Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in El Cerrito?

El Cerrito's code: Yes, at most 1 beehive, behind the house, at least 20 ft from neighbors' homes, 5 ft from lot lines. (Lots of at least 5,000 sq ft with a single-family home, where the owner holds a honeybee keeping clearance.) (§ 7.08.020); Yes, up to 3 beehives. (Lots of at least 5,000 sq ft with single-family homes, with written consent of every directly abutting property owner.) (§ 7.08.020).

Pets, chickens and bees in El Cerrito: the local rules

El Cerrito code What El Cerrito's code adds
Bees	Yes, at most 1 beehive, behind the house, at least 20 ft from neighbors' homes, 5 ft from lot lines. Applies: Lots of at least 5,000 sq ft with a single-family home, where the owner holds a honeybee keeping clearance. § 7.08.020 · code text A maximum of one beehive shall be permitted by right on properties of at least five thousand square feet that contain a single-family dwelling unit, as long as the property owner holds a honeybee keeping clearance. Yes, up to 3 beehives. Applies: Lots of at least 5,000 sq ft with single-family homes, with written consent of every directly abutting property owner. § 7.08.020 · code text Exceptions to subsections 1 and 2, above, allowing up to three beehives on properties of at least five thousand square feet that contain single-family residential dwelling units or allowing up to one beehive on properties less than five thousand square feet containing single family dwelling units shall be permitted with written consent of the owner of every property which directly abuts the property on which Honeybees would be kept. Yes, up to 1 beehive. Applies: Lots under 5,000 sq ft with single-family homes, with written consent of every directly abutting property owner. § 7.08.020 · code text Exceptions to subsections 1 and 2, above, allowing up to three beehives on properties of at least five thousand square feet that contain single-family residential dwelling units or allowing up to one beehive on properties less than five thousand square feet containing single family dwelling units shall be permitted with written consent of the owner of every property which directly abuts the property on which Honeybees would be kept. More beehives or other hive locations are allowed with a conditional use permit. Applies: When not every abutting property owner gives written consent. § 7.08.020 · code text Any exceptions to subsections 1 and 2, above, which have not secured unanimous consent of all adjacent property owners, shall be permitted with a conditional use permit.
Chickens	Yes, hens only (no roosters); at most 4 chickens. Applies: Lots of at least 4,000 sq ft with single-family homes, where the owner holds a valid residential chicken clearance. § 7.08.020 · code text A maximum of four chickens are permitted on properties of at least four thousand square feet that contain single-family residential dwelling units, as long as the property owner holds a valid residential chicken clearance. Yes, up to 6 chickens. Applies: Lots of at least 4,000 sq ft with single-family homes, with written consent of every directly abutting property owner. § 7.08.020 · code text Exceptions to subsection 2, above, allowing up to six chickens on properties of at least four thousand square feet that contain single-family residential dwelling units or allowing up to four Chickens on properties less than four thousand square feet containing single family dwelling units and exceptions to subsection 4, above, shall be permitted with written consent of the owner of every property which directly abuts the property on which chickens would be kept. Yes, up to 4 chickens. Applies: Lots under 4,000 sq ft with single-family homes, with written consent of every directly abutting property owner. § 7.08.020 · code text Exceptions to subsection 2, above, allowing up to six chickens on properties of at least four thousand square feet that contain single-family residential dwelling units or allowing up to four Chickens on properties less than four thousand square feet containing single family dwelling units and exceptions to subsection 4, above, shall be permitted with written consent of the owner of every property which directly abuts the property on which chickens would be kept. More chickens or other coop locations are allowed with a conditional use permit. Applies: When not every abutting property owner gives written consent. § 7.08.020 · code text Any exceptions to subsections 2 and 4, above, which have not secured unanimous consent of all adjacent property owners, shall be permitted with a conditional use permit.
Coop setback	At least 20 feet. Applies: Distance of chicken coops from homes on neighboring properties. § 7.08.020 · code text Chicken coops shall not be located closer than twenty feet to dwelling units on adjacent properties.
Large animals	At most 2 pigs on lots of at least 5,000 sq ft with single-family homes, with an administrative use permit. Applies: Applies to single-family residential properties. § 7.08.020 · code text A maximum of two pigs shall be permitted on properties of at least five thousand square feet that contain single-family residential dwelling units, subject to approval of an administrative use permit. Goats: lots of at least 10,000 sq ft need an administrative use permit; smaller lots need a conditional use permit. § 7.08.020 · code text Goats shall be permitted on properties at least ten thousand square feet in size, subject to approval of an administrative use permit. Goats shall be permitted on properties less than ten thousand square feet in size subject to approval of a conditional use permit. Goats may clear weeds on lots of at least 7,500 sq ft for no more than 60 days. Applies: Temporary weed abatement with a valid goat weed abatement permit; no more than 1 period every 12 months. § 7.08.020 · code text Goats shall be allowed on lots of at least seven thousand five hundred square feet for the purpose of weed abatement for a period not to exceed sixty days as long as the property owner holds a valid goat weed abatement permit. Other livestock is not allowed without a conditional use permit. Applies: Applies to livestock other than goats, pigs and chickens. § 7.08.020 · code text Livestock, other than goats, pigs and chickens, shall not be permitted without approval of a conditional use permit.
Permit	A residential chicken clearance. Applies: To keep up to 4 chickens by right on qualifying single-family residential lots. § 7.08.020 · code text A maximum of four chickens are permitted on properties of at least four thousand square feet that contain single-family residential dwelling units, as long as the property owner holds a valid residential chicken clearance. A honeybee keeping clearance. Applies: To keep up to 1 beehive by right on qualifying single-family residential lots. § 7.08.020 · code text A maximum of one beehive shall be permitted by right on properties of at least five thousand square feet that contain a single-family dwelling unit, as long as the property owner holds a honeybee keeping clearance. A conditional use permit. Applies: More than 2 pigs on single-family lots; any pigs on multifamily lots or lots under 5,000 sq ft; pigs over 150 pounds. § 7.08.020 · code text The following situations will require a conditional use permit: more than two pigs on lots containing single family residences; any number of pigs on properties containing multi-family dwelling units; or any number of pigs on properties smaller than five thousand square feet.

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