Quick answer
You can keep backyard hens in 46 of the 50 largest US cities. Only Philadelphia, Fresno, Virginia Beach and Bakersfield ban hens on typical home lots. Roosters are another story: 28 of the 50 cities ban them outright.
- 14 cities require a permit before you get hens, from $25 to $100.
- The most common hen limit is 6 to 8 birds.
- New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Austin set no hen limit at all.
- Coop setbacks range from none to 100 feet or more from a neighbor’s home.
Can you have chickens in city limits? In most big US cities, yes, but the rules change a lot from one city to the next. We read the municipal codes and city animal services pages for the 50 largest US cities to find out how many hens you can keep, whether roosters are allowed, whether you need a permit and how far the coop must sit from your neighbors.
Laws change, and HOA rules or deed restrictions can be stricter than city code. Check the linked source for your city before you buy chicks. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Want the rules for one city, or to test a coop spot in your own yard? Use Coop Ready, our free city rule finder and satellite map coop planner. Want more than 50 cities? Jump to the full dataset and download it.
How many big cities allow backyard chickens?
31 cities let you keep hens without any permit as long as you follow the limits and setbacks. Another 14 require a permit, and Las Vegas requires written consent from each neighbor next to you. Only 4 of the 50 cities keep hens off ordinary residential lots.
Which cities ban backyard chickens?
| City | Rule |
|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA | Chickens only on parcels of 3 acres or more |
| Fresno, CA | No farm animals, including chickens, in residential zones |
| Virginia Beach, VA | Fowl only in agricultural zoning |
| Bakersfield, CA | Fowl only in agricultural or suburban residential zones; a 2020 hen ordinance was rescinded in 2021 |
Two more cities allow hens on paper but make them hard on a typical lot. Miami city code requires coops to be 100 feet from any home, and Washington, DC requires 50 feet from homes plus a DC Health permit.
Can you have chickens in your city? Search all 50
| City | Hens allowed? | Hen limit | Roosters | Permit | Coop setback | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | Yes | No set limit | Banned | No | None stated | City rules |
| Los Angeles, CA | Yes | No set limit | 1 allowed | No | 35 ft from neighbor home | City rules |
| Chicago, IL | Yes | No set limit | Allowed | No | None stated | City rules |
| Houston, TX | Yes | 30 in city code | Allowed (state law) | No | 100 ft in code; state law limits enforcement | City rules |
| Phoenix, AZ | Yes | 6 (half acre or less) | Banned if noisy | No | 20 ft from property line | City rules |
| Philadelphia, PA | No | Only on 3 acres or more | Banned | Not available | Not applicable | City rules |
| San Antonio, TX | Yes | 8 | 1 allowed | Over 8 | None stated for 8 or fewer | City rules |
| San Diego, CA | Yes | 5 to 25 by setback | Banned | No | Rear yard; 5 ft side, 13 ft rear | City rules |
| Dallas, TX | Yes | Not stated | Allowed (state law) | Not stated | None stated | City rules |
| Jacksonville, FL | Yes, with permit | 5 (lots up to 1 acre) | Banned | $25 permit plus class | Rear yard, screened | City rules |
| Fort Worth, TX | Yes | 12 (half acre or less) | Up to 2, counted in limit | No | 50 ft from other homes | City rules |
| San Jose, CA | Yes | 6 (up to 20 with permit) | Banned | Over 6 | 20 ft from neighbor home | City rules |
| Austin, TX | Yes | No set limit | Allowed (noise rule) | Not stated | 30 ft from neighbor building | City rules |
| Charlotte, NC | Yes, with permit | 20 per acre | Allowed with permit | $40 per year | 25 ft from property lines | City rules |
| Columbus, OH | Yes, with permit | Set by coop space | Banned | $100 per 4 years | None stated | City rules |
| Indianapolis, IN | Yes | 12 birds | 1 allowed | Over 12 | Not in front yard | City rules |
| San Francisco, CA | Yes | 4 animals total | Not stated | Coop approval | 20 ft from doors and windows | City rules |
| Seattle, WA | Yes | 8 | Banned | No | 10 ft from neighbor home | City rules |
| Denver, CO | Yes, with permit | 8 | Banned | $25 one time | Rear half of lot | City rules |
| Oklahoma City, OK | Yes | 6 | Banned | No | 30 ft from neighbor home | City rules |
| Nashville, TN | Yes, with permit | 2 to 6 by lot size | Banned | Annual permit | 25 ft from other homes | City rules |
| Washington, DC | Yes, with permit | Not stated | Not stated | DC Health permit | 50 ft from homes | City rules |
| El Paso, TX | Yes | 5 (more with permit) | Up to 3 | 6 or more | 30 ft for permitted flocks | City rules |
| Las Vegas, NV | Yes, with neighbor consent | 10 | Banned | Neighbor consent | 20 ft from neighbor homes | City rules |
