Pets, chickens and bees in Corte Madera: the local rules

Each rule below links to the section of the Corte Madera Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Corte Madera's code says

Corte Madera code What Corte Madera's code adds
Bees	Hive boxes must be at least 20 feet from an occupied home on a neighboring residential lot. Applies: A conditional use permit is required; hives must also meet accessory structure setback and lot coverage rules. § 18.21.040 · code text Honey bee hive boxes (colony) shall comply with building location, setback and lot coverage standards for an accessory structure within the district it is located and shall be setback a minimum of twenty feet from an occupied dwelling on an adjacent residential parcel. Hive boxes must be at least 20 feet from a public street or public walking or bike trail. Applies: A conditional use permit is required. § 18.21.040 · code text Honey bee hive boxes (colony) shall be located at least twenty feet from a public street or a public pedestrian or bicycle trail.
Chickens	Allowed; a conditional use permit is needed on lots of 5,000 square feet or less. § 18.21.050 · code text In addition to the findings required by Section 18.26.050, the number of chickens per parcel shall not exceed the maximum allowance set forth in this chapter and chicken keeping shall comply with operational standards set forth in this chapter.
Coop setback	Coops must be at least 20 feet away. Applies: Distance from an occupied home on a neighboring residential lot. § 18.21.080 · code text A chicken coop structure is required to accommodate all chickens and shall comply with building location, setback and lot coverage standards for an accessory structure within the district it is located and shall be setback a minimum of twenty feet from an occupied dwelling on an adjacent residential parcel.
Permit	A conditional use permit is required. Applies: For keeping chickens on lots of 5,000 square feet or less, in all zoning districts. § 18.21.050 · code text For any parcel equal to or less than five thousand square feet in area in all zoning districts, an application for conditional use permit shall be filed with the planning department and may be granted or denied by the zoning administrator in compliance with the provisions of Chapter 18.26, Conditional Uses, and shall be accompanied by the required filing fee. A conditional use permit is required. Applies: For keeping honey bees, in all zoning districts. § 18.21.020 · code text For parcels in all zoning districts, an application for conditional use permit shall be filed with the planning department and may be granted or denied by the zoning administrator in compliance with the provisions of Chapter 18.26, Conditional Uses, and shall be accompanied by the required filing fee.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Corte Madera?

Corte Madera's code: Allowed; a conditional use permit is needed on lots of 5,000 square feet or less. (§ 18.21.050); Hive boxes must be at least 20 feet from an occupied home on a neighboring residential lot. (A conditional use permit is required; hives must also meet accessory structure setback and lot coverage rules.) (§ 18.21.040).

Pets, chickens and bees in Corte Madera

What Corte Madera's code says

Who this affects

Frequently asked questions

Ask about a specific Corte Madera property

More on building on your lot in Corte Madera