Can I keep chickens in Long Beach, CA?
Yes — Long Beach allows backyard chickens, up to 20 hens with a required permit/registration. Roosters are prohibited, and coops must be at least 50 ft from neighboring lines/homes. (LBMC 6.20.140, verified June 2026)
The full rules
| Chickens allowed | Yes |
|---|---|
| Maximum hens | 20 |
| Roosters | Prohibited |
| Permit required | Yes |
| Coop setback | 50 ft |
| Coop rules | Tiered: 1-4 chickens at 10 ft; 5-10 at 35 ft; 11-20 at 50 ft setback from neighboring residences. Permit required for 5+ birds. |
| Code section | LBMC 6.20.140 |
Long Beach allows up to 20 hens with tiered setback requirements based on flock size. Permit required for flocks of 5 or more birds.
Common questions
Can I keep chickens in Long Beach?
Yes — chickens are allowed in Long Beach (LBMC 6.20.140).
How many chickens can I keep in Long Beach?
Up to 20 hens. Tiered by lot size: 4 up to 10,000 sq ft; 10 up to 20,000 sq ft; 20 up to 500,000 sq ft.
Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Long Beach?
Yes — Long Beach requires a permit or registration before keeping chickens.
Are roosters allowed in Long Beach?
No — roosters are prohibited in Long Beach.
How far must a chicken coop be from the property line in Long Beach?
50 feet minimum. Tiered: 1-4 chickens at 10 ft; 5-10 at 35 ft; 11-20 at 50 ft setback from neighboring residences. Permit required for 5+ birds.
What law covers backyard chickens in Long Beach?
LBMC 6.20.140. Read the official text at the source linked on this page.
The actual law
LBMC 6.20.140 — read the official code
“1-4 chickens at 10 feet setback; 5-10 chickens at 35 feet; 11-20 chickens at 50 feet from neighboring residences” source
Last verified June 13, 2026. Always confirm with your municipality — HOA rules can be stricter than city code. How we verify →
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