Can I Raise Chickens or Livestock on High Desert Land?

Maybe you want a few backyard chickens.

Maybe you're picturing goats, sheep or other livestock.

Or maybe the dream is a few acres in the California High Desert where you can grow some food, raise animals and have considerably more space between you and your neighbors.

Whatever the plan, there's an important question to answer before buying the property:

Can you actually keep those animals there?

The answer depends on more than acreage. Zoning, parcel size, location, setbacks and the type and number of animals can all matter.

And because different rules can apply in Joshua Tree, Yucca Valley, Twentynine Palms and surrounding unincorporated communities, don't assume that what is allowed on one High Desert property will automatically be allowed on another.

Can I Have Chickens on My High Desert Property?

Chickens are one of the most common questions from buyers interested in a more rural High Desert lifestyle.

And it's easy to understand why.

You don't necessarily need a full-scale farm. Some buyers simply want enough room for a coop, a small flock and fresh eggs.

But before buying a property specifically because you want chickens, check the applicable animal-keeping regulations.

The rules may depend on:

• The property's zoning
• Parcel size
• Number of chickens
• Location of the coop or enclosure
• Required setbacks from neighboring homes and property lines
• Whether you intend to keep animals for personal or commercial purposes

A large lot may give you more options, but large does not automatically mean unrestricted.

Can I Keep Goats, Sheep or Other Livestock?

Potentially, but the type of animal matters.

San Bernardino County's Development Code contains animal-keeping standards for residential properties in unincorporated areas of the County. Those standards address animal types, parcel requirements, enclosures and where animals can be kept in relation to neighboring properties.

Larger livestock generally requires more space than a few chickens or other small animals.

That's why a buyer shouldn't simply ask:

"Is livestock allowed?"

A better question is:

"Can I keep the specific animals and number of animals I want on this particular parcel?"

If your dream includes four goats, twelve chickens and a couple of horses, say exactly that when verifying the property's permitted uses.

Does Having Five Acres Mean I Can Raise Whatever I Want?

No.

This is one of the biggest misconceptions about High Desert acreage.

A five-acre parcel certainly looks like a lot of land, particularly to someone moving from a suburban neighborhood.

But acreage and zoning are two different things.

You could find two five-acre parcels that appear almost identical on a map but have different land-use considerations.

That's why I recommend looking beyond the acreage advertised in the listing.

Before buying land for animals, determine:

What is the zoning?

Which jurisdiction controls the property?

Are the animals I want permitted?

Are there limits on the number of animals?

Can I meet the required setbacks?

Those answers are considerably more important than seeing "5 ACRES!" written across a real estate advertisement.

What Are Animal Setbacks?

This is something buyers sometimes don't consider until they start planning where to put a coop, pen or corral.

Animal-keeping regulations can require animals and their enclosures to be a certain distance from property lines, roads or neighboring residences.

For example, San Bernardino County's animal-keeping standards for unincorporated areas include requirements involving distances from adjoining structures used for human habitation, as well as property-line and right-of-way considerations.

That can make the shape and configuration of a parcel surprisingly important.

A long narrow parcel may contain plenty of acreage but provide fewer practical locations for animal facilities than a more regularly shaped parcel.

Before buying, think about where the animals will actually go—not merely whether the parcel is technically large enough.

Can I Raise Chickens or Livestock in Joshua Tree?

Joshua Tree is an unincorporated community, which means San Bernardino County generally regulates land use and zoning rather than a separate Joshua Tree city government.

But that doesn't mean every Joshua Tree property has the same animal-keeping rights.

Properties can have different zoning classifications, parcel sizes and development limitations.

If raising chickens or livestock is an important reason you're buying the property, verify the zoning using the property's Assessor's Parcel Number (APN) and confirm that your intended use is allowed.

Don't rely solely on the mailing address or the description in the real estate listing.

What About Chickens and Livestock in Yucca Valley?

Yucca Valley is incorporated and has its own Development Code, so don't assume the County rules for neighboring unincorporated areas apply inside Town limits.

Yucca Valley also has a Large Animal Overlay District, which makes the exact location of the property particularly important for buyers planning to keep larger animals.

A Yucca Valley property with a rural appearance and a large lot may look perfect for animals, but its zoning and any applicable overlay should still be checked before purchasing.

The same advice applies here:

Verify the property, not the appearance of the neighborhood.

Can I Raise Animals in Twentynine Palms?

Twentynine Palms presents the same jurisdiction question.

Properties within the incorporated City of Twentynine Palms are subject to City regulations, while properties outside the city limits generally fall under San Bernardino County.

And a Twentynine Palms mailing address doesn't necessarily answer that question.

This distinction matters when you're buying property for a particular use.

If chickens, goats, horses or other livestock are part of your plans, determine which jurisdiction controls the parcel and verify the applicable animal-keeping requirements before buying.

What About Landers, Wonder Valley and Other High Desert Areas?

