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Pets, chickens and bees in Santa Paula

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

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

What Santa Paula's code says

Santa Paula code What Santa Paula's code adds
Bees
  • At least 400 feet from neighbors' homes, 100 feet from on-site homes, 150 feet from roads and lot lines.
    Applies: Occupied hives under A-1 zone rules. Less distance is allowed with the home owner's written consent.
    § 16.11.040 · code text
    No occupied hive may be located or maintained within 400 feet of any dwelling on any adjacent property or within 100 feet of any dwelling on the same property, unless the written consent of the owner of such dwelling is obtained.
Chickens
  • Up to 2 poultry.
    Applies: R-2 and R-1 lots under 6,000 square feet. No roosters, peacocks, peahens, geese, turkeys or guineas. Outdoor keeping needs at least 6,000 square feet.
    § 16.13.210 · code text
    | R-2 and R-1 lots containing less than 6,000 sf | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
  • Up to 2 poultry.
    Applies: R-1 and HR-PD lots of 6,000 to 10,000 square feet. No roosters, peacocks, peahens, geese, turkeys or guineas.
    § 16.13.210 · code text
    | R-1 and HR-PD: 6,000 -10,000 sf lots | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
  • Up to 2 poultry.
    Applies: R-1 and HR lots of 10,000 square feet to 1 acre. No roosters, peacocks, peahens, geese, turkeys or guineas.
    § 16.13.210 · code text
    | R-1 and HR: 10,000 sf -1 acre lots | 6 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
  • Up to 4 poultry.
    Applies: R-1 and HR(PD) lots larger than 1 acre. No roosters, peacocks, peahens, geese, turkeys or guineas.
    § 16.13.210 · code text
    | R-1 and HR(PD): Lots larger than 1 acre | 10 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
  • Up to 6 poultry.
    Applies: R-A lots of 10,000 square feet to 1 acre. No roosters, peacocks, peahens, geese, turkeys or guineas.
    § 16.13.210 · code text
    | R-A: 10,000 sf -1 acre lots | 15 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
  • Up to 12 poultry.
    Applies: R-A lots larger than 1 acre. No roosters, peacocks, peahens, geese, turkeys or guineas.
    § 16.13.210 · code text
    | R-A: Lots larger than 1 acre | 25 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
  • Up to 25 poultry and small animals combined per acre, with a Conditional Use Permit.
    Applies: Applies in the A-1 zone.
    § 16.11.040 · code text
    Poultry, rabbits, chinchillas, hamsters and other small animals are conditionally permitted at a maximum density of 25 of any one or combination thereof per one acre.
Coop setback
  • At least 25 feet from any home or other building used for living.
    Applies: Applies to outdoor pens, cages or other small animal enclosures.
    § 16.13.210 · code text
    Any outdoor pen, cage, or other enclosure used for the keeping of small animals must be maintained a minimum distance of 25 feet from any dwelling or other building used for human habitation.
  • At least 50 feet from any home or other building used for living.
    Applies: Stables, barns, corrals or other horse or cattle enclosures in the HR-PD and R-A zones.
    § 16.13.210 · code text
    A minimum distance of 50 feet from any dwelling or other building used for human habitation;
  • At least 100 feet from the front lot line.
    Applies: Stables, barns, corrals or other horse or cattle enclosures in the HR-PD and R-A zones.
    § 16.13.210 · code text
    A minimum distance of 100 feet from the front lot line of the lot upon which it is located;
  • At least 20 feet from any interior side or rear lot line.
    Applies: Stables, barns, corrals or other horse or cattle enclosures in the HR-PD and R-A zones.
    § 16.13.210 · code text
    A minimum distance of 20 feet from any interior side lot line or rear lot line;
  • At least 75 feet from any side street, or 1/2 the abutting lot's width, whichever is less.
    Applies: Stables, barns, corrals or other horse or cattle enclosures in the HR-PD and R-A zones.
    § 16.13.210 · code text
    A minimum distance of 75 feet from any side street, or the distance equal to one-half the width of the lot abutting the side street, whichever distance is lesser.
  • At least 100 feet from any public park, school, hospital or similar institution.
    Applies: Stables, barns, corrals or other horse or cattle enclosures in the HR-PD and R-A zones.
    § 16.13.210 · code text
    A minimum distance of 100 feet from any public park, school, hospital, or similar institution;
  • At least 50 feet from any home or other building used for living.
    Applies: Applies to stables, barns, corrals or other animal enclosures in the A-1 zone.
