Local code · San Bernardino County

San Bernardino County — Animal Keeping

Q: Can I keep horses on a 20,000-square-foot lot in unincorporated San Bernardino County?

Yes, Table 84-5 allows horses on a parcel with at least 20,000 sq ft and 60 ft minimum frontage at 1 horse per 10,000 sq ft . Horses are included in the cumulative cap of 9 large domesticated animals per parcel. The Chapter 84.04 setbacks also apply. § 84.04.090(b), Table 84-5

Q: What are animal-keeping setbacks in unincorporated San Bernardino County?

Most animals must be at least 70 ft from an adjoining property’s human-habitation or public-assembly area and 100 ft from a domestic water well. They must also be at least 5 ft from interior side and rear property lines and 15 ft from side-street rights-of-way unless maintained by the specified enclosure. § 84.04.090(b)

Q: Can I have five dogs in unincorporated San Bernardino County?

A parcel of 20,000 sq ft or more may have up to 5 dogs and/or cats under Table 84-5. However, five or more dogs and/or cats constitute a private kennel or cattery and become subject to the applicable private-kennel rules. § 84.04.090 Table 84-5 note 1

The San Bernardino County Animal Keeping, explained in plain English with the controlling citations.

Ask AI about your property See coverage

Quick answer

In unincorporated San Bernardino County, accessory animal keeping must meet Table 84-5 density limits and keep most animals 70 ft from adjoining homes or public-assembly areas and 100 ft from domestic wells. Horses require at least 20,000 sq ft plus 60 ft frontage and are limited to 1 per 10,000 sq ft; larger or different accessory uses need a Conditional Use Permit. § 84.04.090

Last reviewed: September 20, 2026 · AI-generated analysis · General information, not legal advice · details

Compiled from San Bernardino County's adopted code with AI research tools and grounded in the sources cited below. Verify with San Bernardino County planning staff before relying on it.

Overview

San Bernardino County Development Code Chapter 84.04 regulates animal keeping only in the County’s unincorporated areas. Its central aim is to prevent animal uses from causing neighboring impacts such as noise, odor, dust, insects, glare, fumes, or visual blight. § 84.04.010

Animal keeping must also comply with County Public Health conditions and County Code Title 3 animal regulations. Whether a use is allowed in a particular zoning district remains controlled by the County’s zoning and land-use rules. § 84.04.030

In unincorporated San Bernardino County, most animals other than ordinary household pets must be kept at least 70 ft from an adjoining property’s human-habitation or public-assembly area and 100 ft from a domestic water well. § 84.04.090(b)

Applicability and Approval Path

Chapter 84.04 applies to animal-keeping uses in the County’s unincorporated areas, except where the Additional Agriculture (AA) Overlay provides otherwise. Parcel-specific overlay status should be checked through the County’s overlay districts materials. §§ 84.04.020, 84.04.090(j)

Animal keeping may be an accessory use to a residence, a primary use in listed districts, or a conditional-use-permit use. A legally established nonconforming animal use may continue under the County’s nonconforming uses rules. §§ 84.04.030(b)–(c), 84.04.070, 84.04.080

Decision point	Standard in unincorporated areas	Code Reference
Accessory animals near adjoining homes or assembly areas	Keep covered animals at least 70 ft away; cats, dogs, canaries, and psittacine birds are excepted	§ 84.04.090(b)(1)
Interior side/rear lines	Keep animals at least 5 ft away unless maintained by a qualifying enclosure	§ 84.04.090(b)(2)–(3)
Side-street right-of-way	Keep animals at least 15 ft away, except an alley or bridle path, unless maintained by a qualifying enclosure	§ 84.04.090(b)(2)–(3)
Enclosure alternative	Fence at least 5 ft high; chain link, specified wood fencing, solid masonry, or other appropriate solid screening/confining material	§ 84.04.090(b)(3)
Domestic water well	Keep animals at least 100 ft away	§ 84.04.090(b)(4)
Larger/different accessory animal use	Conditional Use Permit required when density exceeds, or animal type differs from, Table 84-5	§ 84.04.090(g)
Exotic animals	Accessory only to a single-family dwelling and require a Special Use Permit	§ 84.04.040(a)–(b)
Five or more dogs/cats	Treated as a private kennel or cattery	§ 84.04.090 Table 84-5 note 1

Accessory Animal Keeping at Homes

Accessory animal keeping is allowed only subject to Chapter 84.04’s setbacks, Table 84-5 densities, and the standards applicable to the underlying district. Animal-care structures—such as barns, coops, corrals, pens, and stables—must comply with the applicable development standards. § 84.04.090(a), (h)

