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Pets, chickens and bees in Palo Alto

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

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

What Palo Alto's code says

Palo Alto code What Palo Alto's code adds
Bees
  • Yes; no more than 2 hives.
    Applies: Outside the agricultural zone or open space area; needs written consent of the neighbors living next door.
    § 6.20.060 · code text
    Except in the agricultural zone or open space declared area, no person shall keep or maintain in the city any hive of bees without the written consent of the adjacent neighbors who reside there, whether owners or tenants.
  • Hives at least 25 feet from any property line.
    Applies: Applies to beehives.
    § 6.20.060 · code text
    No hive shall be kept or maintained within twenty-five feet of any property line of the lot or parcel of land upon which it is situated.
Chickens
  • Yes, with a permit from the animal center superintendent.
    Applies: Applies in the city outside the agricultural zone or open space area.
    § 6.20.080 · code text
    No person shall keep any horse, cow, goat, sheep. chicken, duck, quail, pheasant, turkey, llama, mule or pig within the city limits, except in the agricultural zone or open space declared area, without first securing a permit therefor from the superintendent of the animal center.
Large animals
  • Horses, cows, goats, sheep, llamas, mules and pigs need a permit from the animal center superintendent.
    Applies: Applies in the city outside the agricultural zone or open space area.
    § 6.20.080 · code text
    No person shall keep any horse, cow, goat, sheep. chicken, duck, quail, pheasant, turkey, llama, mule or pig within the city limits, except in the agricultural zone or open space declared area, without first securing a permit therefor from the superintendent of the animal center.
Permit
  • A permit from the animal center superintendent.
    Applies: Applies to keeping horses, cows, goats, sheep, poultry, llamas, mules or pigs outside the agricultural zone or open space area.
    § 6.20.080 · code text
    No person shall keep any horse, cow, goat, sheep. chicken, duck, quail, pheasant, turkey, llama, mule or pig within the city limits, except in the agricultural zone or open space declared area, without first securing a permit therefor from the superintendent of the animal center.
Pet limit
  • No more than 3 dogs.
    Applies: Applies per street address; listed animal businesses and shows are excepted.
    § 6.16.080 · code text
    No person shall keep or maintain more than three dogs at any street address within the city unless the person, family, or group of persons keeping or maintaining such dogs is operating a bona fide animal clinic or hospital or a duly licensed pet shop, dog kennel, circus, carnival, traveling show, menagerie, or dog exhibition at such street address.
  • No more than 1 unspayed female dog.
    Applies: Applies per street address; listed animal businesses and shows are excepted.
    § 6.16.080 · code text
    No person shall keep or maintain more than one unspayed female dog at any street address within the city unless the person, family, or group of persons keeping or maintaining such dogs is operating a bona fide animal hospital or a duly licensed pet shop, dog kennel, circus, carnival, traveling show, menagerie, or dog exhibition at such street address.
  • No more than 3 cats.
    Applies: Applies per street address; listed animal businesses and shows are excepted.
    § 6.20.110 · code text
    No person shall keep or maintain more than three cats at any street address within the city unless the person, family or group of persons keeping or maintaining such cats is operating a bona fide animal clinic or hospital or a duly licensed pet shop, cat kennel, circus, carnival, traveling show, menagerie, or cat exhibition at such street address.
  • No more than 1 unspayed female cat.
    Applies: Applies per street address; listed animal businesses and shows are excepted.
    § 6.20.110 · code text
    No person shall keep or maintain more than one unspayed female cat at any street address within the city unless the person, family, or group of persons keeping or maintaining such cats is operating a bona fide animal hospital or a duly licensed pet shop, cat kennel, circus, carnival, traveling show, menagerie, or cat exhibition at such street address.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Palo Alto?

Palo Alto's code: Yes; no more than 2 hives. (Outside the agricultural zone or open space area; needs written consent of the neighbors living next door.) (§ 6.20.060); Yes, with a permit from the animal center superintendent. (Applies in the city outside the agricultural zone or open space area.) (§ 6.20.080).

General information, not legal advice.

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