Pets, chickens and bees in Yountville: the local rules

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

What Yountville's code says

Yountville code What Yountville's code adds
Bees	Up to 2 hives of honeybees (Apis mellifera), or keeping Osmia bees. Applies: Residential lots; hives not in the front setback or within 10 feet of a public right-of-way. § 6.04.090 · code text No more than two hives hosting colonies of honeybees of the species Apis mellifera or the keeping of bees of the genus Osmia may be allowed on residentially zoned properties and no more than 10 hives may be allowed on agriculturally zoned properties, subject to the following regulations. Up to 10 hives. Applies: Agricultural lots; hives not in the front setback or within 10 feet of a public right-of-way. § 6.04.090 · code text No more than two hives hosting colonies of honeybees of the species Apis mellifera or the keeping of bees of the genus Osmia may be allowed on residentially zoned properties and no more than 10 hives may be allowed on agriculturally zoned properties, subject to the following regulations.
Chickens	Up to 4 adult chickens, plus 2 more per 1,000 square feet over 5,000, up to 8 total. Applies: Residential lots of 5,000 square feet or more; no roosters or other crowing fowl. § 6.04.080 · code text No more than four adult chickens shall be kept or maintained on residentially zoned property 5,000 square feet or greater and no more than two additional adult chickens for each 1,000 square feet of area in excess of 5,000 square feet, up to a maximum of eight animals. Up to 1 adult chicken per 1,000 square feet of lot. Applies: Agricultural lots; non-commercial keeping. § 6.04.080 · code text On agriculturally zoned property non-commercial keeping of up to one adult chicken per 1,000 square feet of lot size is allowed.
Coop setback	At least 5 feet from the property line. Applies: Chickens kept in an enclosed or fenced side or back yard. § 6.04.080 · code text Chickens shall be kept in an enclosed or fenced side or back yard area that is no closer than five feet to property line; animals shall not roam at-large.
Permit	A Home Occupation Permit is needed. Applies: Selling honey produced on site. § 6.04.090 · code text Ancillary sale of honey produced on site may be allowed, subject to issuance of a Home Occupation Permit as regulated by Chapter 17.164 of this code. A Home Occupation Permit is needed. Applies: Selling eggs produced on site. § 6.04.080 · code text Ancillary sales of eggs produced on site may be allowed, subject to issuance of a Home Occupation Permit as regulated by Chapter 17.164 of this code.

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Frequently asked questions

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

Yountville's code: Up to 4 adult chickens, plus 2 more per 1,000 square feet over 5,000, up to 8 total. (Residential lots of 5,000 square feet or more; no roosters or other crowing fowl.) (§ 6.04.080); Up to 2 hives of honeybees (Apis mellifera), or keeping Osmia bees. (Residential lots; hives not in the front setback or within 10 feet of a public right-of-way.) (§ 6.04.090).

Pets, chickens and bees in Yountville

What Yountville's code says

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