How many chickens can people have at home?
| Thursday, Nov 18 2010 04:01 PM
Last Updated Thursday, Nov 18 2010 04:01 PM
Q: I live in the city and my new next door neighbors have built a small chicken farm next to my house and they are so loud. Are there any codes or laws that prohibit having a large number of chickens in a home?
-- Marvin Reyes
A: In the city of Bakersfield, chickens are not allowed in residential zones. Chief Code Enforcement Officer Randy Fidler recommended you call the city code enforcement complaint line at 326-3712.
In unincorporated areas of Kern County, people can have a maximum of 12 chickens in normal residential lots, said Chris Hengst, code compliance supervisor. The chickens must be in a pen 30 feet from any bedroom window, your own and any neighboring ones, he said. And you can only use those chickens' eggs for yourself, you can't sell them to others.