| Boston, MA | Yes, with permit | 6 | Banned | Yearly ISD permit | Rear yard; 5 ft from lines | City rules |
| Detroit, MI | Yes, with permit | 8 | Banned | $50 per year | 30 ft from neighbor homes | City rules |
| Louisville, KY | Yes | 5 (under half acre) | 1 (under half acre) | Not stated | Not stated | City rules |
| Portland, OR | Yes | 4 (6 on lots 10,000 sq ft+) | Banned | No | 3 ft side/rear, 10 ft front | City rules |
| Memphis, TN | Under review | Under review | Under review | Under review | Under review | City rules |
| Baltimore, MD | Yes, with permit | 4 to 10 by lot size | Banned | Animal Control permit | 15 ft from homes | City rules |
| Milwaukee, WI | Yes, with permit | 4 | Banned | $35.56 one time | 25 ft from neighbor homes | City rules |
| Albuquerque, NM | Yes | 15 | 1 allowed | Not stated | None stated | City rules |
| Tucson, AZ | Yes | By lot size | Banned | Not stated | 20 ft from neighbor home | City rules |
| Fresno, CA | No | Not in residential zones | Banned | Not available | Not applicable | City rules |
| Sacramento, CA | Yes, with permit | 3 | Banned | $47 plus $20 per hen yearly | 20 ft from neighbor home | City rules |
| Mesa, AZ | Yes | 10 (first half acre) | Allowed unless noisy | Not stated | 40 ft run, 75 ft coop | City rules |
| Atlanta, GA | Yes | 25 | Not stated | Not stated | 50 ft from other homes | City rules |
| Kansas City, MO | Yes | 15 | Banned within 300 ft of homes | No | 100 ft from other homes | City rules |
| Colorado Springs, CO | Yes | 10 | Banned | Not stated | Zoning rules | City rules |
| Omaha, NE | Yes, with permit | 10 | Banned | $75 county permit | 30 ft from neighbor homes | City rules |
| Raleigh, NC | Under review | Under review | Under review | Under review | Under review | City rules |
| Miami, FL | Yes, with permit | 15 | Banned | County health permit | 100 ft from any home | City rules |
| Virginia Beach, VA | No | Agricultural zones only | Banned | Not available | Not applicable | City rules |
| Long Beach, CA | Yes | 20 (4 without permit) | Banned | 5 or more | 10 ft for 1 to 4 hens | City rules |
| Oakland, CA | Yes | No set limit | Banned | No | 20 ft from homes | City rules |
| Minneapolis, MN | Yes, with permit | 6 | Special permit only | $32 per year | 20 ft from neighbor buildings | City rules |
| Bakersfield, CA | No | Not on typical home lots | Banned | Not available | Not applicable | City rules |
| Tulsa, OK | Yes | 6 | Not stated | No | 50 ft from neighbor home | City rules |
| Tampa, FL | Yes | 1 per 1,000 sq ft of lot | Banned | No | Accessory structure rules | City rules |
| Arlington, TX | Yes | 4 (more on bigger lots) | Banned | No | None for 4; 50 ft for 5 or more | City rules |
How many chickens can you have in city limits?
Six to eight hens is the most common limit. Seattle, Denver, Detroit and San Antonio allow 8, while Phoenix, Oklahoma City, Boston, Minneapolis and Tulsa allow 6. Sacramento is the tightest at 3 hens without extra permits. Portland allows 4, or 6 on lots of 10,000 square feet or more, with no permit.
Seven cities tie the limit to your lot. Tampa allows 1 hen per 1,000 square feet of land, Charlotte allows 20 fowl per acre, and Nashville allows 2 to 6 hens depending on lot size. Use our coop size calculator to check that your flock fits the space you have.
Are roosters allowed in city limits?
Most big cities ban roosters outright. Where they are allowed, the number is usually capped: Los Angeles, San Antonio, Indianapolis and Albuquerque allow 1, and El Paso allows up to 3. Minneapolis requires a special permit and 80% neighbor consent.
Texas is a special case. City animal services in Houston and Dallas say a 2023 state law, HB 1750, limits their ability to enforce older rooster bans, so check with your city before you rely on the code text.
Do you need a permit to keep chickens?
| City | Permit and fee |
|---|---|
| Jacksonville, FL | Backyard Hen Permit, $25, plus an extension class |
| Denver, CO | Food Producing Animal Permit, $25 one time |
| Minneapolis, MN | Fowl permit, $32 per year |
| Milwaukee, WI | Coop site plan, $35.56 one time |
| Charlotte, NC | Livestock and fowl permit, $40 per year |
| Sacramento, CA | Coop permit $47 plus $20 per hen per year |
| Detroit, MI | Animal keeping license, $50 per year |
| Omaha, NE | County health permit, $75 new |
| Columbus, OH | Domestic animal permit, $100 for four years |
Other permit cities include Nashville, Boston, Baltimore, Miami and Washington, DC. Several more cities, like San Jose, Long Beach and El Paso, only require a permit once your flock passes a set number of birds.
How far does a coop have to be from neighbors?
Setbacks are the rule most likely to rule out a small lot. Apart from Washington, DC, the strictest among the 50 are Miami and Kansas City at 100 feet from a neighbor’s home, then Atlanta, Fort Worth and Tulsa at 50 feet. Many cities, including San Jose, Sacramento, Tucson and Minneapolis, use 20 feet.
