Can You Have Pet Goats or Sheep in Your Backyard in California?

A kid feeding a goat

In California, whether or not you can raise goats or sheep in your backyard depends on where you live. The keeping of goats and sheep is usually permitted in agricultural zones. Residential zones, on the other hand, don't usually permit goats and sheep. In residential districts where goats and sheep are allowed, there may be restrictions on the number and type of animals you can keep. Therefore, before keeping any goat or sheep in your backyard, contact your local animal control or check your local animal ordinances. Meanwhile, the following California municipalities allow urban livestock keeping.

San Diego, CA

The City of San Diego allows only miniature, pygmy, or dwarf goats to be kept as pets. All goats are required to be dehorned. In addition, male goats are required to be neutered. A maximum of two miniature goats is allowed per residence. You are allowed to keep the offspring of your goats for up to 12 weeks from birth.

Long Beach, CA

An Urban Agriculture Permit is required to keep goats on residential property in Long Beach, CA. Per the Long Beach Municipal Code, food produced by goats must be for personal consumption, not for commercial purposes. You may keep no more than 2 goats on your residential property within the City. The City Code permits you to keep the offspring of your goats for up to six months from birth. By ordinance, male goats are required to be neutered. You may not keep any goat within 10 feet of another person's dwelling. A permit isn't required to keep sheep in the city, as long as they are kept 100 feet away from any neighboring building.

San Jose, CA

A permit is required to keep livestock animals, including goats and sheep, in San Jose, CA. According to San Jose's municipal code, it is unlawful for you to keep livestock within 200 feet of any neighboring dwelling unit. Also, it is unlawful for you to keep livestock within 35 feet of your own dwelling unit. All premises where livestock animals are kept are required to be cleaned and reasonably free of debris, refuse, or manure.

South San Francisco, CA

You may keep goats or sheep in your backyard in South San Francisco, but not without first obtaining from the City Clerk an Animal Permit. Under the City’s Animal Permit Ordinance, it is unlawful to permit your goats or sheep to run at large. All goats and sheep are required to be confined to an escape-proof enclosure. Such enclosure is required to be cleaned once a week, or oftener if necessary. Furthermore, such enclosure must be situated at least 40 feet from any street, dwelling, or place of business and 10 feet from the side lines of any adjacent lot.

Anaheim, CA

The keeping of goats and sheep for domestic, noncommercial use is allowed in residential zones within Anaheim, CA. According to the Anaheim City Code, you may not keep goats or sheep within 50 feet of any residence other than yours, or within 20 feet of any property line, except when kept indoors. Sheep and goats may be kept on any parcel of less than one acre in area. Further, one goat or sheep is permitted per each half-acre.

Riverside, CA

The noncommercial keeping of sheep and goats is permitted in Riverside, CA. According to the Riverside County Land Use Ordinance, sheep and goats may be kept on lots or parcels over 20,000 square feet in area and 100 feet in width. A maximum of 2 goats or sheep may be kept on each 20,000 square feet up to one acre. Then 2 additional goats or sheep are permitted for each additional acre. By ordinance, goats and sheep are required to be maintained not less than 50 feet from any residence.

Irvine, CA

You can keep sheep or goats within the City limits of Irvine, but not without first securing a livestock permit from the Director of Public Safety. The issuance and validity of the permit are subject to zoning regulations, according to Irvine's municipal code. All livestock permits require an on-site inspection by an Animal Services Officer.

Santa Ana, CA

You may have backyard goats or sheep in Santa Ana, as long as you keep them more than 100 feet from any family residence, except for your own. You may be required to obtain a building permit for the construction of a goat or sheep enclosure. According to Santa Ana's city code, you may not slaughter any sheep or goat in the city, except in an enclosed building, provided the animal is 5 pounds or less in weight.

Fremont, CA

In Fremont, CA, you may keep up to 2 goats without a permit on your residential property with a lot size of 10,000 square feet or more. If you wish to have more than 2 goats, you need to apply for an animal fancier’s permit. Fremont's municipal code requires all goats to be microchipped. Further, all male goats are required to be neutered. You are required to maintain your goats at least 10 feet from any property line. The keeping of sheep isn't permitted on residential properties within the city of Fremont.

Santa Clarita, CA

The keeping of goats and sheep is permitted in Santa Clarita, CA. By ordinance, the number of sheep or goats you can own is restricted based on property size. On lots of 15,000 to 20,000 square feet, a maximum of 3 goats or sheep may be kept. Up to 7 goats or sheep may be kept on a lot of 35,001 to 1 acre. A maximum of 8 goats or sheep is allowed per lot greater than 1 acre. All structures used for the keeping of goats or sheep must be located at least 50 feet from any street or building used for human habitation.

San Bernardino, CA

The keeping of sheep and female goats is allowed in the RC, RL, FW, and SD Zoning Districts within San Bernardino. The City Code permits one sheep or female goat per every 4,000 square feet of lot area in the RC, RL, FW, and SD Zoning Districts. In the AG Zoning District, one sheep or female goat is allowed for every 3,000 square feet of lot area. All sheep and goats are required to be kept at least 5 feet away from interior side and rear property lines, and 15 feet away from side street rights-of-way.

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