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Escondido · Building on your lot

Pets, chickens and bees in Escondido

Escondido's own rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text for every value, and the state law underneath.

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Each rule below links to the section of the Escondido Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Escondido's code says

Escondido code What Escondido's code adds
Bees
  • No bees may be kept where they gather or nest in a way that annoys, harms or disturbs residents.
    Applies: Citywide.
    § 17-13 · code text
    No person in this city shall keep any bees, bee stand or bee house where bees may accumulate or harbor to the annoyance or damage of any of the inhabitants of this city, or prejudicial to their comfort.
Permit
  • A minor conditional use permit.
    Applies: For more animals than residential-zone limits allow; the total may not exceed 2 times the listed number, except for dogs and cats.
    § 33-1116 · code text
    A minor conditional use permit may be granted to allow additional animals over those permitted by this section
Pet limit
  • Up to 25 small birds in total.
    Applies: R-A and R-E zones.
    § 33-1116 · code text
    R-A, R-E zones | Up to 25 total
  • Up to 6 small birds in total.
    Applies: R-1 zone.
    § 33-1116 · code text
    R-1 zone | Up to six total
  • Up to 3 small birds in total.
    Applies: R-T, R-2, R-3 and R-4 zones.
    § 33-1116 · code text
    R-T, R-2, R-3 and R-4 zones | Up to three total
  • At most 100 racing or homing pigeons.
    Applies: Any lot in the R-E, R-A or R-1 zone; owners must file a letter with the city stating their pigeon association affiliation.
    § 33-1116 · code text
    A maximum of 100 racing or homing pigeons may be kept on any lot or parcel of land within the R-E, R-A or R-1 zone, provided the pigeon owners in the application file with the city a letter stating their affiliation with any state or nationally recognized racing or homing pigeon association or federation.
  • Up to 25 adult rabbits, white mice, chipmunks, squirrels, chinchillas, guinea pigs, hamsters and similar animals in total.
    Applies: R-A and R-E zones.
    § 33-1116 · code text
    R-A, R-E zone | Up to 25 total
  • Up to 4 adult rabbits, white mice, chipmunks, squirrels, chinchillas, guinea pigs, hamsters and similar animals in total.
    Applies: R-1 zone.
    § 33-1116 · code text
    R-1 zone | Up to four total
  • Up to 4 dogs and up to 4 cats.
    Applies: RA and RE zones; counts dogs and cats over 4 months old.
    § 33-1116 · code text
    RA, RE zones | Up to four of each
  • Up to 6 dogs and up to 6 cats.
    Applies: RA and RE zones, with a conditional use permit; counts dogs and cats over 4 months old.
    § 33-1116 · code text
    Up to six of each with a conditional use permit in conformance with Sec. 33-1116(g)
  • Up to 2 dogs and up to 2 cats.
    Applies: R-1 zone, lots under 10,000 sq ft; counts dogs and cats over 4 months old.
    § 33-1116 · code text
    Lots < 10,000 SF | Up to two of each
  • Up to 4 dogs and up to 4 cats.
    Applies: R-1 zone, lots under 10,000 sq ft, with a conditional use permit; counts dogs and cats over 4 months old.
    § 33-1116 · code text
    Up to four of each with a conditional use permit in conformance with Sec. 33-1116(g)
  • Up to 2 dogs and up to 3 cats.
    Applies: R-1 zone, lots of 10,000 to 20,000 sq ft; counts dogs and cats over 4 months old.
    § 33-1116 · code text
    Lots 10,000 SF – 20,000 SF | Up to two dogs Up to three cats
  • Up to 4 dogs and up to 4 cats.
    Applies: R-1 zone, lots of 10,000 to 20,000 sq ft, with a conditional use permit; counts dogs and cats over 4 months old.
    § 33-1116 · code text
    Up to four of each with a conditional use permit in conformance with Sec. 33-1116(g)
  • Up to 4 dogs and up to 4 cats.
    Applies: R-1 zone, lots over 20,000 sq ft; counts dogs and cats over 4 months old.
    § 33-1116 · code text
    Lots > 20,000 SF | Up to four of each
  • Up to 1 dog and up to 1 cat.
    Applies: R-T, R-2, R-3 and R-4 zones; counts dogs and cats over 4 months old.
    § 33-1116 · code text
    RT, R-2, R-3, and R-4 zones | Up to one of each
  • Up to 2 dogs and up to 2 cats.
    Applies: R-T, R-2, R-3 and R-4 zones, with a conditional use permit; counts dogs and cats over 4 months old.
    § 33-1116 · code text
    Up to two of each with a conditional use permit in conformance with Sec. 33-1116(g)

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Escondido?

Escondido's code: No bees may be kept where they gather or nest in a way that annoys, harms or disturbs residents. (Citywide.) (§ 17-13); A minor conditional use permit. (For more animals than residential-zone limits allow; the total may not exceed 2 times the listed number, except for dogs and cats.) (§ 33-1116).

General information, not legal advice.

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