Parcel area cannot be counted twice: land used to qualify one animal type cannot also qualify another density-based animal type. Newborn animals are exempt from Chapter 84.04 maximum-density and maximum-number limits until they are four months old or weaned, whichever is later. § 84.04.090(c)–(d), (i)(1)

Accessory animal type	Parcel-area threshold	Maximum allowed	Code Reference
Dogs and/or cats	Under 7,200 sq ft	2 per parcel or unit	§ 84.04.090 Table 84-5
Dogs and/or cats	20,000 sq ft or more	5 per parcel; five or more is a private kennel/cattery	§ 84.04.090 Table 84-5 note 1
Female poultry	Under 7,200 sq ft	2 per parcel	§ 84.04.090 Table 84-5
Female poultry	20,000 sq ft or more	1 per 2,000 sq ft, maximum 9 of each genus	§ 84.04.090 Table 84-5
Male poultry	1 acre	Maximum 9 per parcel, no more than 2 of any genus	§ 84.04.090 Table 84-5
Sheep/female goats/similar small livestock	Under 7,200 sq ft	Not allowed	§ 84.04.090 Table 84-5
Sheep/female goats/similar small livestock	7,200 sq ft or more	1 per 5,000 sq ft; sheep/goat total capped at 9	§ 84.04.090 Table 84-5
Horses or cattle/buffalo	20,000 sq ft and 60 ft minimum frontage	1 per 10,000 sq ft; large-animal total capped at 9	§ 84.04.090 Table 84-5
Hogs	Any parcel size	Not allowed as accessory use	§ 84.04.090 Table 84-5
Alpacas/llamas	7,200 sq ft or more	1 per 5,000 sq ft; combined total capped at 9	§ 84.04.090 Table 84-5

For a primary single-family dwelling, combinations are allowed only if each category’s maximum is not exceeded and density-based parcel area is allocated once. Animals limited solely by a per-parcel maximum may be allowed in addition to another accessory or primary animal use. § 84.04.090(i)(1)

On parcels with multifamily residential structures under 7,200 sq ft, the source materials limit each unit to a combination of two dogs, cats, and/or pot-bellied pigs under 50 lb, plus a combination of two hens or similar fowl, rabbits, or similar small animals. § 84.04.090(i)(1)(D)

Animals ordinarily kept in aquariums, terrariums, vivariums, birdcages, or similar devices must be in an enclosed building, and the device may be no larger than 50 cubic ft. Their maximum number or density is governed by public-health regulations. § 84.04.090(i)(2)

Animal Keeping as a Primary Use

RC

In the RC district, Chapter 84.04 allows primary animal keeping at the Table 84-3 densities, including cattle/buffalo and horses at 1 per 10,000 sq ft, hogs at 1 per 20,000 sq ft with a 9-animal maximum, and sheep/female goats at 1 per 4,000 sq ft. Aviaries, apiaries, similar small-animal farms, rabbits/chinchillas, and poultry require a 1/2-acre minimum parcel where stated. § 84.04.070 Table 84-3

The purpose, geographic applicability, and non-animal dimensional standards of RC are not found in source materials. Verify with the jurisdiction.

RL

The RL district carries the same Table 84-3 primary-animal-use column as RC. It permits the listed primary animal uses at RC/RL densities, including horses at 1 per 10,000 sq ft and alpacas/llamas at 1 per 4,000 sq ft. § 84.04.070 Table 84-3

The source materials do not establish the RL district’s purpose, location, or ordinary non-animal uses and dimensional standards. Verify with the jurisdiction.

FW

In the FW district, Chapter 84.04 allows primary animal keeping through the FW/SD Table 84-3 column, including the listed small-animal farms, cattle/buffalo, horses, hogs, poultry, rabbits/chinchillas, ostriches/emus, and alpacas/llamas at the stated table densities. § 84.04.070 Table 84-3

For conditional uses, commercial poultry ranches require at least 10 acres in FW, and cow/goat dairies require at least 10 acres in FW. § 84.04.080 Table 84-4

The purpose, geographic applicability, and non-animal dimensional standards of FW are not found in source materials. Verify with the jurisdiction.

