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Pets, chickens and bees in Santa Monica

Santa Monica's own rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text for every value.

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

What Santa Monica's code says

Santa Monica code What Santa Monica's code adds
Bees
  • Yes, no more than 2 hives.
    Applies: Applies to single-family residential property.
    § 4.04.130 · code text
    No more than two hives may be maintained on any single-family residential property.
  • At least 5 feet from all property lines.
    Applies: Single-family lots; entrances face away from or parallel to the nearest line; bees clear a 6-foot barrier or hive at least 8 feet up.
    § 4.04.130 · code text
    Hives shall be located at least five feet from all property lines.
Large animals
  • Pigs, bulls or billy goats need a permit; never within 300 feet of any R or C district.
    § 4.04.100 · code text
    No person shall keep any pigs, bulls, or billy goats within the City unless such person first shall have obtained a permit from the Animal Control Officer so to do and in no event shall any person keep any hog, bull, or billy goat within three hundred feet of any "R" or "C" district as defined in Article 9 of this Code.
Permit
  • Registration with the City's Animal Control Office is required.
    Applies: Applies to keeping any beehive on single-family residential property.
    § 4.04.130 · code text
    Any person intending to maintain any bee hive on any single-family residential property within the City must first register with the City's Animal Control Office.
Pet limit
  • Up to 4 dogs over 4 months old.
    Applies: Per dwelling. Service dogs are not counted.
    § 4.04.145 · code text
    No person shall keep or maintain in any dwelling more than four dogs over four months of age.
  • Up to 5 cats over 4 months old.
    Applies: Per dwelling.
    § 4.04.145 · code text
    No person shall keep or maintain in any dwelling more than five cats over four months of age.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Santa Monica?

Santa Monica's code: Yes, no more than 2 hives. (Applies to single-family residential property.) (§ 4.04.130); At least 5 feet from all property lines. (Single-family lots; entrances face away from or parallel to the nearest line; bees clear a 6-foot barrier or hive at least 8 feet up.) (§ 4.04.130).

General information, not legal advice.

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Ask GoCodebook how Santa Monica's pets, chickens and bees rules apply to your situation and get an answer that cites the section.

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Santa Monica Municipal Code — full text