Coop Ready Oregon
Oregon backyard chicken laws
Usually yes, but it depends on the city or county. Of the 12 places in Oregon we have checked, 12 allow backyard hens on a typical home lot.
In Oregon, chicken rules are set by each city, and by the county for land outside city limits. Find your place below for its hen limit, rooster rule, permit and coop distance, each linked to the code we read.
Places checked
12
Hens on a typical lot
12 of 12
Ban roosters
10 of 12
Need a permit or approval
2 of 12
State law in Oregon: We found no Oregon state law that limits what cities and counties can decide about backyard hens, so each city and county sets its own rules.
Chicken laws by city in Oregon
| Place | Verdict | Hen limit | Roosters | Permit | Coop placement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashland, OR | Hens allowed | 5 on lots up to 5,000 sq ft; 1 per 1,000 sq ft above that, up to 20 | Banned | No | Coop at least 10 ft from neighboring properties and 20 ft from homes on adjoining lots |
| Beaverton, OR | Hens allowed | 4 (lots of 5,000 sq ft or more) | Banned | No | Enclosure at least 20 ft from a neighboring home; not in the front yard |
| Bend, OR | Hens allowed | 4 hens and rabbits combined (lots of 5,000 sq ft or more) | Banned | No | No chicken coop distance stated |
| Corvallis, OR | Hens allowed | No number set | Not banned; animal noise rule applies | No | No coop setback in the code |
| Eugene, OR | Hens allowed | 6 adults plus 6 young birds (lots under 20,000 sq ft) | Banned | No | Shelter at least 10 ft from all property lines (a neighbor can approve closer in writing) |
| Gresham, OR | Allowed with a permit | 3 | Banned | Yes: a city permit, renewed every 2 years | Coop and run at least 10 ft from property lines; coop 25 ft from homes on other lots |
| Hillsboro, OR | Allowed with a permit | 3 on 7,000 to 10,000 sq ft; 6 up to 1 acre; 9 over 1 acre | Banned | Yes: a livestock permit | Enclosure at least 10 ft from any property line, behind the front of the house |
| Lake Oswego, OR | Hens allowed | No set limit | Not named; animal noise rule applies | No | Zoning setbacks for the coop; ask Planning |
| Medford, OR | Hens allowed | No set limit | Banned | No | Pen, run or coop at least 4 ft from abutting property lines and out of the front yard setback |
| Portland, OR | Hens allowed | 4 (6 on lots of 10,000 sq ft or more) | Banned | No | 3 ft from side and rear lines, 10 ft from the front |
| Salem, OR | Hens allowed | 12 poultry total | Banned | No | Rear yard, at least 25 ft from a home on an adjacent lot |
| Tigard, OR | Hens allowed | No set limit | Banned (over 3 months old) | No | Shelter at least 5 ft from all lot lines (fenced runs are exempt) |
Will your coop fit?
Draw your lot, your house and your neighbor's house on a satellite map, drop in a coop, and Coop Ready checks the distances against your Oregon city's rules. Then share the plan or print a free permit site plan.
Oregon backyard chicken questions
Can you have backyard chickens in Oregon?
Usually yes, but it depends on the city or county. Of the 12 places in Oregon we have checked, 12 allow backyard hens on a typical home lot. Check your exact city or county, because the rules differ a lot from place to place.
Who sets chicken rules in Oregon?
Each Oregon city sets its own chicken rules. Outside city limits, the county's zoning and land use code decides.
Is there a Oregon state law on backyard chickens?
We found no Oregon state law that limits what cities and counties can decide about backyard hens, so each city and county sets its own rules.
Are roosters allowed in Oregon?
10 of the 12 places we checked in Oregon ban roosters on typical home lots. Check your city's page for its exact rule.
Can an HOA in Oregon ban chickens?
No Oregon statute overrides HOA rules on chickens. Bills to stop HOAs from banning hen-keeping (SB 437 in 2023 and SB 59 in 2025) did not become law, so your covenants still apply.
Keeping a healthy Oregon flock
Report sick or dead domestic birds to the Oregon Department of Agriculture's State Veterinarian at 503-986-4711 (or 1-800-347-7028). Visit the official page ↗
More from Coop Ready
- Rooster laws by city
- Cities that ban chickens
- HOA chicken rules
- Coop setback rules
- Permit site plan checklist
- Arizona chicken laws
- California chicken laws
- Colorado chicken laws
- Florida chicken laws
- Georgia chicken laws
- Texas chicken laws
- Washington chicken laws
See every city on Coop Ready →
Coop Ready is a free planning aid from Cooped Up Life, not legal advice. Codes change, and zoning, HOA rules and your exact parcel can change what is allowed. Confirm with your city or county before you build.
