Backyard Chickens in Simi Valley, California

Can you keep chickens in Simi Valley?

Thinking about raising backyard hens in Simi Valley? The city allows chickens, but your zoning matters: general residential lots need to go through the City's "Hen Project" Zoning Clearance (up to 6 hens, no roosters), while properties in a designated Animal Overlay Zone have much more flexibility. Here's what Peggy's Happy Chickens found in the actual Simi Valley Municipal Code.

Yes – with conditions

Yes, chickens are allowed in Simi Valley, but the rules depend heavily on your property's zoning. Under the Simi Valley Municipal Code (SVMC) § 9-44.060 ("Animal Keeping"), keeping farm animals — including chickens — as an accessory residential use generally requires that the parcel carry an Animal Overlay Zone designation: the Animal (A) Overlay (which permits all farm animals, chickens included, per a density formula), or the Limited Farm Animal (L) Overlay (which caps hens at 5 per parcel and does not allow other farm-animal types). Properties without an overlay may still keep farm animals with a Conditional Use Permit on lots of 20,000+ sq. ft.

For residents who are NOT in an animal overlay zone, the City created a special "Hen Project" pathway (SVMC § 9-44.060(E)(8)): a resident engaged in an animal-husbandry education program (e.g., a 4-H project) can obtain a one-year, renewable Zoning Clearance to keep up to six hens (no roosters) on a single-family lot of at least 8,000 sq. ft. This provision was added after a 15-year-old 4-H member successfully petitioned the City Council to change the code.

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: 10 ft.

Peggy knows Simi Valley

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

Hen Project pathway (most common route for non-overlay properties): requires a City Zoning Clearance (renewable annually); property must have a single-family dwelling on a single-family zoned lot (OS, RE, RVL, RL, RM, or RMod) of at least 8,000 sq. ft.; maximum of 6 hens; roosters are explicitly not permitted; the coop/enclosure must provide 3–6 sq. ft. per hen, be no taller than 6 feet, sit in the rear yard, and be set back at least 10 feet from side and rear property lines.
Animal (A) Overlay Zone: allows chickens (and other farm animals) without the 6-hen cap, subject to a density formula of 1 Farm Animal Unit Equivalent (FAUE) per 10,000 sq. ft. of net lot area for the first two units and 7,000 sq. ft. thereafter; each chicken counts as 0.04 FAUE, so lots can typically support many birds.
Limited (L) Overlay Zone: hens are capped at 5 per parcel; roosters are not among the listed permitted animals for this zone.
General farm-animal setbacks: coops/poultry structures must sit behind the residence and meet side/rear yard setbacks; where an overlay-zoned lot abuts a non-overlay lot, a 20-foot setback applies; other outdoor enclosures (corrals, pens, etc.) must be at least 50 feet from any off-site occupied structure other than the owner's residence.
Noise/nuisance rule: keeping an animal (including roosters, peacocks, geese) that habitually disturbs neighbors' peace and quiet is prohibited citywide — except this nuisance rule does not apply within the (A), (L), or (H) Animal Overlay Zones.
All animal keeping must comply with general maintenance/sanitation standards (enclosures kept free of litter, garbage, and manure buildup) under SVMC § 9-44.060(C).

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Simi Valley

🌡️ Climate

Mediterranean / semi-arid (Sunset Zone 18-19; USDA Hardiness Zone 9b-10a)

Simi Valley has hot, dry summers (frequently 90-100°F+) and mild, wet winters, typical of inland Ventura County valleys. Chicken keepers should prioritize shade, ventilation, and reliable water access in coops during summer heat waves, while winter cold is rarely a major concern.

🦝 Who's after your hens

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Simi Valley borders open space, hillsides, and the Santa Susana Mountains, so coyotes and red-tailed hawks are common concerns for backyard flocks. Raccoons, skunks, opossums, and gopher/rat snakes are also frequently seen in residential yards, especially near overlay-zoned rural pockets of the city.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Heat-tolerant, hardy breeds do best in Simi Valley's dry summers, such as Leghorns, Australorps, Rhode Island Reds, Easter Eggers, and Plymouth Rocks.

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

Questions people ask about Simi Valley

▸Can I just start keeping a few hens in my backyard in Simi Valley?

Only if your property is zoned for it. Most residential parcels need an Animal Overlay Zone designation to keep farm animals, or you must qualify for the City's Hen Project Zoning Clearance, which allows up to 6 hens (no roosters) on a single-family lot of at least 8,000 sq. ft. as part of an animal-husbandry education program.

▸Are roosters allowed in Simi Valley?

It depends on the zone. Roosters are explicitly not permitted under the Hen Project provision used by most non-overlay residential properties. In the Animal (A) Overlay Zone, however, the City's rooster/peacock/geese noise-nuisance rule does not apply, suggesting roosters may be kept there subject to the general farm-animal standards.

▸How do I find out if my property is zoned for chickens?

Contact the City's Planning Division (Environmental Services Department) to check whether your parcel carries an (A), (L), or (H) Animal Overlay designation, or review the City's zoning maps.

▸How big does my coop need to be and how far from the property line?

Under the Hen Project standards, the coop and enclosure must provide 3 to 6 square feet per hen, be no more than 6 feet tall, sit in the rear yard, and be set back at least 10 feet from the side and rear property lines.

▸Is there a maximum number of hens allowed on any Simi Valley property?

It varies: the Hen Project caps hens at 6, the Limited (L) Overlay Zone caps hens at 5, and the Animal (A) Overlay Zone uses a density formula (0.04 Farm Animal Units per chicken) that can allow considerably more birds depending on lot size.

City rules change, and this page is a summary rather than legal advice. Please confirm with Simi Valley or your HOA before you order – and call us on (559) 321-7271 if you'd like a hand. Last checked August 5, 2026.