ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION
8.32.015 OF THE NATIONAL CITY
MUNICIPAL CODE RELATED TO THE
KEEPING OF HEN CHICKENS
Proposed Ordinance
Title 8
• Animals
• 8.32.015 (Restrictions on Keeping Certain Animals, Birds, and Reptiles) Recommendation
• Introduce the Ordinance Amending Section 8.32.015 Related to the Allowance of Keeping Additional Hen Chickens.
Reason for Ordinance
• Numerical and physical limitations were incorporated into Chapter 8.32 in 2004. • 12 hen chickens were previously permitted on properties zoned for single-family residential use.
Proposed Ordinance
Reason for Ordinance
• Council directed staff to prepare an Ordinance related to the keeping of chickens in the City through the Policy 105 process.
• Section 8.32.015 limits the number of hen chickens as follows:
A. It is unlawful to keep, possess or maintain any animal, bird or reptile not prohibited by Section 8.32.010, except as follows:
2. Any combination of the following classes of animals, not to exceed a total of twenty, with each class limited by a maximum of four adult rabbits, four chinchillas, four hen chickens, four turkeys, four ducks, four geese or twenty pigeons may be kept on any property zoned for single-family residential use that is greater than twenty thousand square feet in area.
Proposed Ordinance
Previous discussion
• May 20, 2025: Staff brought forward an Ordinance amendment allowing up to 12 hen chickens without limitation on lot size
• Staff was asked to look at other urban cities in order to consider a more reasonable number.
• San Diego: five chickens (outside of all setbacks) / 15 chickens (outside of all required setbacks or 15 feet, whichever is greater) / 25 chickens (minimum of 50 feet from residential structures).
• Chula Vista: six chickens, minimum 7,000 square-foot lot size. • Lemon Grove: one chicken per 1,000 square feet of lot area. • La Mesa: no animal/poultry which emits loud or raucous cries.
Proposed Ordinance
• Based on previous discussion and concerns, staff is suggesting a minimum of six hen chickens be permitted
• Maximum of one chicken per one thousand feet of lot area, not to exceed 12.
Options
➢ Staff is recommending introduction of the draft attached Ordinance.