Roosters are prohibited! (*Refer to information at bottom of page)

A chicken coop or other enclosure is required and must adhere to the following performance standards.

• Any closure or accessory structure exceeding 120 sq ft shall require a  City building permit.
• Nesting boxes are required within the enclosure and the interior of the enclosure shall including nesting boxes of three to five sq ft for each chicken.
• Enclosure shall be a minimum of 25 sq ft. Enclosures must be constructed of suitable material and consist of four walls and a roof.  The enclosure shall be maintained and kept in good repair.
• Enclosures must be setback 20 feet from any property line or structure used for human habitation.  In addition, any enclosure is restricted to the rear or side yard and it shall not be visible from a public street.
• Enclosures shall at all times be maintained in a clean, sanitary condition, and free from offensive odors.  Odors must not be able to be detected by the adjoining  property(ies).
• Interior enclosure requirements include chicken roost(s), feeder(s), water, and adequate ventilation at all times.
• All chicken feed is required to be secured and stored in an air-tight container where it is not accessible to other animals.
• No slaughtering of hen chickens shall occur on any developed lot used exclusively for residential purposes.
• Chickens need to be confined to the owners property at all times, thus protecting the animals from injury, preventing their escape, and entrance of other animals and predators.

Questions and Answers

Can I Sell the Eggs or Chickens Raised on My Property?

Chickens that are kept on property inside the City are for personal use only and are not for commercial business ventures. You are NOT allowed to sell the chickens or the eggs produced on your property if your land is zoned residential.

How Do I  Properly Care for My Chickens?

Chickens require dedicated and regular care.

They will need a shelter , since they are sensitive to the heat and the cold. The chickens will need shade during the hot season and some form of insulation for the cold seasons.  Straw bedding provides added comfort and warmth but should be changed regularly.

They need protection from predators . They can fall prey to dogs, cats, foxes, raccoons, opossums and aerial predators.

Hens need an appropriate environment to lay eggs. Hens need an enclosed space where they can lay their eggs and an elevated roost to perch on at night.  They enjoy loose substrate such as dirt, sand or peat for dustbathing and love free access to grass and other vegetation. Chicken enclosures require regular cleaning to ensure the health of the hens and food safety of the eggs.

Chickens require Veterinary care just like dogs or cats.

Vacation help is a must when raising chickens. Hens need to be fed and have fresh water daily.

Feed and Water , hens need a balanced diet (they enjoy fresh fruits, grains and vegetables in addition to their regular feed) and fresh water daily.  Provide supplemental nutrients of calcium and hard insoluble granite grit (image below is from Chickenwaterer.com ).

Information on nutrient supplements of calcium and hard insoluable granite grit can be obtained from:
Chickenwaterer.com and Citygirlchickens.com .

Benefits

• A  healthy adult hen may lay up to 300 eggs a year.
• Backyard eggs contain 25% more vitamin E, 33% more vitamin A, and 75% more beta carotene.
• Home raising reduces the need for transporting eggs from another location, therefore, reducing carbon emissions and packaging materials.
• Chicken manure can be added to compost piles or used directly as a fertilizer when tilled into soil.

Risks

• Handling chickens or anything around them can be a health risk.
• Young children and people that are immune impaired are especially at risk.
• Healthy chickens can have Salmonella germs in their droppings and on their bodies.  Salmonella can cause people to be come sick (diarrhea, fever, vomiting and abdominal cramps).
• To reduce healthy risks it is best to not have children younger than 5 years old handle the chickens unsupervised.
• Washing hands thoroughly with soap and water after being in contact with chickens is extremely important.  Make sure to keep the coop and equipment clean.

All animals shall be treated in a humane manner at all times.  Persons engaged in animal abuse, or otherwise in violation of Section 597 and/or 597.1 of the California Penal Code, shall be subject to enforcement and penalties under the applicable provisions of the Placerville City Code and/or Title 6 —Animals of the El Dorado County Code.

* Conditional Use Permit : Any person(s) seeking to deviate from the regulations and standards set forth in Section 10-4-18 entitled Keeping of Chickens (e.g., adding a rooster, additional hens, or coop size and/or location) will require an approved Conditional Use Permit.

Websites of Interest:

Development Services Department , Planning Division
City Hall, Second Floor
3101 Center Street
Placerville, CA 95667

For general inquiries, to request an appointment : (530) 642-5252 Fax: (530) 295-2510