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 10 ft from neighboring lines/homes. (LBMC 6.20.020, 6.20.040, 6.20.120, 6.20.140, verified September 2026)
The full rules
| Chickens allowed | Yes |
|---|---|
| Maximum hens | 20 |
| Roosters | Prohibited |
| Permit required | Yes |
| Coop setback | 10 ft |
| Coop rules | Flock-size distance tiers from any adjacent dwelling: 1-4 birds 10 ft; 5-10 birds 35 ft; 11-20 birds 50 ft. Permit and pre-inspection required for 5+ chickens. No crowing fowl. Fowl may not run at large or be kept in the front yard (6.20.070). |
| Code section | LBMC 6.20.020, 6.20.040, 6.20.120, 6.20.140 |
Long Beach allows up to 20 fowl per lot (LBMC 6.20.020). Chickens must be kept a minimum distance from any adjacent dwelling that scales with flock size: 10 feet for 1-4 birds, 35 feet for 5-10, and 50 feet for 11-20 (6.20.140). Keeping 5 or more chickens on residential property requires an Animal Care Services permit with a pre-inspection (6.20.120). Crowing fowl are prohibited (6.20.040).
Common questions
Can I keep chickens in Long Beach?
Yes — chickens are allowed in Long Beach (LBMC 6.20.020, 6.20.040, 6.20.120, 6.20.140).
How many chickens can I keep in Long Beach?
Up to 20 hens. Up to 20 fowl per lot (LBMC 6.20.020). Distance from any adjacent dwelling scales with flock size under 6.20.140: 1-4 chickens 10 ft, 5-10 chickens 35 ft, 11-20 chickens 50 ft. A permit with pre-inspection is required for 5 or more chickens (6.20.120)..
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?
10 feet minimum. Flock-size distance tiers from any adjacent dwelling: 1-4 birds 10 ft; 5-10 birds 35 ft; 11-20 birds 50 ft. Permit and pre-inspection required for 5+ chickens. No crowing fowl. Fowl may not run at large or be kept in the front yard (6.20.070).
What law covers backyard chickens in Long Beach?
LBMC 6.20.020, 6.20.040, 6.20.120, 6.20.140. Read the official text at the source linked on this page.
The actual law
LBMC 6.20.020, 6.20.040, 6.20.120, 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
“6.20.020 - Fowl—Number restricted. No person shall keep or maintain more than a total of twenty (20) live fowl or any combination of such animals on any lot or parcel of land within the City.” source
“6.20.120 - Chickens—Permit required. A. No person shall have, keep, maintain, or have in possession or under control, on residential property within the City, five (5) or more live chickens without first applying to and receiving from the Animal Care Services Bureau a permit to do so. Permits issued under this Section shall be subject to a pre-inspection requirement.” source
“6.20.040 - Crowing fowl prohibited. No person shall keep or maintain or cause to be kept or maintained any crowing fowl.” source
Last verified September 6, 2026. Always confirm with your municipality — HOA rules can be stricter than city code. How we verify →
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