A few cities set no distance at all for a small flock, including New York, Chicago, Memphis and Raleigh. Even there, general nuisance rules on noise, odor and pests still apply. Keep the coop clean and your neighbors happy, and read our backyard chicken guide before you start.
Beyond the 50 biggest cities: the full dataset
This study covers the 50 largest US cities. Since then, Coop Ready has kept going and now tracks 274 cities and counties in 34 states, 206 checked line by line against city code, including suburbs and unincorporated counties. Search them all below, or download the whole dataset as a spreadsheet with every source link and the month we checked it.
| City | Hens | Roosters | Permit | Coop placement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL Alabama | 6 hens under the zoning code | Banned in D-1, D-2 and D-3 zones | No | Pen at least 100 ft from any dwelling, church, school, park or street |
| Avondale, AZ Arizona | 6 | Banned | No | Enclosure in the rear or side yard, at least 20 ft from neighboring property |
| Buckeye, AZ Arizona | 6 | Banned | No | Roofed enclosure in the rear or side yard, at least 20 ft from the neighboring property line |
| Casa Grande, AZ Arizona | 6 | Banned | No | Enclosure in the rear or side yard, at least 20 ft from neighboring properties |
| Chandler, AZ Arizona | 6 | Banned | No (building permit only for a coop over 120 sq ft or 7 ft tall) | Coop in the side or rear yard, at least 5 ft from any lot line |
| Flagstaff, AZ Arizona | 6 on lots under 20,000 sq ft; up to 25 on larger lots | Banned (males over 4 months) | Yes: a backyard livestock keeping permit (not needed in the ER and RR zones) | Coop 10 ft from a side or rear line next to another home lot and 20 ft from the nearest neighbor's home |
| Gilbert, AZ Arizona | 6 on lots of half an acre or less | 1 per 20,000 sq ft of lot | No | Enclosure in the side or rear yard, at least 20 ft from every lot line |
| Glendale, AZ Arizona | 6 | Banned | No | Enclosure at least 20 ft from neighboring property and 10 ft from your house and other structures |
| Goodyear, AZ Arizona | 6 | Banned | No | Enclosure in the rear or side yard, at least 20 ft from neighboring property |
| Lake Havasu City, AZ Arizona | 6 | Banned | No | Roofed enclosure in the rear or side yard, at least 20 ft from the neighboring property line |
| Marana, AZ Arizona | 1 per 1,000 sq ft (ER, NR zones); 6 (GR); 40 per acre (AG, RA) | Banned except AG and RA zones | No (a conditional use permit only in MR and RR zones) | ER and NR: coop 20 ft from any home on another lot; GR: 20 ft from the neighboring property line |
| Mesa, AZ Arizona | 10 (first half acre) | Allowed unless noisy | No | Run 40 ft and coop 75 ft from neighbors' homes |
| Oro Valley, AZ Arizona | 6 (10 on lots of 42,000 sq ft or more; 24 on 144,000 sq ft or more) | Banned | No | On lots of half an acre or less, 20 ft from neighboring property; larger lots use main building setbacks |
| Phoenix, AZ Arizona | 6 (lots of half an acre or less) | Banned if noisy | No | 20 ft from the property line |
| Prescott Valley, AZ Arizona | 10 | Banned | No | Coop at least 1 ft from property or easement lines |
| Scottsdale, AZ Arizona | No city cap; state law protects 6 on lots up to 1/2 acre | Not banned; habitual crowing that disturbs neighbors is unlawful | Not stated | Rear-yard enclosure 20 ft from property lines |
| Sierra Vista, AZ Arizona | 6 | Banned | No | Secure enclosure in the rear or side yard, at least 20 ft from neighboring property |
| Tempe, AZ Arizona | 6 | Banned except AG zone | No (a use permit for more than 6) | No chicken setback stated |
| Tucson, AZ Arizona | 2 per 1,000 sq ft of lot, up to 24 (lots under 16,000 sq ft) | Banned (male fowl) | No | 20 ft from a neighbor's home |
| Yuma, AZ Arizona | 6 on lots of half an acre or less (more on bigger lots) | Banned (unless unable to crow) | No | Enclosure in the backyard or side yard, at least 20 ft from neighboring property (30 ft on lots over half an acre) |
| Bentonville, AR Arkansas | 6 under the 2026 code update (4 under the older rule) | Banned | No | Hen enclosure in a side or rear yard, at least 25 ft from neighboring homes |
| Conway, AR Arkansas | No set number (each bird needs adequate space, food and water) | Not named in the code | No | None stated |
| Fayetteville, AR Arkansas | 4 on lots up to 5,000 sq ft, plus 1 per extra 1,250 sq ft, up to 20 | Banned | No | Coop at least 25 ft from any house on a neighboring lot, plus the zoning district's building setbacks |
| Fort Smith, AR Arkansas | 20 (hens and ducks combined) on lots of half an acre to 5 acres; none on smaller lots | Banned | No (over 20 birds on 5+ acres needs Conditional Use approval) | Coops, roosts and water features at least 25 ft from a house on the next lot |
| Jonesboro, AR Arkansas | 5 animals and fowl in total per household (pets count) | Not named in the code (noise rule applies) | No | None stated |
