Skip to content

San Anselmo · Building on your lot

Pets, chickens and bees in San Anselmo

Keeping hens needs a town permit: at most 6 hens, or up to 12 with written consent of all adjacent owners or special circumstances.

Ask about pets, chickens and bees in San Anselmo See coverage

Key points

  • Hens: Keeping hens needs a town permit: at most 6 hens, or up to 12 with written consent of all adjacent owners or special circumstances.

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

What San Anselmo's code says

San Anselmo code What San Anselmo's code adds
Chickens
  • With a permit, up to 6 hens; up to 12 with all neighbors' written consent or special circumstances.
    Applies: All residential zoning districts; the Planning Director approves the higher limit.
    § 5-1.05 · code text
    Maximum of six hens. A residential chicken-keeping permit allows a property owner to keep a maximum of six hens. However, the Planning Director may approve a permit to allow up to twelve hens with written consent of all adjacent property owners or when special circumstances exist that would mitigate any impacts from a larger number of hens including, but not limited to, large parcel size, distance from adjoining parcels, and use of adjacent sites.
Coop setback
  • Coops must be at least 25 feet away.
    Applies: Distance from neighboring homes.
    § 5-1.05 · code text
    Chicken coops shall be located at least twenty five feet from neighboring residences.
Permit
  • A residential chicken-keeping permit is required.
    Applies: Applies to keeping hens anywhere in the Town of San Anselmo.
    § 5-1.05 · code text
    No person shall keep hens within the municipal limits of the Town of San Anselmo without a permit issued by the Town of San Anselmo.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in San Anselmo?

Keeping hens needs a town permit: at most 6 hens, or up to 12 with written consent of all adjacent owners or special circumstances.

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific San Anselmo property

Ask GoCodebook how San Anselmo's pets, chickens and bees rules apply to your situation and get an answer that cites the section.

Ask your question

More on building on your lot in San Anselmo

All building on your lot rules in San Anselmo

Lot splits under SB 9 in San Anselmo

RV and boat parking in San Anselmo

Solar panels and EV chargers in San Anselmo

Grading and erosion control in San Anselmo

Noise and construction hours in San Anselmo

Signs on homes in San Anselmo

Trash and recycling carts in San Anselmo

San Anselmo Municipal Code — full text