*The City of San Diego, California - Chicken and Gamebird / Fowl Law*

As of June 2008,

Anyone who lives in The City of San Diego are allowed to have chickens!!! Even in apartments if you can somehow manage the smell and the noise.

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This list was put together by the Union-Tribune:
By Janine Zuñiga
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
(I made minor changes to make it easier to read)

June 3, 2008

Following is a list of San Diego County cities and what their zoning codes generally allow. Most don't allow roosters or slaughter. Many require urban chicken owners to have a specific amount of land in certain areas. Some require enclosures. Please check with your city for more specific zoning information.

Not permitted

Coronado: No chickens in the city.

Imperial Beach: No chickens in the city. *12-14-09 Update* - Limited to 5 (with exceptions)

Permitted (with exceptions)

Carlsbad: Up to 25 chickens are permitted in certain residential areas but not within 40 feet of neighboring houses. Enclosures are required in some areas.

Chula Vista: Up to 12 chickens are permitted on a minimum of 7,000 square feet of land, up to 25, on land where one family occupies one home. An enclosure is required, but must be no closer than 50 feet from neighboring homes.

Del Mar: No ordinance regarding raising chickens. City officials refer to county codes, if necessary.

El Cajon: Up to 24 chickens are permitted on single-family lots of at least 20,000 square feet in certain residential areas. Chickens must be kept 50 feet from any neighboring residence.

Encinitas: Up to 10 chickens are permitted in all residential areas. More allowed on larger lots. Coops must be no closer than 35 feet of neighboring homes.

Escondido: Up to 25 chickens are permitted in certain residential areas in coops placed 20 feet from any residence.

La Mesa: Up to 20 chickens are permitted on lots of more than 15,000 square feet in certain zones.

Lemon Grove: Up to three chickens are permitted, in enclosures, in certain residential areas. One chicken per 1,000 square feet, up to 25 are permitted in other residential areas. Coops must be no closer than 20 feet from neighboring homes.

National City: Four chickens are permitted in enclosures on single-family lots of at least 20,000 square feet. Enclosures must be 25 feet from any home.

Oceanside: Up to six chickens are permitted in residential areas, but they must be 35 feet from neighboring houses.

Poway: Up to six chickens are permitted on lots measuring between 6,000 and 20,000 square feet. More are allowed on larger lots, but coops must be at least 35 feet from neighboring homes.

San Diego: Up to 25 chickens in certain residential areas. Coops must be no closer than 50 feet from neighboring homes.

Unincorporated San Diego: From 10 to 100 chickens in the county's unincorporated areas, depending on the size of the property. Up to 25 chickens are allowed in most residential areas. Coops also are required.

San Marcos: Up to 25 chickens are permitted in certain residential areas, but coops must be certain distances from various property lines.

Santee: One chicken permitted per 2,000 square feet in certain residential areas. Enclosures must be a certain distance from property lines.

Solana Beach: One chicken permitted per 2,000 square feet, up to 25 chickens, with a minimum 20,000-square-foot lot in certain residential areas. Chickens must be in enclosures 35 feet away from neighboring houses.

Vista: Two chickens are permitted in certain single-family residential areas, and up to 25 in other areas.

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However! There are a few places left that still needs some more work to have chickens legalized:

1.) Coronado (All)
2.) La Mesa (All) - Reading #1 - Jill Richardson & Reading #2 - crazy huhn
3.) El Cajon (Certain Parts)
4.) Imperial Beach (Certain Parts)

If you are aware of other restrictions and/or know any other areas that are not permitted, please contribute.
Lets get together San Diegan Gamebird & Poultry Lovers and get these last few places to pass!!!

Suggestions I've Received:

1.) Request for permits
2.) Submit a partition
3.) Send letters to the editor of the San Diego Union-Tribune. Address benefits for keeping "Backyard Chickens" : )
4.) Connect with surrounding groups in your area

Currently Available Groups:

1.) http://www.texasstreetroost.com/

Related Links:

1.) http://docs.sandiego.gov/municode/MuniCodeChapter04/Ch04Art02Division07.pdf - Provided to us by kaya
2.) http://media.timesfreepress.com/docs/2009/01/Ordinance_research_paper.pdf - Provided to us by kaya
3.) http://homesteaders.meetup.com/cities/us/ca/escondido/ - Provided to us by artsyrobin
4.) http://legacy.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20080609/news_1m9fowl.html - Provided to us by artsyrobin

- Tommy Truong

***** IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST A RELATED LINK, A GROUP, OR A SUGGESTION, PLEASE ADD TO THE THREAD OR PM ME *****

Hey Tommy we live in the city (North Clairemont) and I was wondering where you heard this. On the City website I've found that I can have up to 25 chickens, but they must be setback 50 feet from any house.

Here are the Municipal Codes I've found:

§42.0708 Fowl, Rabbits, Racing and Homing Pigeons and Fancy Pigeon Regulated
Health Regulated Businesses shall include the keeping or maintenance of more than:
(a) twenty–five (25) fowl and rabbits; or
(b) 100 racing or homing or fancy pigeons; or
(c) any combination of (a) and (b) which exceeds 100.

§42.0709 Fowl, Rabbits, Racing or Homing Pigeons or Fancy Pigeons, Maintenance—
Regulations and Exceptions
(a) No fowl or rabbits shall be kept or maintained within fifty (50) feet of any
building used for residential purposes.

So if we homeschool do you think we could use this as a loophole?