| Little Rock, AR Arkansas | No set limit | Not named in the code (noise rules apply) | No | Pen or yard at least 25 ft from the nearest neighbor's house or any business, and 5 ft from your own house |
| North Little Rock, AR Arkansas | Not stated | Banned | Yes: $10 per year from Animal Control, after a site check | Coop at least 75 ft from any neighboring home or building |
| Rogers, AR Arkansas | 4 | Banned | Yes: $5 fowl permit from Rogers Animal Services, after a site inspection | Coop at least 25 ft from neighbors' homes |
| Springdale, AR Arkansas | Not allowed on typical home lots | Banned on home lots | Not available | Not applicable |
| Anaheim, CA California | 1 per 1,800 sq ft of lot | Banned in residential zones | Not stated | 20 ft from property lines and 50 ft from any home except the owner's |
| Bakersfield, CA California | Not on typical home lots | Banned | Not available | Not applicable |
| Elk Grove, CA California | 6 (12 with a 40 ft buffer) | Banned in RD zones | No | Coop at least 5 ft from side and rear property lines |
| Escondido, CA California | 6 in R-1 (25 in R-A and R-E) | Banned in R-1; limited in R-A and R-E | No for R-1 hens | Enclosure 20 ft from any home; 15 ft from front and side lines, 10 ft from the rear line |
| Folsom, CA California | 6 | Banned | No | Coop at least 5 ft from any property line and 20 ft from neighboring homes |
| Fremont, CA California | 5 on 6,001 to 9,999 sq ft; 6 on 10,000 sq ft or more | Banned | No for up to 6 | Enclosure 10 ft from any property line for 1 to 5 hens; 35 ft for 6 or more |
| Fresno, CA California | Not in residential zones | Banned | Not available | Not applicable |
| Long Beach, CA California | 20 (4 without a permit) | Banned | Annual permit with a fee for 5 or more birds | 10 ft from any neighboring home for 1 to 4 hens; 35 ft for 5 to 10; 50 ft for 11 to 20 |
| Los Angeles, CA California | No set limit | 1 allowed | No | 35 ft from a neighbor's home |
| Modesto, CA California | 12 per home | Banned (hens only) | No for up to 12 | Coop 40 ft from any window or door of a home, including your own |
| Oakland, CA California | No set limit | Banned | No | 20 ft from homes |
| Riverside, CA California | 5 (RE and R-1 zones) | Banned (crowing fowl, RE and R-1 zones) | No (a Minor Conditional Use Permit only for extra birds in RR zones) | Coop at least 10 ft from any neighboring home, plus accessory-structure rules |
| Roseville, CA California | 10 (ducks, chickens and pigeons combined) | Not named; animal noise rule applies | No for up to 10; a special permit ($75 a year) otherwise | Outdoor enclosure at least 20 ft from any property line |
| Sacramento, CA California | 3 | Banned | $47 plus $20 per hen each year | 20 ft from a neighbor's home |
| San Diego, CA California | 5 to 25, depending on setbacks | Banned | No | Rear yard; 5 ft from side lines, 13 ft from rear |
| San Francisco, CA California | 4 animals total | Not stated | Coop approval | 20 ft from doors and windows of homes |
| San Jose, CA California | 6 without a permit; up to 20 with a permit, by distance to neighbors' homes | Banned (over 4 months old) | Only over 6: a small animal permit, valid 2 years | Coop at least 20 ft from any neighbor's home; more birds need more distance |
| Santa Ana, CA California | 4 (more with a special permit) | Banned | No for up to 4 | Birds at least 30 ft from any neighbor's home |
| Santa Rosa, CA California | 3 to 30 by lot size | Banned | No | Coop 5 ft from side and rear lines (10 ft for more than 6 hens) and 20 ft from neighbors' homes |
| Stockton, CA California | 4 per 5,000 sq ft of lot (lots of 5,000 sq ft or more) | Banned | No | Side or rear yard, 5 ft from property lines and 20 ft from a neighbor's home |
| Aurora, CO Colorado | 6 hens (8 on lots of 20,000 sq ft or more) | Banned | Yes: a city permit with a one-time fee | Coop and run at least 15 ft from any property line unless neighbors consent in writing |
| Colorado Springs, CO Colorado | 10 fowl (4 months or older) | Banned | No | Set by zoning rules |
| Denver, CO Colorado | 8 | Banned | $25 one time | Coop at least 15 ft from a home on an abutting lot, in the rear half of the lot |
| Fort Collins, CO Colorado | 8 under 1/2 acre; 12 up to 1 acre; +6 per extra 1/2 acre | Banned | Yes: Humane Society permit with site inspection; $30 one-time coop license | Coop and run 15 ft from abutting property lines unless neighbors consent in writing |
| Lakewood, CO Colorado | 6 in R-1-6 and R-2; set by coop size in R-1-9 and larger | Banned in R-1-6 and R-2; not stated for larger-lot zones | Yes in R-1-6 and R-2; none stated in R-1-9 and larger | R-1-9 and larger: coop 15 ft from side and rear lines. R-1-6 and R-2: accessory setbacks (5 ft) |
| Longmont, CO Colorado | 4 | Banned outside agricultural zones | Yes: a $30 one-time permit | Coop at least 6 ft from side and rear property lines and from any other structure |
| Thornton, CO Colorado | 6 | Banned | No | Coop at least 5 ft from side and rear property lines |
