Keeping pet quail in California is legal, but which species you choose decides whether you need a license. Coturnix quail (also called Japanese quail) can be kept, bred, and their eggs eaten without any state wildlife permit. California’s three native species — Mountain Quail, California Quail, and Gambel’s Quail — are a different matter: possessing any of them requires a Domestic Game Breeder’s License, and trapping one from the wild is illegal outright.
Which Quail You Can Keep Without a Permit
Coturnix quail sit outside the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s game bird jurisdiction because they don’t exist in the wild anywhere in California. CDFW does not classify them as a game bird and does not list them under the Domestic Game Breeder’s License.1State of California Department of Fish and Wildlife. California Outdoors Q&A – Can I Keep and Raise Quail as Domesticated Game Birds? You can buy them, keep them in your yard, hatch their eggs, and eat the eggs with no state paperwork. That’s the main reason Coturnix are the standard choice for backyard keepers in the state.
Bobwhite quail also don’t naturally live in the wild in California — their native range covers the eastern and central United States — so they likely fall outside the game breeder licensing requirement as well. CDFW’s published guidance specifically names only Coturnix, so if you plan to keep Bobwhites, confirm with CDFW directly before buying.
The native species are protected under multiple state laws. Fish and Game Code Section 3513 makes it illegal to take or possess any migratory bird designated under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and all three native quail species fall under that umbrella.2California Legislative Information. California Code, FGC 3513 Section 3503 separately protects the nests and eggs of all birds in the state.3California.Public.Law. California Fish and Game Code Section 3503 A California Quail that wanders into your yard is not a bird you can keep.
When a Domestic Game Breeder’s License Is Required
If you want to keep any of California’s native quail species in captivity, state law requires a Domestic Game Breeder’s License once you’ve had the birds for more than 30 days.4California Legislative Information. California Code, FGC 3200 The requirement applies whether you’re breeding commercially or just keeping a few pet birds. The 30-day clock starts when you acquire the bird.
For 2026, the license comes in two classes. A Class 1 license costs $28.84 and covers operations selling 175 or fewer ring-necked pheasants annually, or keeping other game birds at a comparable scale. A Class 2 license runs $143.17 for larger operations. Both fees include a nonrefundable 3% application surcharge capped at $7.50.5State of California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Domesticated Game Breeder’s License
Several conditions ride with the license:
- You must obtain your birds from another licensed game breeder. Trapping wild quail to start a flock is illegal.1State of California Department of Fish and Wildlife. California Outdoors Q&A – Can I Keep and Raise Quail as Domesticated Game Birds?
- You must report the live birds in your possession each year.1State of California Department of Fish and Wildlife. California Outdoors Q&A – Can I Keep and Raise Quail as Domesticated Game Birds?
- You cannot sell any game bird carcasses without holding a valid license, even if you initially kept the birds just as pets.5State of California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Domesticated Game Breeder’s License
If you stick to Coturnix as pets, none of this applies.
Penalties for Keeping Native Quail Illegally
Getting caught with native quail you aren’t licensed to possess is not treated as a minor paperwork issue. Violating the nest and egg protections under Section 3503 carries a fine of up to $5,000, up to six months in county jail, or both. Other Fish and Game Code misdemeanors without a specific penalty assigned carry a default fine of up to $1,000 and up to six months in jail.6California Legislative Information. California Fish and Game Code Section 12002 Set against a license fee under $30, the comparison is lopsided.
You Can’t Release Quail Into the Wild
If you can no longer keep your birds, turning them loose outside is not a legal option. California regulations require written permission from the Fish and Game Commission before releasing any non-native wild animal, including domestically reared birds that could be diseased, genetically harmful to native wildlife, or not previously established in the state before 1955.7Cornell Law School. Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 14, Section 671.6 – Release of Animals into the Wild
The regulation specifically names Coturnix and Bobwhite quail: releasing either into the wild requires a valid permit signed by the CDFW director before the release.7Cornell Law School. Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 14, Section 671.6 – Release of Animals into the Wild If you need to part with your flock, rehome the birds to another keeper. Domesticated quail released into unfamiliar habitat have no survival instincts against wild predators, so a “release” is usually a death sentence anyway.
City Rules and HOA Restrictions
Clearing state law is only part of the picture. Local municipal codes and zoning regulations can add their own rules about domestic fowl, and CDFW explicitly directs quail owners to check local laws.1State of California Department of Fish and Wildlife. California Outdoors Q&A – Can I Keep and Raise Quail as Domesticated Game Birds? Many California cities cap the number of birds you can keep, set minimum distances between coops and property lines, restrict males because of noise, or require a small annual permit.
If a homeowners association governs your neighborhood, the CC&Rs may prohibit poultry entirely even where your city allows it. HOA rules are private contracts and can be stricter than local ordinances about what you keep on your property. Violations can bring fines or forced removal of your birds. Read your CC&Rs before buying any quail.
Male Coturnix quail crow. They’re quieter than roosters, but the sound still carries in early morning and can bother close neighbors. Keeping only hens is the more neighbor-friendly route if you don’t plan to breed.
Disease Reporting and Biosecurity
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and virulent Newcastle Disease (VND) have hit California bird populations in recent years. The California Department of Food and Agriculture runs a Sick Bird Hotline at 1-866-922-BIRD (2473) and asks bird owners to report signs of illness promptly.8California Department of Food and Agriculture. Backyard Biosecurity for Poultry Early reporting is what keeps a local problem from becoming a regional one.
The USDA’s basic biosecurity steps for home flocks:9USDA APHIS. Protect Your Poultry From Avian Influenza
- Wash hands and scrub boots before and after handling your birds. Disposable boot covers help if visitors need access.
- Quarantine newly purchased birds or any bird returning from a show for 30 days before adding them to your existing flock.
- Keep migratory waterfowl and other wild birds away from your enclosure. Secure feed bins and water sources so wildlife can’t contaminate them.
- Limit who comes onto your property and has contact with your flock. Other poultry owners are a common disease vector.
If you plan to sell birds, ship hatching eggs, or exhibit at shows, look into the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP). Quail are eligible, and participation requires testing your flock for Salmonella Pullorum and Salmonella Gallinarum through your state’s Official State Agent.10NPIP. NPIP Home Certification can simplify interstate movement of your birds and may provide indemnity in a confirmed outbreak.