Backyard Chickens in Torrance, California

Can you keep chickens in Torrance?

Thinking about raising hens in Torrance? The city allows backyard chickens for egg-laying purposes, but it's a permit-first system: residents must obtain a Special Animal Permit from Community Development before bringing home hens, keep to a 4-hen limit, follow rear-yard setback rules, and skip the roosters entirely. Here's everything Peggy's Happy Chickens found in the actual Torrance Municipal Code.

Yes – with conditions

Yes, backyard hens are allowed in Torrance, but only with a permit. Under the Torrance Municipal Code, keeping of hens is permitted on single-family residential property, but a Special Animal Permit must first be issued by the Director of Community Development before hens may be kept (§ 41.14.010(a)). The code sets a maximum of four (4) hens per property (§ 41.14.010(b)). Roosters are explicitly banned: the code states that roosters are farm-type animals not considered pets and that 'the keeping of roosters is unlawful and a public nuisance' (§ 41.14.010(k)).

Read the ordinance ↗

The rules at a glance

Hens in city limits: Allowed
How many hens: 4
Roosters: No
Permit required: Yes
Permit cost: $122
Setback from property line: 15 ft.

Peggy knows Torrance

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

Torrance's ordinance (Torrance Municipal Code, Ch. 1, Article 14 – Keeping of Hens) imposes detailed coop and yard requirements:

Hens must be kept in a chicken coop, cage, or other enclosure located in the rear yard only — no nearer than 15 feet from the rear property line and no nearer than 10 feet from a side property line (§ 41.14.010(d)).
The coop/enclosure may not exceed 60 square feet in size (§ 41.14.010(f)).
All hen-keeping activities are restricted to the rear yard, and hens may not run at large unattended (§ 41.14.010(e)).
The coop and rear yard area must be regularly maintained and cleaned to prevent odor, pest, and sanitation nuisances; accumulation of manure/debris is itself declared a public nuisance (§ 41.14.010(f)-(h)).
Sick or diseased hens must receive prompt veterinary attention or be properly disposed of; keeping visibly diseased hens is unlawful (§ 41.14.010(i)).
Complaints about noise, odor, or safety can trigger permit modification, abatement, or revocation by the Community Development Director (§ 41.14.010(j), § 41.14.040).
A permit application requires a completed form, a scaled plot plan showing the coop location, and dimensioned coop details, filed with the Community Development Department (§ 41.14.020).
Unlike permits for extra small animals, pigeons, or bees, a hen permit application is not subject to neighbor notification or third-party appeal (§ 41.11.010(a)(7) & (12)).
The municipal code itself lists an $80 base fee for a special animal permit to keep hens (§ 41.11.010(a)(9)), noting fees may be adjusted by later citywide fee resolutions; current published permit-fee guidance (per resident summaries of Community Development's fee schedule) puts the actual fee at approximately $122, which includes review of a site map and coop/run drawings.

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Torrance

🌡️ Climate

USDA Hardiness Zone 10b/11a (Mediterranean coastal climate)

Torrance sits in a mild, coastal Southern California climate with cool, damp winters and warm, dry summers moderated by ocean breezes and marine layer fog. Extreme heat and hard freezes are both rare, making it a very forgiving environment for backyard poultry year-round.

🦝 Who's after your hens

RaccoonHawkOpossumCoyoteSkunk

In dense urban/suburban Torrance neighborhoods, raccoons and opossums are the most frequent nighttime coop intruders, while red-tailed hawks and other raptors pose a daytime threat to free-ranging hens. Coyotes are increasingly common in the broader Los Angeles South Bay area and can breach unsecured yards, and skunks may target eggs or young chicks. A fully enclosed, predator-proof run with hardware cloth (not chicken wire) and a secure overhead cover is strongly recommended.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Leghorn, Easter Egger, Rhode Island Red, Buff Orpington, Australorp

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

Questions people ask about Torrance

▸Can I keep roosters in Torrance?

No. Torrance's municipal code classifies roosters as farm-type animals not eligible for pet status, and expressly states that 'the keeping of roosters is unlawful and a public nuisance' (§ 41.14.010(k)).

▸How many hens can I legally keep?

The Torrance Municipal Code caps backyard hens at a maximum of four (4) per property (§ 41.14.010(b)), regardless of lot size.

▸Do I need a permit to keep hens in Torrance?

Yes. A Special Animal Permit from the Director of Community Development is required before keeping any hens (§ 41.14.010(a)). The application includes a site plan and coop drawings, and the process is not subject to neighbor notification or appeal (§ 41.11.010(a)(7),(12)).

▸How far must my coop be from the property line?

Coops or enclosures must be located in the rear yard, at least 15 feet from the rear property line and at least 10 feet from any side property line (§ 41.14.010(d)).

▸Is there a size limit for chicken coops in Torrance?

Yes, the chicken coop, cage, or other enclosure may not exceed 60 square feet in size (§ 41.14.010(f)).

City rules change, and this page is a summary rather than legal advice. Please confirm with Torrance or your HOA before you order – and call us on (559) 321-7271 if you'd like a hand. Last checked August 7, 2026.