| Westminster, CO Colorado | 6 on a quarter acre or less, up to 30 on 2+ acres | Banned | Yes: a $25 one-time permit | Coop at least 10 ft from side and rear property lines |
| Washington, DC District of Columbia | No set number (the permit lists it) | Not stated | Yearly permit (24 DCMR 902) | 50 ft from any dwelling (including yours) and 250 ft from property lines unless all neighbors within 100 ft consent in writing |
| Jacksonville, FL Florida | 5 (5 more per extra half acre over 1 acre) | Banned | Yes: a one-time $25 permit plus a chicken-keeping class from the Duval County Extension Office | Rear yard only, screened from neighbors; coop 5 ft from lot lines |
| Miami, FL Florida | 15 | Banned | County health permit | 100 ft from any home |
| Orlando, FL Florida | 4 | Banned | Yes: a $50 backyard chicken permit plus a $20 UF/IFAS class | Rear yard; 20 ft from neighbors' homes, 5 ft from lot lines and 5 ft from your home |
| St. Petersburg, FL Florida | 10 fowl, on any size lot | Not banned (crowing that breaks the noise rule is a nuisance) | No | Coop 50 ft from any home other than yours, unless that neighbor agrees in writing |
| Tallahassee, FL Florida | No set limit | 1 allowed with hens | No | Hens kept at least 20 ft from neighbors' homes |
| Tampa, FL Florida | 1 per 1,000 sq ft of lot | Banned | No | Accessory structure rules |
| Alpharetta, GA Georgia | 6 (lots of 1 acre or more only) | Banned | No | Coop and run at least 25 ft from rear and side property lines |
| Athens, GA Georgia | 6 per parcel | Banned (any crowing chicken) | No (coops over 25 sq ft follow accessory-structure rules) | Rear yard, at least 20 ft from homes on neighboring parcels; distance from the property line depends on the zone (10 to 50 ft) |
| Atlanta, GA Georgia | 25 | Not banned (crowing nuisance rule applies) | No | 50 ft from other homes |
| Augusta, GA Georgia | No number set | Not stated | Not stated | No coop setback in the code |
| Brookhaven, GA Georgia | 1 per 1,000 sq ft of lot, up to 25 (lots of 6,000 sq ft or more only) | Banned | No | Coop at least 7.5 ft from any property line, in the side or rear yard |
| Cherokee County, GA Georgia | 8 (lots of 20,000 sq ft or more) | Banned | No | Enclosure at least 25 ft from property lines and 50 ft from homes on neighboring lots |
| Cobb County, GA Georgia | 1 hen per 5,000 sq ft on lots under 2 acres | Banned on lots under 2 acres | Yes: an application to Community Development before you get hens | Coop at least 25 ft from any property line |
| Columbus, GA Georgia | 6 on a single-family lot (more on lots of 2 acres or more) | Not named (noise and odor rules apply) | No | Coop at least 50 ft from any lot line |
| DeKalb County, GA Georgia | 1 hen per 2,000 sq ft of lot (lots of 10,000 sq ft or more) | Banned | No | Coop at least 20 ft from any property line and 50 ft from any home other than yours |
| Decatur, GA Georgia | No set limit | Not named in the code | No | Coop at least the width of the lot (75 ft if the lot is 75 ft or wider) from any home other than the owner's |
| Dunwoody, GA Georgia | 6 (lots of 10,000 sq ft or more only) | Banned (also crowing hens, ducks, geese and turkeys) | Zoning approval from Community Development with a site plan; it does not transfer to new owners | Rear yard, at least 35 ft from the rear line, 15 ft from side lines and 20 ft from corner-side lines |
| Forsyth County, GA Georgia | 8 (lots of half an acre or more) | Banned (and any crowing fowl) | No (coops need no building permit) | Coop at least 20 ft from rear and side lines and 50 ft from neighbors' homes |
| Gwinnett County, GA Georgia | 3 to 10 by lot size (lots of 10,500 sq ft or more); no limit on 3+ acres | Banned (no variance allowed) | No | Coop at least 20 ft from any property line and 50 ft from a home on an adjoining parcel |
| Johns Creek, GA Georgia | 75 (combined cap for chickens and similar fowl) | Not named in the code | No | Birds kept at least 100 ft from any occupied building other than the owner's home |
| Kennesaw, GA Georgia | None on home lots | Banned on home lots (all poultry) | Not stated | Poultry buildings 200 ft from every property line; birds 25 ft from residential lines |
| Macon, GA Georgia | 6 hens where allowed in residential districts | Banned (ducks, geese, turkeys and other fowl too) | Yes: a certificate of zoning compliance | At least 15 ft from side and rear property lines, behind the back wall of the house, and closer to your home than to your neighbor's |
| Marietta, GA Georgia | 4 | Banned | Yes: a chicken application with a scaled site sketch | Fenced area in the rear yard at least 20 ft from any property line and 10 ft from the house |
| Peachtree Corners, GA Georgia | Only on owner-occupied lots of 3 acres or more | Counted as livestock (3+ acres only) | No keeping permit; a building permit for any structure | Animal quarters at least 100 ft from any property line |