    § 16.11.040 · code text
    A minimum distance of 50 feet from any dwelling or other building used for human habitation.
  • At least 100 feet from the front lot line.
    Applies: Applies to stables, barns, corrals or other animal enclosures in the A-1 zone.
    § 16.11.040 · code text
    A minimum distance of 100 feet from the front lot line of the lot upon which it is located.
  • At least 20 feet from any interior side or rear lot line.
    Applies: Applies to stables, barns, corrals or other animal enclosures in the A-1 zone.
    § 16.11.040 · code text
    A minimum distance of 20 feet from any interior side lot line or rear lot line.
  • At least 100 feet from any public park, school, hospital or similar institution.
    Applies: Applies to stables, barns, corrals or other animal enclosures in the A-1 zone.
    § 16.11.040 · code text
    A minimum distance of 100 feet from any public park, school, hospital, or similar institution.
Large animals
  • 1 horse or other equine per 1/2 acre of lot or building site.
    Applies: Applies in the HR-PD and R-A zones.
    § 16.13.210 · code text
    One equine animal is permitted for each one-half acre of lot or building site.
  • 1 cow or other bovine per 1 acre of lot area.
    Applies: Applies in the HR-PD and R-A zones.
    § 16.13.210 · code text
    One bovine animal is permitted for each one acre of lot area.
  • Horses, mules and other equines: no more than 2 per acre.
    Applies: A-1 zone, with conditional approval.
    § 16.11.040 · code text
    Horses, mules, and other equine species are conditionally permitted in the A-1 zone at a density of not more than two animals per one acre.
  • 2 cattle per 1-1/2 acres of lot area.
    Applies: A-1 zone, with conditional approval for cattle and sheep.
    § 16.11.040 · code text
    Two bovine animals are permitted for each one and one-half acre of lot area.
  • 8 cattle per 4 acres, at most 1 per 1/2 acre; lots over 4 acres, 8 of any combination.
    Applies: A-1 zone, with conditional approval for cattle and sheep.
    § 16.11.040 · code text
    Eight bovine animals are permitted for each four acres of lot area, provided that the number of such animals will not exceed one animal per one-half acre of area. On any lot or parcel of land having an area of more than four acres, eight of any one combination of said animals may be kept.
  • 1 swine on a lot of at least 2 acres, plus 1 per added acre; no more than 10.
    Applies: Applies in the R-A zone.
    § 16.13.210 · code text
    One swine is permitted for the first two acres of lot area, with one additional swine permitted for each additional acre. In no case, however, may the number of swine kept exceed ten.
Permit
  • A Conditional Use Permit is required.
    Applies: Applies to keeping animals in the A-1 zone.
    § 16.11.040 · code text
    Any request for the keeping of animals must be considered under a Conditional Use Permit application pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 16.218 (Conditional Use Permits) of this Title 16.
  • A Conditional Use Permit is required.
    Applies: Applies to keeping more animals than this section allows in residential zones.
    § 16.13.210 · code text
    Any request for the keeping of more animals than specified in this section will require a Conditional Use Permit application pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 16.218 of this Title 16.
Pet limit
  • Up to 3 dogs and 3 cats per home.
    Applies: Applies in any residential zone.
    § 16.13.210 · code text
    Up to three dogs and three cats may be kept per residence in any residential zone, provided the keeping of dogs does not constitute the establishment or maintenance of a commercial kennel as defined by this Title 16.
  • No more than 2 of a single species and 4 animals in total.
    Applies: R-3 and R-4 zones, inside a unit: hamsters, rats, mice, similar small rodents, small birds and small reptiles.
    § 16.13.210 · code text
    The number of small animals permitted within a dwelling unit are limited to two of a single species and four total animals.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

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

Santa Paula's code: Up to 2 poultry. (R-2 and R-1 lots under 6,000 square feet. No roosters, peacocks, peahens, geese, turkeys or guineas. Outdoor keeping needs at least 6,000 square feet.) (§ 16.13.210); At least 400 feet from neighbors' homes, 100 feet from on-site homes, 150 feet from roads and lot lines. (Occupied hives under A-1 zone rules. Less distance is allowed with the home owner's written consent.) (§ 16.11.040).

General information, not legal advice.

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