Avian Flu Regulations in California: What Every Poultry Owner Needs to Know

California is home to one of the most active poultry industries in the United States, which means avian flu regulations here carry real weight — for commercial producers and backyard flock owners alike. Whether you keep a few backyard hens or manage a large commercial operation, understanding the state’s rules around highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is not optional.

This guide walks you through every major layer of California’s avian flu regulatory framework: how strains are classified, what registration and biosecurity rules apply to your flock, how to report sick or dead birds, what movement restrictions look like during an outbreak, and what happens if you fail to comply. Staying informed protects your birds, your neighbors’ flocks, and your ability to keep raising poultry in the state.

HPAI vs. LPAI: Understanding Avian Flu Classifications in California

Avian influenza (AI) viruses are not all created equal. Regulatory responses in California — and across the country — depend heavily on which strain is involved, so understanding the classification system is the foundation of everything else covered in this guide.

Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza (LPAI) is the more common form. Most AI strains are classified as LPAI and cause few clinical signs in infected birds. While LPAI may seem less urgent, it still triggers regulatory attention in California because of its mutation potential.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is the dangerous form. HPAI causes a severe illness with a high mortality rate among infected birds. The H5N1 strain of HPAI has been the dominant concern driving California’s regulatory posture since 2022.

The H5N1 strain responsible for the current wave has a broad host range. This nationwide outbreak of H5N1 Bird Flu began in poultry in 2022 and was first detected in US dairy cattle in March 2024. In California specifically, the virus has crossed species lines in notable ways, with detections confirmed in dairy cattle herds and, as of early 2026, in marine mammals along the coast.

Avian influenza is a highly contagious and often fatal disease in birds. The disease is spread through movement of infected or exposed birds, direct or indirect contact with infected wild and domestic birds, or contact with virus on fomites (surfaces) such as hands, shoes, clothing, or feet and fur of rodents and other animals. Knowing which classification applies to a detected case determines which regulatory tools the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) will deploy in response.

You can learn more about related avian diseases — including avian tuberculosis and avian chlamydiosis — that California poultry owners should also be aware of.

Premises Registration Requirements for Poultry Owners in California

One of the most practical steps you can take as a poultry owner in California is registering your premises with the CDFA. Registration helps state animal health officials locate and contact flock owners quickly when an outbreak occurs near your property.

Due to past avian influenza outbreaks, CDFA strongly urges all flock owners to register their location (voluntary) and adhere to strict biosecurity to prevent disease spread. For backyard flock owners, premises registration is currently voluntary — but that does not mean it is unimportant. Registered owners are among the first notified when movement restrictions or quarantine zones are established in their area.

Commercial poultry operations face a more structured registration landscape. The biosecurity materials reflect the items included in Standard E-Biosecurity Principles within the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) Official Program Standards. The Standard E-Biosecurity Principles apply to flocks that participate in the NPIP, which include, but are not limited to, broilers, turkeys, egg layers, commercial waterfowl, and upland gamebirds, that meet specified flock size requirements.

• To register a poultry premises in California, contact the CDFA Animal Health Branch directly at 916-900-5002 or email ahbfeedback@cdfa.ca.gov
• Commercial operations should also enroll in the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) through the CDFA
• Premises registration creates a record that enables faster response and contact tracing during outbreaks
• Registered premises in a Control Area may be eligible for movement permits that unregistered premises cannot obtain

Biosecurity Requirements for Commercial and Backyard Flocks in California

Biosecurity is the primary regulatory and practical tool California uses to prevent HPAI from spreading between flocks. The term “biosecurity” refers to a set of management and physical measures designed to reduce the risk of introduction, establishment and spread of animal diseases, infections or infestations to, from and within an animal population.

It is important that all commercial and non-commercial poultry owners maintain effective barriers to mitigate the risk of AI. The CDFA’s biosecurity expectations differ in scope between commercial and backyard operations, but the core principles apply to everyone.

Biosecurity for Commercial Flocks

Commercial producers are held to the most rigorous standards, particularly when it comes to indemnity eligibility. Poultry producers are now required to follow the Biosecurity Compliance Audit Program (BCAP) to receive indemnity payments if they become infected by HPAI. The goal of this program is to significantly reduce or even prevent HPAI infections and reinfections.

The audit process carries real consequences. Deficiencies identified mean the producer must correct them, a re-audit is required to assess remediations, and failure to pass means no indemnity payments for any future flocks until an audit is successfully passed. In short, failing a biosecurity audit does not just mean a warning — it means forfeiting financial compensation if your flock is later depopulated.

Disease risk cannot be completely eliminated from a poultry premises. Well before a disease outbreak event, premises management personnel, in consultation with a veterinarian, should conduct a biosecurity risk assessment of all facilities they manage and the biosecurity practices at each location.