| Roswell, GA Georgia | By lot size: none under 0.33 acre; 6 on 0.34 to 1 acre; 12 per acre (up to 36) over 1 acre | Banned | No (fixed coops follow accessory-structure rules) | Enclosure at least 25 ft from any home on an abutting lot |
| Sandy Springs, GA Georgia | 75 (combined cap for chickens and similar fowl) | Not named in the code | No | Birds kept at least 25 ft from any occupied building other than the owner's home |
| Savannah, GA Georgia | 1 per 1,000 sq ft of high ground, up to 30 | Not named in the code | Only a building permit for a coop of 120 sq ft or more | 25 ft from neighboring homes for up to 10 birds; 50 ft for more than 10. Neighbors can waive this in writing |
| Smyrna, GA Georgia | Not allowed in single-family districts | Banned (no poultry in residential districts) | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Boise, ID Idaho | 6 (as pets) | Banned | No | Coop at least 10 ft from any home on an adjacent lot |
| Chicago, IL Illinois | No set limit | Allowed (crowing can be cited as excessive noise) | No | None in the code |
| Bloomington, IN Indiana | 5 | Banned | Yes: free yearly permit from Animal Care and Control, after a coop inspection | Coop and run at least 12 ft from any neighboring property line and 20 ft from any neighbor's home |
| Carmel, IN Indiana | 6 | Banned on home lots (a rooster makes the property a farm) | None stated | Accessory-building rules: 25 ft behind the front of the house and at least 5 ft from side and rear lot lines |
| Evansville, IN Indiana | 6 birds per property (all fowl over 8 weeks old combined) | Not named in the code (any rooster counts toward the 6) | Yes: a poultry license from Animal Care and Control, $5 per property per year | Coop at least 50 ft from any neighbor's home |
| Fishers, IN Indiana | Only on 5+ acres in AG, ER or OS zones (about 3 chickens per acre in AG and OS, 2.25 in ER) | Not named in the code | None stated | Coops and pens 100 ft from property lines in ER zones and 200 ft in AG zones |
| Fort Wayne, IN Indiana | No backyard hen allowance (any poultry needs city planning approval) | Not named separately (all poultry counts as a farm animal) | No hen permit; any farm animal needs Department of Planning Services approval | None stated |
| Gary, IN Indiana | 1 per 3,000 sq ft of lot, up to 10 (lots of 5,000 sq ft or more) | 1 per 10,000 sq ft of lot under the 2026 zoning code | None stated (the coop counts as an accessory building) | The animal code bars poultry within 200 ft of anyone else's home; the 2026 zoning code also sets coop setbacks by lot width (30 ft front, 5 ft sides, 10 ft rear on lots under 50 ft wide) |
| Hammond, IN Indiana | Not allowed in residential areas | Banned | Not available | Not applicable |
| Indianapolis, IN Indiana | 12 adult birds (chickens, quail, pigeons and ducks combined) | 1 per lot, shut in an enclosed coop from dusk to dawn | No for up to 12; more needs a personal livestock license | Not in the front yard; coop meets the district setbacks |
| Lafayette, IN Indiana | 5 | Banned | Yes: free permit from the City Clerk's Office | Coop and pen behind the house, at least 10 ft from any property line and 20 ft from any home you do not own or live in |
| Muncie, IN Indiana | Not allowed in R-1 to R-6 residential zones | Banned | Not available | Not applicable |
| South Bend, IN Indiana | 6 | Banned | Yes: $20 per year from the Animal Resource Center (plus a building permit for a coop or pen over 120 sq ft) | Coop and pen in the back yard, at least 15 ft from every property line and 20 ft from any home |
| Bowling Green, KY Kentucky | 5 | Banned (no roosters, crowing poultry or peafowl) | No | None stated for poultry |
| Covington, KY Kentucky | 8 on lots under 1/2 acre; no cap stated for larger lots | Not named; the code only allows non-crowing fowl such as hens | No | At least 10 ft from any home occupied by someone else and 4 ft from your own house |
| Lexington, KY Kentucky | No limit stated | 1 allowed outside agricultural zones (since Nov 1, 2025) | No | None stated for chickens in the animal code |
| Louisville, KY Kentucky | 5 non-crowing poultry (lots under half an acre) | 1 crowing bird on lots under half an acre | No | None stated in Metro Code |
| Owensboro, KY Kentucky | 6 | Banned | Yes: $25 one-time permit from Public Works, renewed free each year | 10 ft from property lines and 40 ft from neighboring homes or businesses |
| Richmond, KY Kentucky | No limit stated | Not named in the code | None stated | None stated |
| New Orleans, LA Louisiana | 6 (more needs a conditional use) | Banned | No for 6 or fewer | Rear yard only, at least 10 ft from all lot lines and 10 ft from any dwelling |
| Baltimore, MD Maryland | 4 to 10, by lot size | Banned (hens only) | Animal Control permit | 15 ft from homes |
| Boston, MA Massachusetts | 6 | Banned | Yearly ISD permit | Rear yard; 5 ft from lot lines |
| Detroit, MI Michigan | 8 (chickens and ducks combined) | Banned | $50 per year | 30 ft from neighbors' homes, 5 ft from the property line, in the rear yard |
