Pets, chickens and bees in Poway: the local rules

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

What Poway's code says

Poway code What Poway's code adds
Chickens	Yes, maximum 6. Applies: Lots of 6,000 to 20,000 square feet. § 17.32.020 · code text 6,000 to 20,000 \| 6 Yes, maximum 9. Applies: Lots of 20,001 to 30,000 square feet. § 17.32.020 · code text 20,001 to 30,000 \| 9 Yes, maximum 12. Applies: Lots of 30,001 to 35,000 square feet. § 17.32.020 · code text 30,001 to 35,000 \| 12 Yes, maximum 15. Applies: Lots of 35,001 square feet to 1 acre. § 17.32.020 · code text 35,001 to 1 acre \| 15 Yes, maximum 25 plus 12 additional per acre, up to 100. Applies: Lots greater than 1 acre. § 17.32.020 · code text Greater than 1 acre \| 25 plus 12 additional per acre up to a maximum of 100
Coop setback	At least 35 feet from a neighboring home. Applies: Applies to small animals, including poultry. § 17.32.020 · code text No small animal shall be kept closer than 35 feet to an adjoining dwelling.
Large animals	Minimum lot 10,000 square feet; maximum 2 animals. Applies: Lots of 10,000 to 15,000 square feet, all residential zones. § 17.32.010 · code text 10,000 to 15,000 \| 2 Maximum 3 animals. Applies: Lots of 15,001 to 17,000 square feet, all residential zones. § 17.32.010 · code text 15,001 to 17,000 \| 3 Maximum 4 animals. Applies: Lots of 17,001 to 20,000 square feet, all residential zones. § 17.32.010 · code text 17,001 to 20,000 \| 4 Maximum 5 animals. Applies: Lots of 20,001 to 25,000 square feet, all residential zones. § 17.32.010 · code text 20,001 to 25,000 \| 5 Maximum 6 animals. Applies: Lots of 25,001 to 30,000 square feet, all residential zones. § 17.32.010 · code text 25,001 to 30,000 \| 6 Maximum 6 animals. Applies: Lots of 30,001 to 35,000 square feet, all zones except RR-A and RR-B. § 17.32.010 · code text 30,001 to 35,000 \| 6 Maximum 6 animals. Applies: Lots of 35,001 square feet to 1 acre, all zones except RR-A and RR-B. § 17.32.010 · code text 35,001 to 1 acre \| 6 6 animals per acre, maximum 9 animals. Applies: Lots greater than 1 acre, all zones except RR-A and RR-B. § 17.32.010 · code text Greater than 1 acre \| 6/acre to a maximum of 9 animals Maximum 7 animals. Applies: Lots of 30,001 to 35,000 square feet, RR-A and RR-B zones. § 17.32.010 · code text 30,001 to 35,000 \| 7 Maximum 8 animals. Applies: Lots of 35,001 square feet to 1 acre, RR-A and RR-B zones. § 17.32.010 · code text 35,001 to 1 acre \| 8 10 animals per acre. Applies: Lots greater than 1 acre with a minor conditional use permit or conditional use permit, RR-A and RR-B zones. § 17.32.010 · code text Greater than 1 acre with minor conditional use permit or conditional use permit \| 10/acre
Permit	A minor conditional use permit or conditional use permit is required. Applies: More large animals than the parcel-size table allows, in rural residential and single-family zones on lots of 10,000 square feet or more. § 17.32.010 · code text The following numbers of animals are the maximum allowed unless a minor conditional use permit or conditional use permit is obtained pursuant to PMC § 17.08.110(D):

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Poway?

Poway's code: Yes, maximum 6. (Lots of 6,000 to 20,000 square feet.) (§ 17.32.020); Yes, maximum 9. (Lots of 20,001 to 30,000 square feet.) (§ 17.32.020).

Pets, chickens and bees in Poway

What Poway's code says

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