Marin County · CA
Can you keep backyard chickens in Novato, CA?
Yes, up to 12. Novato permits 12 or fewer hens by right in its rural and lower-density residential zones, with 13 or more needing a Use Permit, and it prohibits roosters (Novato Municipal Code 19.34.060, Table 3-13). There's no minimum lot size, but there is a 10-foot setback. Novato's bigger, flatter, sunnier lots make it one of the easier Marin towns for a generous flock, though the inland heat means shade and water planning carry real weight.
Novato, CA · at a glance
- Hens allowed
- 12 or fewer by right in the rural/residential zones; 13 or more requires a Use Permit (Muni Code 19.34.060, Table 3-13)
- Roosters
- Not permitted
- Setback
- 10 ft
- Permit
- None for 12 or fewer in the permitted zones; Use Permit for 13 or more. No minimum lot size
- HOA
- Check your CC&Rs
Confirmed against Novato's municipal code. Your personalized report applies it to your exact parcel. Sources: sananselmo-ca.granicus.com · Novato Municipal Code 19.34.060, Table 3-13 · patch.com
Novato is Marin's northern, rural-edged town, with the biggest lots and the most room for a real flock. The trade for that space is heat: Novato bakes in late summer in a way the rest of Marin doesn't. We build for the space and plan hard for the sun.
Setbacks and placement
Novato's larger lots give real placement freedom, which we use to put the henhouse where afternoon shade and airflow are best, not just where it fits. On the rural edges around Indian Valley and Black Point, coyote and fox pressure is higher, so the buried apron and a fully enclosed run earn their keep. We orient for summer heat first.
Neighbors
With more space between homes, Novato flocks rarely raise neighbor concerns. Keeping the rooster out, which the rules require, and the henhouse clean keeps it that way.
Climate
Novato is the hottest corner of Marin. Inland and shielded from the coast, summer afternoons regularly hit the 90s, so a Novato henhouse lives or dies on shade, cross-ventilation and cool water. Winters are mild and wet like the rest of the county.
Predators in Novato
The local predators worth planning for are Coyotes, Hawks, Raccoons, Skunks, Foxes. Every Modern Hen install is built to handle them: half-inch hardware cloth on every opening, a buried apron, a hardware-cloth ceiling and two-step latches a raccoon can't open.
A quick-start checklist
- Keep 12 or fewer hens by right (13 or more needs a Use Permit); no minimum lot size, 10-ft setback
- Read your CC&Rs if you're in an HOA
- Plan for heat first: deep shade, strong cross-ventilation and cool water
- Predator-proof for coyotes and foxes, especially on the rural edges
- Choose hens that handle inland warmth
- Set a daily routine with a summer water check
Want the exact rules for your address?
We'll read your municipal code and send a plain-language report on what's allowed at your parcel. One email, no follow-ups.