| Minneapolis, MN Minnesota | 6 | Special permit only | $32 per year | 20 ft from neighbors' buildings |
| Kansas City, MO Missouri | 15 | Banned within 300 ft of homes | No | 100 ft from other homes |
| St. Louis, MO Missouri | 8, limited by coop and run space | Banned | No for 8 or fewer birds | Coop 1.5 ft from lot lines (10 ft from neighbors' homes where there is a solid fence); not in the front yard |
| Omaha, NE Nebraska | 10 | Banned | Douglas County Health Department special permit (sites under 2 acres) | 30 ft from neighbors' homes; pen 4 ft from rear and side lines and 60 ft from the front line |
| Las Vegas, NV Nevada | 10 | Banned | Neighbor consent | 20 ft from neighbors' homes |
| Albuquerque, NM New Mexico | 15 | 1 allowed | No | None stated |
| Albany, NY New York | Up to 6: 200 sq ft of open lot for 2 hens plus 100 sq ft for each extra hen | Banned | Yes: a City Clerk license, $25 to apply and $25 a year; only 80 licenses citywide | Coop and run at least 25 ft from any occupied home on an adjoining lot (a neighbor can waive this in writing). Not in front of the house or a street-facing side wall. |
| Buffalo, NY New York | 5 | Banned | Yes: a yearly City Clerk license at $25 per hen (up to $125), plus an Animal Control coop inspection | Backyard only. Coop at least 20 ft from any door or window of a neighbor's home or other occupied building, 5 ft from side lot lines, and 18 in from the rear lot line (5 ft if that line borders a neighbor's side or front yard). |
| New York, NY New York | No set limit | Banned | No | None stated |
| Rochester, NY New York | Not stated in the code; your police license sets the maximum number | Not banned outright, but a male bird over 4 months old must go once the police declare it a nuisance | Yes: an animal license from the Chief of Police, $75, runs to June 30 of the following permit year | Coops and runs at least 25 ft from any dwelling or building people occupy daily. |
| Syracuse, NY New York | 6 total, counting hens and rabbits together | Banned | None stated in the zoning rules | Rear yard only. Coop at least 5 ft from side and rear property lines and at least 25 ft from any neighboring home. |
| Yonkers, NY New York | Not allowed (all poultry is banned) | Banned (all poultry is banned) | No: there is no permit for hens | Not applicable |
| Asheville, NC North Carolina | No fixed number (flock must suit the coop; 7 or more animals in a household needs an extra permit) | Banned (roosters already approved may stay for life) | Yes: an annual fowl license from Animal Services | Coop or pen at least 10 ft from lot lines, unless it is still at least 50 ft from the nearest neighbor's home |
| Cary, NC North Carolina | 5 (no number set in R-40 and R-80) | Banned (in R-40 and R-80, banned on lots under 5 acres) | Yes: an Accessory Use Permit, $100 (none in R-40 and R-80) | Coop, pen and tractor in the back yard, at least 15 ft from side and rear lot lines, and closer to your house than to any neighbor's |
| Charlotte, NC North Carolina | 20 per acre | Allowed with a permit | $40 per year | 25 ft from property lines |
| Concord, NC North Carolina | 10 on 1 acre or more; 15 on 2 acres or more; none under 1 acre | Banned | Yes: a Zoning Clearance Permit | Coop in the back yard, at least 50 ft from neighboring homes and the street; pen at least 5 ft from lot lines |
| Durham, NC North Carolina | 10 per lot | Banned (female chickens only) | None stated | Coop at least 15 ft from any lot line or street; pen at least 5 ft |
| Fayetteville, NC North Carolina | 10 per home lot (under the Cumberland County animal code the city applies) | Banned | None stated | None stated for coops; the coop must meet the district's accessory-structure setbacks |
| Greensboro, NC North Carolina | None under 7,000 sq ft; 1 per 3,000 sq ft up to 4 on lots of 7,000 to 12,000 sq ft; 1 per 2,000 sq ft up to 20 on bigger lots | Not named, but birds clearly heard off the property are banned | No | Lots of 7,000 to 12,000 sq ft: coop 25 ft from every lot line and 50 ft from a neighbor's house. Lots over 12,000 sq ft: 50 ft from every lot line. Always behind the back wall of the house. |
| Greenville, NC North Carolina | 15 birds total (all fowl combined) | Not named in the code | No | Coop at least 80 ft from any property line you do not own |
| High Point, NC North Carolina | 5 per house | Banned | No | Coop and run in the back yard, at least 40 ft from any home other than yours |
| Wilmington, NC North Carolina | 5 (lots of 15,000 sq ft or more only) | Banned | Yes: a city poultry permit from Code Enforcement | Back yard enclosure at least 10 ft from any property line and 25 ft from any other home |
| Winston-Salem, NC North Carolina | 5 (all fowl combined) | Banned | No (repealed in 2022) | Coop and run in the back yard, at least 20 ft from every neighboring property line |
| Akron, OH Ohio | Not stated | Not named in the code (the 100 ft rule covers all poultry) | None stated | No poultry inside any home or within 100 ft of any home, including your own |