(e) Nothing contained in this section shall be deemed or construed to prohibit the
keeping of fowl, rabbits or racing or homing or fancy pigeons:
(1) In a coop, box or run located and kept within a schoolhouse, museum
or zoo for the purpose of study or observation;

Jenn

The thing is,

I read this whole new thing in the Union Tribune and looking it up online, under another source. Forgot the site but I am pretty sure its reliable because its interlinked between Fish and Game. Something of the like, but anyhow, the 50ft. away from residential homes is for certain areas.

Like in my area, 25 is max. But like La Mesa I think, there is no limit as long as the noise and smell is contained. It all comes down to zip codes pretty much but anywhere is allowed but those two I have pointed out...

- Tommy

Hello all! I am please to anounce that chickens are now legal in IB!! Just got approved by city council. We have three in our back yard. The kids love them.
We just looged onto the forum, nice to meet everybody.
Boyd @Deb

Congrats and Horray!!!



I am glad to hear. Wow! It should be in the newspaper yeah? Well...what is the flock limit for IB?

- Tommy

Quote:
I just found an article in the online Reader that was about the IB city council overturning the old ordinance. The flock limit is 5. Now it's only Coronado... I agree, it probably won't happen there.

Does anyone know the rules for Lakeside? BTW, El Cajon is one of the cities with the 50ft rule. I think it's 50ft from any neighboring residence. I don't think the owner's house counts.

Some of the other cities in San Diego county have lot size restrictions i.e. Santee says you can only have 1 chicken per 2000 sq ft of land. Grrr, that seems a little restrictive to me!

This is the list that the UT has posted:
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http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20080619-1525-chicken_ordinances.html

By Janine Zuñiga
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

June 3, 2008

Following is a list of San Diego County cities and what their zoning codes generally allow. Most don't allow roosters or slaughter. Many require urban chicken owners to have a specific amount of land in certain areas. Some require enclosures. Please check with your city for more specific zoning information.


Not permitted
Coronado: No chickens in the city.

Imperial Beach: No chickens in the city.


Permitted (with exceptions)

Carlsbad: Up to 25 chickens are permitted in certain residential areas but not within 40 feet of neighboring houses. Enclosures are required in some areas.

Chula Vista: Up to 12 chickens are permitted on a minimum of 7,000 square feet of land, up to 25, on land where one family occupies one home. An enclosure is required, but must be no closer than 50 feet from neighboring homes.

Del Mar: No ordinance regarding raising chickens. City officials refer to county codes, if necessary.

El Cajon: Up to 24 chickens are permitted on single-family lots of at least 20,000 square feet in certain residential areas. Chickens must be kept 50 feet from any neighboring residence.

Encinitas: Up to 10 chickens are permitted in all residential areas. More allowed on larger lots. Coops must be no closer than 35 feet of neighboring homes.

Escondido: Up to 25 chickens are permitted in certain residential areas in coops placed 20 feet from any residence.

La Mesa: Up to 20 chickens are permitted on lots of more than 15,000 square feet in certain zones.

Lemon Grove: Up to three chickens are permitted, in enclosures, in certain residential areas. One chicken per 1,000 square feet, up to 25 are permitted in other residential areas. Coops must be no closer than 20 feet from neighboring homes.

National City: Four chickens are permitted in enclosures on single-family lots of at least 20,000 square feet. Enclosures must be 25 feet from any home.

Oceanside: Up to six chickens are permitted in residential areas, but they must be 35 feet from neighboring houses.

Poway: Up to six chickens are permitted on lots measuring between 6,000 and 20,000 square feet. More are allowed on larger lots, but coops must be at least 35 feet from neighboring homes.

San Diego: Up to 25 chickens in certain residential areas. Coops must be no closer than 50 feet from neighboring homes.

Unincorporated San Diego: From 10 to 100 chickens in the county's unincorporated areas, depending on the size of the property. Up to 25 chickens are allowed in most residential areas. Coops also are required.

San Marcos: Up to 25 chickens are permitted in certain residential areas, but coops must be certain distances from various property lines.

Santee: One chicken permitted per 2,000 square feet in certain residential areas. Enclosures must be a certain distance from property lines.

Solana Beach: One chicken permitted per 2,000 square feet, up to 25 chickens, with a minimum 20,000-square-foot lot in certain residential areas. Chickens must be in enclosures 35 feet away from neighboring houses.

Vista: Two chickens are permitted in certain single-family residential areas, and up to 25 in other areas.


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Wow!

Thanks for the list. After looking at everything, I feel that I have the best place. 25 with no lot restrictions. Awsome! Haha

- Tommy

Just a quick update.

I don't know if its just me but it seems like there are more freedom now with the new ordinance laws here in my city of San Diego. My neighbor even got a GOAT! Omg...even though I think they are nice, because he only got one, its soooooo noisy in the morning. Haha.

I hope my other neighbors don't think its me trying to get info farming now...ouch! But yeah, there are more chicken sellers here and more people out there are looking for chickens to buy.

Just something for everyone to know how we are doing in San Diego : )

- Tommy

I'm in SD too and was wondering if you think we'll have a problem that I'm a teensy bit nervous about - we live in a very urban part and our coop is about 40 ft. from our closest neighbors house. It's just shy of the "law", but do you think I shoud worry about it? Ok, maybe it's somewhere between 35 and 40... They are super nice and I don't think they would complain, but I wonder if ANY of my neighbors complained about it if I could have an issue...
~kim