One reason people look outside the incorporated areas is the availability of larger rural parcels.

Communities such as Landers, Wonder Valley and other parts of the Morongo Basin can offer considerably more space than buyers may be accustomed to elsewhere in Southern California.

But rural does not mean there are no rules.

Much of this land is located in unincorporated San Bernardino County and is still subject to County zoning and development standards.

And the farther out you go, another set of practical considerations becomes increasingly important.

Water Matters When You're Keeping Animals

If you're planning to raise animals, water isn't merely a future building question.

It's an everyday necessity.

Is the property connected to a public water system?

Does it have a private well?

Would you need hauled water?

How much water will your animals require?

Where will it be stored?

A remote five- or ten-acre parcel may be inexpensive, but supplying water to animals every day can turn an inexpensive property into a very different proposition.

Always investigate the water situation before buying High Desert land.

Don't Forget About Power

Chickens don't need an electric bill.

Their owners sometimes do.

Depending on what you're planning, electricity may be needed for lighting, pumps, heaters, cooling, security systems or other equipment.

If a listing says "power nearby," find out what that actually means.

Seeing a utility pole somewhere in the distance doesn't necessarily mean connecting power to your property will be inexpensive or easy.

Access Can Become a Bigger Issue Than You Expect

A remote property may look wonderful when you visit on a sunny afternoon.

But think about everyday life.

Can you easily bring in feed?

Can a truck reach the property?

What happens after heavy rain?

Will you need a trailer?

Is the road publicly maintained, privately maintained or essentially just a desert trail?

If you're keeping animals, reliable access becomes more important because you'll be traveling to and from the property regularly and bringing supplies with you.

What About Coyotes and Other Desert Wildlife?

If you're planning to keep chickens or smaller animals, don't forget where you're moving.

This is the desert.

Coyotes and other wildlife are part of the environment.

A flimsy enclosure that might work somewhere else may not provide adequate protection here.

Think carefully about secure coops, fencing and enclosures before bringing animals onto the property.

The goal isn't merely keeping your animals in.

Sometimes the bigger challenge is keeping desert predators out.

Can I Sell Eggs, Board Animals or Operate a Small Farm?

That's a different question.

Keeping animals for your own enjoyment or household use isn't necessarily treated the same way as operating a commercial business.

Selling agricultural products, breeding animals commercially, boarding livestock, running a poultry operation or conducting other business activities may trigger additional zoning, permitting or licensing requirements.

San Bernardino County, for example, distinguishes some commercial animal uses from ordinary accessory residential animal keeping.

If income generation is part of your plan, tell the applicable planning department exactly what you intend to do before buying the property.

Don't Assume "Rural" Means You Can Do Anything

This may be the most important thing for prospective High Desert buyers to understand.

The landscape can create an illusion of unlimited freedom.

You see five acres of empty desert, no house next door and miles of open space and naturally think:

Who is going to care what I do out here?

But land is still subject to zoning, building codes and land-use regulations.

The better approach is to decide what you want to do before buying and then look for property that fits those plans.

How Do I Check Whether Animals Are Allowed?

Start with the property's APN.

For property in unincorporated San Bernardino County, you can use the County's zoning resources to identify the property's zoning and then review the animal-keeping standards that apply.

For property within Yucca Valley or Twentynine Palms, check with the appropriate municipal planning department.

Be specific.

Instead of asking:

"Can I have livestock?"

ask something like:

"I'm considering buying this parcel and want to keep ten chickens and three goats for personal use. Is that permitted, and what setbacks or enclosure requirements would apply?"

That gives the planner enough information to provide a much more useful answer.

Buying High Desert Land for a Homestead?

For some buyers, the appeal of High Desert land isn't simply owning acreage.

It's what they want that acreage to make possible.

A garden.

Chickens.

A few goats.

Horses.

A workshop.

An off-grid home.

Or simply enough room to live a little differently.

If that's what you're looking for, start your property search with your intended use, not just a price and number of acres.

A cheap parcel isn't a bargain if you can't use it for the reason you bought it.

Looking for High Desert Land?

I specialize in land and real estate throughout Joshua Tree, Yucca Valley, Twentynine Palms and the surrounding Morongo Basin.

If you're looking for property where you can keep chickens, livestock or other animals, tell me what you're trying to create.

The goal isn't just to find you some land. It's to find land that makes sense for what you want to do with it.

 

Dawn Anderson is a California real estate broker serving buyers and sellers in the High Desert. This information is provided for general educational purposes and is not legal, planning, zoning, surveying, engineering, environmental, water, wastewater, utility, investment or permitting advice. San Bernardino County zoning and development standards can change, and map suffixes, overlays, community plans, environmental regulations and parcel-specific conditions may modify general standards. Buyers should independently verify the complete zoning designation, permitted uses and proposed project with San Bernardino County and appropriately qualified professionals before purchasing or developing property.