Biosecurity for Backyard Flocks

Backyard flock owners are expected to follow the CDFA’s core biosecurity guidance at all times. Biosecurity measures must be practiced diligently, every day, without fail or exception to be effective. When obtaining birds, isolate them away from other birds for 30 days before adding them into your flock. This will reduce the risk of introducing disease into the original flock.

Your birds should not have contact with wild birds including game birds and migratory waterfowl, rodents, or insects, as these may carry disease. Detections are higher in the fall and spring, because wild birds continue to spread the virus as they migrate to their seasonal homes. Tightening your wild bird exclusion measures during migration seasons is one of the highest-impact steps you can take.

All operations are urged to increase biosecurity including cleaning and disinfection of vehicles used to transport animals, restriction of worker movement between poultry facilities, limiting visitor access to premises, and wild bird deterrence.

Reporting Sick or Dead Birds in California

California law makes disease reporting a legal obligation — not a courtesy. If you see signs of illness or unusual death in your flock, you are required to act quickly.

Under 3 CCR § 821.1 and CA Food & Agricultural Code § 9101, all poultry owners are legally required to report any unusual illness or high mortality rates in their flock to the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). This applies to both commercial producers and backyard flock owners without exception.

How to report:

1. Call the CDFA Sick Bird Hotline: 866-922-BIRD (2473) — available for all poultry owners statewide
2. Contact your accredited veterinarian, who can also initiate a report on your behalf
3. For unusual or suspicious dead wild birds, report to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife online

Clinical signs of HPAI include sudden death, trouble breathing, clear runny discharge from the nose, mouth, and eyes, lethargy, decreased food and water intake, swelling of the eyes, head, wattles, or combs, discolored or bruised comb, wattles, or legs, stumbling or falling, or a twisted neck. If you observe any combination of these signs — especially sudden or unexplained deaths — call the hotline immediately.

After you report, CDFA Animal Disease Emergency Responders will initiate an investigation. Under CA Food & Agricultural Code § 9574, state veterinarians are granted the authority to enter and inspect premises where animals are kept if a contagious disease is suspected. You are legally required to allow that inspection.

For wild bird concerns, report any unusual or suspicious dead wild birds to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife online. If you have questions about wildlife rehabilitation, contact the California Department of Fish and Wildlife directly through the Wildlife Health Lab Avian Investigations page.

California’s Current HPAI Status and Active Outbreak Zones

California’s HPAI situation in poultry has shifted significantly from the peak of the outbreak. Understanding the current landscape helps you assess your own risk level and compliance obligations.

There are currently no active infections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in California poultry flocks; however, California dairy cattle herds are still affected by the H5N1 virus. That said, the situation earlier in the 2025–2026 season was considerably more active. CDFA alert records show confirmed HPAI detections in commercial and backyard flocks across multiple counties during that period, including detections in Sonoma, Sutter, and Butte counties in early 2026.

Since California’s first detection of H5N1 Bird Flu in dairies, there have been a total of 766 infected dairies, with 630 of those affected fully recovered and released from quarantine. Dairies that have been released from quarantine are not simply cleared and forgotten — all quarantine-released dairies will be placed on a surveillance list for bi-monthly testing through creameries to maintain continued monitoring of the virus in California.

The exhibition landscape has also shifted. CDFA lifted the statewide ban on poultry and dairy cattle exhibitions at fairs and shows, effective December 19, 2025. However, conditions can change rapidly. Although California is currently disease-free from HPAI in poultry, due to the increased number of re-infections in California dairies, the ban on all California Poultry and Dairy Cattle Exhibitions at Shows and Fairs remains in place according to earlier CDFA notices — check the CDFA Avian Influenza page directly for the most current exhibition status, as this has changed multiple times.

For real-time poultry flock detection data, the USDA APHIS confirmed detections page tracks commercial and backyard flock cases nationwide, updated regularly. For California-specific dairy and livestock data, the CDPH’s Current Bird Flu Situation dashboard is the authoritative source.

Poultry Movement and Quarantine Restrictions in California

Movement restrictions are among the most immediate and operationally disruptive regulatory tools California deploys when HPAI is confirmed. If you move poultry, eggs, or related products for any reason — sale, exhibition, processing, or relocation — you need to understand how these restrictions work.

Quarantines are placed on individual infected premises and not the entire county. This is an important distinction. A county-level movement restriction does not mean every flock in that county is quarantined — it means movement of birds and poultry products within and out of the county requires permits or is prohibited pending investigation.

When an outbreak is confirmed, CDFA and USDA APHIS establish a Control Area around the infected premises. This typically includes:

• A Restricted Zone (typically within 3 km of the infected premises) where movement is most tightly controlled
• A Control Zone (typically within 10 km) where movement requires permits and enhanced biosecurity compliance
• Surveillance testing requirements for flocks within the Control Area before any movement is permitted

In counties with high egg production — specifically Riverside, Merced, and Stanislaus — the CDFA can impose emergency “Stop Movement” orders during disease spikes. These orders can halt all poultry movement in affected areas on very short notice.

