Contra Costa says....

[Mrs. McGillicuddy]

My county of Contra Costa (CA) where we live in the uninc. part, in your standard "tract" with backyards ranging from big-enough-for-a-decent-deck to big-enough-for-a-tennis-court (OR a swimming pool). I have been unable to find any specific mention of Backyard Chickens. HOWEVER! I was just poking around after reading someone's suggestion to check on Animal Control Ordinance, rather than general town/city/county ordinances, and found a page with "miscellaneous" and in that area I found the following, which is the only mention of poultry, "fowl" or backyard chickens i have ever found.

URL for this section, which i haven't read entirely, is "www.ordlink.com/codes/ccosta/DATA/TITLE04/Chapter_416_12_MISCELLANEOUS.html#5"......Under Health and Safety
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Under "Nuisance" it says:

Article 416-12.2. Nuisances

416-12.202 Animal noise.

(a) No person shall own, possess, harbor, control, or keep on any premises, any dog, fowl, or other animal, that barks, bays, cries, howls, or makes any other noise so continuously or incessantly as to unreasonably disturb the peace or quiet of any two persons living in different households within three hundred feet of the location of the disturbance.
(b) Any person who shall keep or permit to remain on any premises any animal as defined in subsection (a) of this section is guilty of a violation of this division, provided that during the time that the animal is making such a noise, no person or other animal is trespassing or threatening to trespass or no person is teasing or provoking the animal. This section shall not be construed to prohibit the keeping of any watchdog, provided that the keeper thereof takes immediate steps to quiet such dog whenever it barks, and provided that such keeper never leaves such dog unattended on the premises in a place where its barking, if prolonged or repeated an undue number of times, disturbs the peace or quiet of any two persons living in different households within three hundred feet of the locations of the disturbance. (Ord. 80-97 § 2).
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I am just happy that I was able to FIND something mentioning "fowl", and if you apply the language to hens, well, how could you fault the sweet little clucky sounds they make. Heck the "flying rats" (crows) make more of a mess and tons more squawking every morning and evening than even a rooster might do! I will see what else I can find out and post again with an update if/when I learn something.
(sorry for such a long post but thought including the section from the link might save everyone some time looking it up)

Mrs. McG

 

[coffeelady3]

If there's a search on that website, look up "poultry" within the code. It seems to depend on what the zoning is for your property....

 

[vermontgal]

I think that ordinance says that if you have "Attack Chickens" (or "Watch-Ducks"), that it is ok if they are noisy because there is someone on the property... like, for example, your code enforcement officer.

 

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

If your 'hood has CC&Rs, those may have something to say about "fowl". Even still, you could probably have hens without anybody even knowing, much less being bothered by them.

 

[brandywine]

I'm just fascinated that if your dog yaps for 12 hours straight under ONE neighbor's window, that's okay. But he better not go over to the OTHER neighbor's window and disturb an additional person in another household.

What is up with THAT?

 

[gpamela3499]

I live in Contra Costa County (next door to a pitbull puppy) The police speed down my street, the street racers go down my street, The loud music from the traffic rattles my windows.

I live in Pitts. Ca. I asked about pet chickens. I was told that they, and pigeon, ducks etc are considered poultry and not allowed anywhere in the city limits and if they are allowed it must be 50 feet from all residence. Most of my nieghbors have them and you rarely hear the roosters. I think we are breaking the law but we'll see.

 

[MissPrissy]

Mrs. McGillicuddy :

I am just happy that I was able to FIND something mentioning "fowl", and if you apply the language to hens, well, how could you fault the sweet little clucky sounds they make.

Roosters do crow and they are loud however, if you have never experienced it, hens can be LOUD for long stretchs of time. Extremely loud, before settling down, especially so when you get a bunch of praise warriors going after eggs are laid. LOL​

 

[Mrs. McGillicuddy]

Yeah, I didn't look up the actual definitions for the following FACTOID:

"Poultry" is livestock we plan on eating later...

"Backyard Chicken" is somebody who supplies eggs and a ton more low-cost protein than if I just ate the protein factory.

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I'd venture a comparison between a "cow" and a steer; both are technically cows, but one is to eat, and one offers continual supply of high quality protein.

Just my two cents' worth.

Mrs. McGillicuddy

 

[Jon Botelho]

I was looking for that same ordinance tonight, in the hopes of ending the early morning wake-up calls from 3 roosters in the neighborhood. Yes, crows are loud too, but the don't start up at 0400. Every morning.