Pets, chickens and bees in San Juan Capistrano

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

What San Juan Capistrano's code says

San Juan Capistrano code What San Juan Capistrano's code adds
Bees	Yes, noncommercial. Hives must be at least 100 feet from any adjacent home. Applies: Allowed in A, PC, SP/PP and RA zones; conditional in HR, RSE-40,000 and RSE-20,000. Lots over 15,000 gross square feet. § 9-3.510 · code text Apiaries shall be located a minimum of 100 feet from any adjacent residential dwelling unit and a minimum of 150 feet from any “bee sensitive property.” Hives must be at least 150 feet from any bee-sensitive property, such as schools, playgrounds or care facilities. Applies: Applies to noncommercial beekeeping. § 9-3.510 · code text Apiaries shall be located a minimum of 100 feet from any adjacent residential dwelling unit and a minimum of 150 feet from any “bee sensitive property.”
Chickens	Yes, no roosters and no more than 6 hens. Applies: Applies in HR, RSE-40,000 and RSE-20,000 districts, on lots over 15,000 gross square feet. § 9-3.511.5 · code text No roosters and no more than six hens may be kept on any property located in the City’s Hillside Residential (HR), Single-Family (RSE) 40,000 and Single-Family (RSE) 20,000 districts. Yes. Applies: Applies in zones where animal grazing, breeding, boarding, raising and training are allowed, on lots over 15,000 gross square feet. § 9-3.511.5 · code text Noncommercial chicken keeping shall be allowed in all zoning districts where animal grazing, breeding, boarding, raising and training is a permitted use. Yes, as an accessory use. Applies: Applies in the Residential/Agriculture (RA) district, on lots over 15,000 gross square feet. § 9-3.511.5 · code text Noncommercial chicken keeping shall be allowed in the City’s Residential/Agriculture (RA) district as a permitted accessory use.
Coop setback	At least 100 feet. Applies: Measured from the chicken coop to any adjoining residential building. § 9-3.511.5 · code text The required chicken coop shall not exceed five feet in height, shall not be located within any code-required building setback, shall be located a minimum of 100 feet from any adjoining residential buildings and shall not be visible from any adjoining public or private streets.
Permit	Non-commercial honey beekeeping is allowed conditionally, through the Conditional Use Permit process. Applies: Residential lots over 15,000 gross square feet in the HR, RSE 40,000 and RSE 20,000 zones, with beekeeping tied to the residential use. § 9-3.510 · code text Noncommercial honey beekeeping shall be conditionally allowed on residential properties located within the City’s Hillside Residential (HR), Single-Family (RSE) 40,000 and Single-Family (RSE) 20,000 zoning districts.

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

San Juan Capistrano's code: Yes, no roosters and no more than 6 hens. (Applies in HR, RSE-40,000 and RSE-20,000 districts, on lots over 15,000 gross square feet.) (§ 9-3.511.5); Yes, noncommercial. Hives must be at least 100 feet from any adjacent home. (Allowed in A, PC, SP/PP and RA zones; conditional in HR, RSE-40,000 and RSE-20,000. Lots over 15,000 gross square feet.) (§ 9-3.510).

Pets, chickens and bees in San Juan Capistrano

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