SD

The SD district uses the FW/SD Table 84-3 primary-animal-use column. The source materials establish animal densities for the listed animal types but do not establish the district’s purpose, ordinary permitted uses, location, or non-animal development standards. § 84.04.070 Table 84-3

Commercial poultry ranches may be approved with a Conditional Use Permit on at least 10 acres in SD. § 84.04.080 Table 84-4

AG

In the AG district, Chapter 84.04 allows Table 84-3 primary animal uses, including cattle/buffalo and horses at 1 per 6,000 sq ft, hogs at 1 per 12,000 sq ft with a 9-animal maximum, and sheep/female goats at 1 per 3,000 sq ft. § 84.04.070 Table 84-3

Cow and goat dairies may be approved with a Conditional Use Permit on at least 10 acres in AG, while calf-growing ranches may be approved on at least 5 acres. § 84.04.080 Table 84-4

The purpose, geographic applicability, and non-animal dimensional standards of AG are not found in source materials. Verify with the jurisdiction.

AA Overlay

The Additional Agriculture (AA) Overlay has additional animal-keeping regulations and establishes rules allowing animal keeping as a primary land use. §§ 82.07.030, 84.04.090(j)

The detailed AA animal densities, district purpose, and mapped applicability are not found in source materials. Confirm the overlay and its standards through the County’s overlay districts page and verify with the jurisdiction.

Conditional, Kennel, and Exotic-Animal Uses

A Conditional Use Permit is required for accessory animal densities above Table 84-5 or for accessory animal types not listed there. § 84.04.090(g) Commercial poultry ranches, dairies, calf-growing ranches, and hog ranches are listed conditional-use categories under Table 84-4. § 84.04.080

Commercial kennels/catteries require at least 2.5 acres and are capped at 200 dogs and/or cats. Animals must be at least 70 ft from adjoining habitation or public-assembly areas, and dogs must be housed indoors from 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. § 84.04.050(6)–(10)

Private kennels/catteries must attenuate noise to 55 dB(A) at the property line. A Special Use Permit may require screening, and each entry must display one 12 sq ft or smaller “Private Kennel” sign with a 24-hour emergency number. § 84.04.060(8)–(12)

Exotic animals are accessory only to a single-family dwelling, require a Special Use Permit, and generally are limited to two animals over six months old unless a Conditional Use Permit authorizes a menagerie or zoo. The approval is not effective until the applicant has County Public Health and State Department of Fish and Game permits. § 84.04.040

Operational Controls

Proper manure management and public-health compliance are mandatory. The Development Code does not replace separate County, regional, state, or federal approvals; California Building Standards Code compliance may also be relevant for animal-care structures, but specific building-code requirements are not found in source materials. §§ 84.04.030(a), 84.04.090(e)–(f), 81.01.050(k)

Animal uses may also trigger parcel-specific design review, parking, landscaping, screening, or other project requirements; their standards are not established by the Chapter 84.04 source materials. Verify with the jurisdiction.

Checklist

Confirm the parcel is in unincorporated San Bernardino County.
Identify the underlying district and whether the AA Overlay applies. §§ 84.04.020, 84.04.090(j)
Classify the proposal as accessory, primary, conditional-use, kennel/cattery, or exotic-animal keeping. §§ 84.04.040, 84.04.070–.090
Calculate the applicable Table 84-5 or Table 84-3 animal density without reusing qualifying parcel area. § 84.04.090(d), (h)–(i)
Site animals at least 70 ft from adjoining habitation/public assembly, 5 ft from interior side/rear lines, 15 ft from side-street rights-of-way, and 100 ft from domestic wells, unless the stated enclosure exception applies. § 84.04.090(b)
Provide compliant barns, coops, corrals, pens, stables, or other animal-care structures. § 84.04.090(a)
Obtain a Conditional Use Permit if the density is greater than, or the animal type differs from, Table 84-5. § 84.04.090(g)
Meet County Public Health, animal-control, manure-management, and other applicable agency requirements. §§ 84.04.030(a), 84.04.090(e)–(f), 81.01.050(k)

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
County jurisdiction	Chapter 84.04 governs only unincorporated areas, not incorporated cities	Parcel jurisdiction and address
Animal classification	Different rules apply to household animals, livestock, poultry, kennels, and exotic animals	Species, sex, age, and proposed number
Parcel-area allocation	The same land cannot qualify multiple density-based animal categories	Density calculation and animal combination
AA Overlay	It can supply additional animal-keeping rules	Overlay mapping and Chapter 82.07 requirements
Table 84-3 poultry formatting	The supplied table’s AG poultry density text is incomplete/ambiguous	Official codified table with the jurisdiction
Structures and site design	Animal-care structures remain subject to applicable district standards	Setbacks, permits, screening, and design review
Health permits	Animal care, manure, commercial operations, and exotic animals may require separate approvals	Public Health, Animal Care, and state permits

Plain-English Summary

In unincorporated San Bernardino County, keeping a few animals at home is possible when the parcel is large enough for the species and the animals are kept away from neighbors and wells. Horses, livestock, poultry, kennels, and exotic animals have different thresholds and may require a discretionary permit, so count the animals, measure the site, and verify the parcel’s zoning before building a coop, stable, corral, or kennel.

