circumstances.

Separately, up to 5 other small animals (not more than 3 dogs, not more than 1 pot-bellied pig) may also be kept per residential lot, and larger livestock (goats, ducks, pigs, etc.) is allowed only on Rural Residential lots of at least 20,000 sq ft, subject to its own per-acreage limits (§ 20-42.040.D).

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Santa Rosa

🌡️ Climate

Mediterranean (USDA Hardiness Zone 9a/9b, warm-summer Mediterranean climate)

Santa Rosa sits in Sonoma County's Mediterranean climate belt, with warm, dry summers (frequently reaching the 85-95°F range) and cool, wet winters where nighttime lows can dip into the high 30s–low 40s°F. Coops should prioritize summer shade and ventilation to prevent heat stress, while also offering a draft-free, dry roosting area for the rainy winter months.

🦝 Who's after your hens

RaccoonHawkFoxCoyoteOpossumSkunk

Santa Rosa backs up to oak-woodland and forested hillsides, so backyard flocks share the neighborhood with raccoons, opossums, skunks, foxes, coyotes, and hawks. A fully enclosed, hardware-cloth-covered run and a secure, predator-proof coop are essential, especially since Santa Rosa's ordinance already requires hens to be kept in a securely fenced rear-yard enclosure.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Rhode Island Red, Plymouth Barred Rock, Orpington, Australorp, Easter Egger, Wyandotte

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

Questions people ask about Santa Rosa

▸Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Santa Rosa?

No. The City of Santa Rosa does not require a permit for hen keeping as long as you comply with all the standards in the Animal Keeping regulations (Zoning Code § 20-42.040), including lot-based hen limits, setbacks, and coop design requirements.

▸Can I keep a rooster in Santa Rosa?

No. Roosters are explicitly prohibited under Santa Rosa's hen-keeping ordinance (§ 20-42.040.C.1), regardless of lot size or zoning district.

▸How many hens can I keep on my property?

It depends on your lot size: up to 3 hens on lots of 5,000 sq ft or less, up to 6 hens on lots of 5,001–10,000 sq ft, 6 hens per 10,000 sq ft (max 12) on lots of 10,001 sq ft to one acre, and 6 hens per 10,000 sq ft (max 30) on lots over one acre.

▸How far from my property line does my coop need to be?

For 6 or fewer hens, the coop must be set back at least 5 feet from side and rear property lines; for more than 6 hens, the setback increases to 10 feet. In all cases, the coop must also be at least 20 feet from any habitable structure on a neighboring property.

▸Where in Santa Rosa is hen keeping allowed?

Hen keeping is allowed on any lot in a residential zoning district, and in conjunction with a residential use in other zoning districts, subject to the City's development standards for coop location, size, and maintenance.

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