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Napa supervisors signal intent to adopt tighter rooster rules to curb cockfighting and disease risk
Summary
The board voted unanimously to express intent to adopt changes limiting roosters per parcel, tightening definitions, and creating exemptions for bona fide agricultural and educational uses; staff will return with a final ordinance and implementation details.
The Napa County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 9 directed staff to proceed toward adoption of amendments to the county—ode that reduce maximum rooster ownership and strengthen enforcement tools to address illegal cockfighting and avian-disease risk.
Akenya Robinson Webb, the county code compliance manager, explained staff recommendations including redefining "rooster" to include male chickens six months and older, and replacing the current 25-per-acre / 100-per-parcel allowance with a schedule limiting roosters to a maximum of four per parcel (with smaller parcel-size thresholds for one rooster). The proposed updates also add a short, single-page exemption application for recognized educational and agricultural uses (4-H, FFA, schools, shelters, bona fide exhibition breeders) and create an enforcement pathway tied to existing county code chapters.
Public commenters included long-time 4-H leaders and exhibition breeders who urged broader exemptions to protect hobbyists and legacy breeders, the Napa Humane shelter which noted limited capacity to accept surrendered roosters, and retired law-enforcement speakers who described criminal networks associated with large-scale illegal operations. Sheriff Ortiz and staff said the stricter limits align Napa County with neighboring jurisdictions and reduce the county ttractiveness to criminal actors.
Supervisor Ramos asked staff to add explicit language to protect educational leaders and provide guidance for "retired" flocks (birds kept after exhibition activities end). Staff confirmed exemptions will be administered by the Agricultural Commissioner's office and that enforcement would start after an education-first approach; the ordinance includes language preventing immediate enforcement while an applicant is pursuing an exemption.
Supervisor Manfry moved and the board unanimously approved a motion expressing intent to adopt the ordinance and asking staff to incorporate provisions for educational leaders and retired-flock handling. Staff said the ordinance will return for formal adoption on Dec. 16 and, if adopted, would take effect Feb. 1, 2026. The board emphasized education-first enforcement and targeted actions against large-scale commercial operations tied to suspected criminal activity.
The county will work with Napa Humane and law enforcement to clarify how animals will be handled during enforcement actions and to offer guidance to hobbyists seeking exemptions.
