The Napa County Board of Supervisors has moved to tighten rules on keeping roosters in unincorporated areas of the county in an effort to curb nuisances and reduce the risk of illegal cockfighting.
Under the new ordinance, residents with lots smaller than half an acre will no longer be able to keep any roosters. Properties between half an acre and 1.5 acres may have one rooster, and lots over 1.5 acres can keep up to four.
The restrictions were approved unanimously and take effect on February 1, 2026.
The aim of the changes is to limit public nuisance and the potential for birds to be raised or used for cockfighting, while still allowing exemptions for legitimate agricultural operations that meet inspection requirements.
The revisions update earlier rules that permitted far higher rooster counts and bring unincorporated Napa County more in line with similar local city regulations.
