Can I keep chickens in San Francisco, CA?
Yes — San Francisco allows backyard chickens, up to 4 hens with no permit required. Coops must be at least 20 ft from neighboring lines/homes. (San Francisco Health Code Sec. 37(a)-(b), verified September 2026)
The full rules
| Chickens allowed | Yes |
|---|---|
| Maximum hens | 4 |
| Permit required | No |
| Coop setback | 20 ft |
| Coop rules | No more than four total, in any combination, of dogs over six months, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, mice, gerbils, chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, doves, pigeons or game birds in residential districts. Chickens must be kept in coops approved by the Director of Public Health; outdoor coops must be at least 20 feet from any door or window of a building used for human habitation. Commercial keeping or breeding in residential districts is prohibited. |
| Code section | San Francisco Health Code Sec. 37(a)-(b) |
San Francisco allows up to four small animals per premises in residential districts, and chickens share that cap with dogs, cats and rabbits. Coops must be approved by Public Health and sit at least 20 feet from any door or window of a dwelling. The Health Code has no rooster-specific ban; noise rules still apply.
Common questions
Can I keep chickens in San Francisco?
Yes — chickens are allowed in San Francisco (San Francisco Health Code Sec. 37(a)-(b)).
How many chickens can I keep in San Francisco?
Up to 4 hens.
Do I need a permit to keep chickens in San Francisco?
No — no permit is required for the base allowance in San Francisco.
How far must a chicken coop be from the property line in San Francisco?
20 feet minimum. No more than four total, in any combination, of dogs over six months, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, mice, gerbils, chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, doves, pigeons or game birds in residential districts. Chickens must be kept in coops approved by the Director of Public Health; outdoor coops must be at least 20 feet from any door or window of a building used for human habitation. Commercial keeping or breeding in residential districts is prohibited.
What law covers backyard chickens in San Francisco?
San Francisco Health Code Sec. 37(a)-(b). Read the official text at the source linked on this page.
The actual law
San Francisco Health Code Sec. 37(a)-(b) — read the official code
“No more than four fowl of any kind shall be kept upon any lot” source
“(a) Number of animals. It shall be unlawful ... within residential districts, ... (2) more than a total of four of the following in any combination: dogs of age six months or older unless part of a dog kennel, hares, rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, mice, gerbils, chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, doves, pigeons, game birds of any species, or cats.” source
“(b) Enclosures. ... shall keep same in coops or enclosures that are approved by the Director of Public Health. Where the coops or enclosures are located on the outside of or on top of any buildings, premises or structures, the coops or enclosures shall be not less than 20 feet from any door or window of any building used for human habitation.” source
Last verified September 13, 2026. Always confirm with your municipality — HOA rules can be stricter than city code. How we verify →
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