Planning commission holds workshop on proposed rooster regulations; public urges narrow, humane approach

The Sacramento County Planning Commission on Sept. 8 held a workshop on proposed zoning and county code updates intended to address problems associated with roosters and other crowing fowl. Staff presented a draft that would target roosters specifically rather than broadly regulate all crowing fowl.

Yong Choi, associate planner with Planning and Environmental Review, said staff received recurring complaints about roosters, including noise, nuisance and association with illegal cockfighting. Choi described the draft as an effort to separate incidental backyard keeping from commercial agriculture and to provide a compliance path for existing, lawful breeders. "We wanted to do more targeted regulation, so it was determined that the rooster would be what we would be amending the most," Choi said.

Key elements outlined by staff included increasing the minimum lot size for roosters from 10,000 square feet to 14,520 square feet (one-third acre) per rooster; permitting up to five roosters on properties in agricultural zones; a temporary use permit to allow up to two roosters on single-family residential lots (RD-1 through RD-10); and revised enforcement authority to allow the planning director to enforce the rooster provisions…