Source References

San Bernardino County Development Code § 84.04.010
San Bernardino County Development Code § 84.04.020
San Bernardino County Development Code § 84.04.030
San Bernardino County Development Code § 84.04.040
San Bernardino County Development Code § 84.04.050
San Bernardino County Development Code § 84.04.060
San Bernardino County Development Code § 84.04.070 and Table 84-3
San Bernardino County Development Code § 84.04.080 and Table 84-4
San Bernardino County Development Code § 84.04.090 and Table 84-5
San Bernardino County Development Code §§ 82.07.030, 82.07.040, 81.01.050

Sources

Source passages

San Bernardino County Zoning Code § 84.04.030 Medium relevance
San Bernardino County Zoning Code § 84.04.020 Medium relevance
San Bernardino County Zoning Code § 84.04.010 Medium relevance
San Bernardino County Zoning Code § 84.04.090 Medium relevance
San Bernardino County Zoning Code § 82.07.030 Medium relevance
San Bernardino County Zoning Code § 84.04.050 Medium relevance
San Bernardino County Zoning Code § 84.04.080 Medium relevance
San Bernardino County Zoning Code § 84.04.070 Medium relevance
San Bernardino County Zoning Code § 84.04.060 Medium relevance
San Bernardino County Zoning Code § 84.04.040 Medium relevance
San Bernardino County Zoning Code § 82.07.040 Medium relevance
San Bernardino County Zoning Code § 81.01.050 Medium relevance

Cited sections

Official San Bernardino County code library

Frequently asked questions

How many chickens can I keep at a home in unincorporated San Bernardino County?

For female poultry, the allowance starts at 2 on a parcel under 7,200 sq ft, rises by parcel size, and reaches 1 per 2,000 sq ft on parcels of 20,000 sq ft or more, with a maximum of 9 of each genus. Male poultry require at least 1 acre and are capped at 9 per parcel, with no more than 2 of any genus. § 84.04.090 Table 84-5

Can I keep horses on a 20,000-square-foot lot in unincorporated San Bernardino County?

Yes, Table 84-5 allows horses on a parcel with at least 20,000 sq ft and 60 ft minimum frontage at 1 horse per 10,000 sq ft. Horses are included in the cumulative cap of 9 large domesticated animals per parcel. The Chapter 84.04 setbacks also apply. § 84.04.090(b), Table 84-5

What are animal-keeping setbacks in unincorporated San Bernardino County?

Most animals must be at least 70 ft from an adjoining property’s human-habitation or public-assembly area and 100 ft from a domestic water well. They must also be at least 5 ft from interior side and rear property lines and 15 ft from side-street rights-of-way unless maintained by the specified enclosure. § 84.04.090(b)

Do I need a permit to keep more animals than Table 84-5 allows?

Yes. Accessory animal keeping at densities greater than Table 84-5, or involving animal types different from that table, requires a Conditional Use Permit. Approval conditions may be imposed under the County’s Conditional Use Permit process. § 84.04.090(g)

Are hogs allowed at a residence in unincorporated San Bernardino County?

No. Table 84-5 lists hogs as not allowed as accessory animal keeping. Hogs may instead be a primary use in the districts and at the densities listed in Table 84-3, or a conditional-use hog ranch in FW, subject to the applicable standards. §§ 84.04.070–.080, 84.04.090 Table 84-5

Can I have five dogs in unincorporated San Bernardino County?

A parcel of 20,000 sq ft or more may have up to 5 dogs and/or cats under Table 84-5. However, five or more dogs and/or cats constitute a private kennel or cattery and become subject to the applicable private-kennel rules. § 84.04.090 Table 84-5 note 1

Can I keep an exotic animal at my San Bernardino County home?

Only as an accessory use to a single-family dwelling, with a Special Use Permit. The permit does not become effective until County Public Health and State Department of Fish and Game permits have been obtained, and the normal limit is 2 exotic animals over six months old unless a Conditional Use Permit authorizes a menagerie or zoo. § 84.04.040

Are animal rules different in the Additional Agriculture Overlay?

Yes. Chapter 84.04 expressly directs applicants to Chapter 82.07 for additional animal-keeping regulations in the AA Overlay. The source materials establish that the overlay allows animal keeping as a primary land use, but do not provide its detailed density standards. §§ 82.07.030, 84.04.090(j)

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about any San Bernardino County property

Get a cited, plain-English answer on San Bernardino County zoning, setbacks, FAR, ADUs and permits — for any address.

Ask your question