Can I keep chickens in Visalia, CA?
Yes, with conditions — Visalia allows chickens only in certain zones or lot configurations. Coops must be at least 50 ft from neighboring lines/homes. (Visalia Municipal Code § 17.12.020(O) (R-1-20 zone); § 17.04.030 ('Household pets' definition), verified September 2026)
The full rules
| Chickens allowed | Conditional (zone / lot rules) |
|---|---|
| Permit required | No |
| Coop setback | 50 ft |
| Coop rules | Chickens are a permitted use only in the R-1-20 zone: at least 1,000 sq ft of site area per bird, and no poultry structure closer than 50 ft to any property line, 25 ft to a dwelling on the site, or 50 ft to any other dwelling. In every other single-family (R-S) zone only 'household pets' are allowed, a definition that expressly excludes chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys. |
| Code section | Visalia Municipal Code § 17.12.020(O) (R-1-20 zone); § 17.04.030 ('Household pets' definition) |
Visalia allows chickens only in the R-1-20 large-lot residential zone (plus agricultural zones), at one bird per 1,000 sq ft of site area, with coops at least 50 ft from any property line, 25 ft from the dwelling on the site and 50 ft from any other dwelling. Standard single-family zones permit only household pets, which the code defines to exclude chickens and other fowl. No permit is required in R-1-20.
Common questions
Can I keep chickens in Visalia?
Yes, with conditions — Visalia allows chickens only in certain zones or situations (Visalia Municipal Code § 17.12.020(O) (R-1-20 zone); § 17.04.030 ('Household pets' definition)).
How many chickens can I keep in Visalia?
It depends on your lot. R-1-20 zone only: 1,000 sq ft of site area per fowl (a 20,000 sq ft lot allows 20). Prohibited in standard R-S single-family zones.. Rules vary by zoning district — check the full summary for your zone.
Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Visalia?
No — no permit is required for the base allowance in Visalia.
How far must a chicken coop be from the property line in Visalia?
50 feet minimum. Chickens are a permitted use only in the R-1-20 zone: at least 1,000 sq ft of site area per bird, and no poultry structure closer than 50 ft to any property line, 25 ft to a dwelling on the site, or 50 ft to any other dwelling. In every other single-family (R-S) zone only 'household pets' are allowed, a definition that expressly excludes chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys.
What law covers backyard chickens in Visalia?
Visalia Municipal Code § 17.12.020(O) (R-1-20 zone); § 17.04.030 ('Household pets' definition). Read the official text at the source linked on this page.
The actual law
Visalia Municipal Code § 17.12.020(O) (R-1-20 zone); § 17.04.030 ('Household pets' definition) — read the official code
“Chickens prohibited in R-1 residential zones; allowed in R-1-20 and agricultural zones only” source
“O. In the R-1-20 zone only, the breeding, hatching, raising and fattening of birds, rabbits, chinchillas, hamsters, other small animals and fowl, on a domestic noncommercial scale, provided that there shall not be less than one thousand (1,000) square feet of site area for each fowl or animal and provided that no structure housing poultry or small animals shall be closer than fifty (50) feet to any property line, closer than twenty-five (25) feet to any dwelling on the site, or closer than fifty (50) feet to any other dwelling;” source
“Household pets shall not include horses, cows, goats, sheep ... chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, pigeons (except as provided in Section 17.32), game birds, fowl that normally constitute an agricultural use” source
Last verified September 20, 2026. Always confirm with your municipality — HOA rules can be stricter than city code. How we verify →
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