Interstate movement carries its own layer of requirements. Lactating dairy cattle moving interstate from California require a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection and a negative HPAI test within seven days of movement. For poultry specifically, birds and products from HPAI Control Areas require permits to enter California, and similar permit requirements apply to outbound movement from active Control Areas.

Birds and their products from HPAI Control Areas require permits to enter California. If you are purchasing birds from out of state, verify the origin county’s HPAI status before completing the transaction. Bringing birds from an active Control Area without proper permits exposes you to significant legal and financial risk.

Similar regulatory frameworks govern other animal-related activities in California. If you also manage horses, it is worth reviewing horse boarding regulations and the comparable Wisconsin boarding rules to understand how state-level animal health regulations typically operate across species.

Flock Depopulation and Compensation Rules in California

If HPAI is confirmed in your flock, depopulation — the euthanasia of all birds on the affected premises — is the standard regulatory response. This is not discretionary. This HPAI virus spreads easily between birds and is lethal to poultry, so infected flocks are quarantined and euthanized, followed by cleaning and disinfection of the property.

When HPAI is found in domestic poultry, the typical outcome is that all birds are euthanized. The speed of this response is intentional — every hour of delay increases the risk of spread to neighboring premises.

Federal Indemnity Through USDA APHIS

Compensation for depopulated flocks flows primarily through the federal indemnity program administered by USDA APHIS, with CDFA playing a coordinating role. USDA is investing $1 billion in a comprehensive strategy to curb HPAI, protect the U.S. poultry industry, and lower egg prices. A portion of this investment supports producer compensation programs.

However, receiving indemnity is not automatic. Biosecurity compliance is a prerequisite. Failure to pass the BCAP biosecurity audit means no indemnity payments for any future flocks until an audit is successfully passed, and no compensation for birds lost to depopulation. Producers who have not undergone or passed their BCAP audit before an infection occurs may find themselves ineligible for federal compensation entirely.

The compensation process generally follows these steps:

1. HPAI confirmed by USDA NVSL laboratory testing
2. CDFA and USDA APHIS coordinate on-site depopulation
3. Premises cleaned and disinfected under official supervision
4. BCAP biosecurity audit completed (or reviewed if previously completed)
5. Indemnity claim submitted to USDA APHIS for appraisal of bird values
6. Compensation paid based on fair market value of depopulated birds and eggs

USDA provides free, voluntary biosecurity assessments for commercial operations not affected by HPAI, biosecurity audits for commercial operations affected by HPAI or operating in a control area, and cost share of up to 75 percent to fix the highest-risk biosecurity concerns identified by the assessments. Taking advantage of the free pre-infection assessment is one of the most financially protective steps a commercial producer can take.

Penalties for Non-Compliance in California

California’s avian flu regulatory framework is backed by enforceable law. Failing to meet your obligations as a poultry owner — whether that means not reporting sick birds, violating movement restrictions, or obstructing an official inspection — carries legal and financial consequences.

The primary statutory authority for penalties is found in the California Food and Agricultural Code. Division 5 of the Food and Agricultural Code governs Animal and Poultry Quarantine and Pest Control, covering Diseased Animals and Poultry under Chapter 1, General Provisions, with Article 1 addressing Reports (§ 9101) and Article 4 addressing Violations and Penalties (§§ 9161–9169).

Key areas of legal exposure for poultry owners include:

• Failure to report: Violating CA Food & Agricultural Code § 9101 by not reporting unusual illness or mortality exposes you to civil and criminal penalties under §§ 9161–9169
• Obstruction of inspection: Refusing a state veterinarian access to your premises under CA Food & Agricultural Code § 9574 is a separate violation
• Movement violations: Moving birds, eggs, or poultry products out of a quarantine zone or Control Area without a permit is a direct violation of quarantine orders and can result in fines and mandatory depopulation at the owner’s expense
• Loss of indemnity: Non-compliance with BCAP biosecurity standards disqualifies you from federal compensation — this is effectively a financial penalty that can reach the full market value of your flock

Beyond individual penalties, non-compliance during an active outbreak can trigger broader regulatory responses. If your failure to report allows HPAI to spread to neighboring flocks, CDFA has authority under Division 5 to pursue cost recovery for the state’s response activities. The financial exposure from a single unreported detection can far exceed any inconvenience associated with making the call.

Stay current with CDFA updates by bookmarking the CDFA Avian Influenza page and the CDFA Animal Alerts page, which publishes new detections and restriction changes as they occur. For federal-level guidance on biosecurity and indemnity, the USDA APHIS HPAI in Poultry page is the definitive resource.

Understanding avian flu regulations is part of the broader responsibility that comes with keeping animals in California. Whether you are managing a commercial flock or a small backyard operation, the rules exist to protect everyone — your birds, your neighbors’ animals, and the state’s agricultural economy. Staying registered, staying biosecure, and staying informed are the three most effective things you can do right now.