Pets, chickens and bees in Morgan Hill: the local rules

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

What Morgan Hill's code says

Morgan Hill code What Morgan Hill's code adds
Bees	1 hive. Applies: Lots between 5,000 and 10,000 square feet. § 6.36.275 · code text A hobbyist beekeeper can keep one hive on a property with a lot size between five thousand square feet and ten thousand square feet. Up to 2 hives. Applies: Lots over 10,000 square feet. § 6.36.275 · code text Up to two hives can be kept on property with a lot size exceeding ten thousand square feet. Up to 2 hives. Applies: Lots between 5,000 and 10,000 square feet, with written unanimous consent of adjacent property owners. § 6.36.275 · code text With written unanimous consent from adjacent property owners, property with a lot size between five thousand square feet and ten thousand square feet can keep up to two hives Up to 3 hives. Applies: Lots over 10,000 square feet, with written unanimous consent of adjacent property owners. § 6.36.275 · code text property with a lot size exceeding ten thousand square feet can keep up to three hives. Allowed with registration. Applies: Hobbyist beekeepers on single-family residential property; the apiary is registered with the Santa Clara County Agricultural Commissioner. § 6.36.275 · code text Hobbyist beekeeper in single-family residential property must register any operating apiary with the Santa Clara County Agricultural Commissioner.
Coop setback	At least 25 feet from the rear property line and at least 10 feet from the side property line. Applies: All hives. § 6.36.275 · code text All hives must be located at least twenty-five feet from the rear property line and at least ten feet from the side yard property line that the apiary is registered in.
Permit	Written permission from the church, school, public building, dairy or corral. Applies: Before placing an apiary within a 1,000-foot radius of one of them. § 6.36.275 · code text Prior to placing an apiary within a one thousand-foot radius of a church, school, public building, dairy, or corral, the hobbyist beekeeper must obtain written permission from such entities.
Pet limit	No more than 5 dogs or 5 cats over 4 months old, or 5 combined; at most 1 unspayed female. Applies: Any premises except a licensed veterinarian's, unless a kennel permit is held. § 6.12.010 · code text No person shall keep or maintain more than five dogs over four months of age, or more than five cats over four months of age, or any combination totaling five dogs and cats, including no more than one unspayed female dog or one unspayed female cat, on any premises

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Frequently asked questions

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Morgan Hill?

Morgan Hill's code: At least 25 feet from the rear property line and at least 10 feet from the side property line. (All hives.) (§ 6.36.275); 1 hive. (Lots between 5,000 and 10,000 square feet.) (§ 6.36.275).

Pets, chickens and bees in Morgan Hill

What Morgan Hill's code says

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