| Canton, OH Ohio | No set limit | Not named in the code | None stated for hens (a coop may need a zoning permit as an accessory structure) | Pens and runs at least 50 ft from any building used as a home, including your own |
| Cincinnati, OH Ohio | 6 under 10,000 sq ft; 12 up to 20,000 sq ft; 24 above | 1 per 15 hens, kept 50 ft from all property lines | Not stated | Coop, feeders and water 10 ft from all property lines |
| Cleveland, OH Ohio | 1 per 800 sq ft of lot, up to 6 | Only on lots of 1 acre or more, 100 ft from lot lines | Yes: a 2-year Public Health license and an approved site plan | Coop 5 ft from side lot lines and 18 in from the rear line; not in the front or street-side yard |
| Columbus, OH Ohio | Set by coop space | Banned | $100 for 4 years, plus a $50 plan review fee | None stated |
| Dayton, OH Ohio | No backyard hen allowance in the code | Not named in the code | No hen permit exists | No coop rule for home lots |
| Parma, OH Ohio | Not allowed (all fowl banned) | Banned | Not available | Not applicable |
| Toledo, OH Ohio | 6 per single-family home | Banned | No, if you follow the standard rules (otherwise an annual Health Department permit) | Coop at least 25 ft from any door or window of a neighbor's home; 5 ft from side lot lines and 18 in from the rear line; not in the front yard |
| Broken Arrow, OK Oklahoma | No set limit (a general cap of fewer than 5 domestic animals may apply) | Allowed only 150 ft or more from any home | No | Coop at least 40 ft from any home other than yours |
| Edmond, OK Oklahoma | By lot size: 4 under 1/3 acre, 6 up to 0.68 acre, 8 up to 1 acre, 12 to 30 up to 5 acres (at least 2) | Banned | Yes: $25 one-time permit plus a 2-hour chicken class | Coop 40 ft from neighbors' homes; coop and run 5 ft from side and rear lot lines |
| Lawton, OK Oklahoma | 12 small animals total (chickens, ducks and rabbits combined) | Not named in the code | Yes: small animal permit, $19.85, renewed every December 31 | Coop and pen at least 25 ft from any home other than yours |
| Moore, OK Oklahoma | Only on land zoned agricultural | Banned outside agricultural zoning | Not available for residential lots | Not applicable |
| Norman, OK Oklahoma | 4 per R-1 lot | Banned | No | Coop and run in the backyard, at least 5 ft from side and rear lot lines and 25 ft from any neighbor's home |
| Oklahoma City, OK Oklahoma | 6 | Banned | No | 30 ft from a neighbor's home; 5 ft from side lines and 10 ft from the rear line |
| Tulsa, OK Oklahoma | 6 | Not banned (crowing that disturbs neighbors is a nuisance) | No | 50 ft from a neighbor's home |
| Ashland, OR Oregon | 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 Oregon | 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 Oregon | 4 hens and rabbits combined (lots of 5,000 sq ft or more) | Banned | No | No chicken coop distance stated |
| Corvallis, OR Oregon | No number set | Not banned; animal noise rule applies | No | No coop setback in the code |
| Eugene, OR Oregon | 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 Oregon | 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 Oregon | 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 Oregon | No set limit | Not named; animal noise rule applies | No | Zoning setbacks for the coop; ask Planning |
| Medford, OR Oregon | 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 Oregon | 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 Oregon | 12 poultry total | Banned | No | Rear yard, at least 25 ft from a home on an adjacent lot |
| Tigard, OR Oregon | No set limit | Banned (over 3 months old) | No | Shelter at least 5 ft from all lot lines (fenced runs are exempt) |
| Allentown, PA Pennsylvania | Not allowed (all fowl banned) | Banned (all fowl banned) | Not available | Not applicable |
| Altoona, PA Pennsylvania | Not allowed on residential lots | Banned on home lots | Not available for residential lots | Not applicable |
| Bethlehem, PA Pennsylvania | Not allowed (all fowl banned) | Banned (all fowl banned) | Not available | Not applicable |
| Erie, PA Pennsylvania | Not allowed (farm animals banned) | Banned (all fowl banned) | Not available | Not applicable |
| Harrisburg, PA Pennsylvania | 10 birds per 40,000 sq ft of lot (lots of 40,000 sq ft or more only) | Not named in the code (limits apply to all poultry) | No | Pen, shelter or enclosure at least 75 ft from every lot line |
| Lancaster, PA Pennsylvania | Not allowed (poultry is not on the city's allowed-animal list) | Banned (all poultry excluded) | Not available (the $20 animal permit only covers going over 6 animals from the allowed list) | Not applicable |
| Philadelphia, PA Pennsylvania | Only on parcels of 3 acres or more | Banned | Not available | Not applicable |
| Pittsburgh, PA Pennsylvania | 5 on a 2,000 sq ft lot, plus 1 for each extra 1,000 sq ft | Banned | No (no zoning approval needed for a coop) | No chicken setback; regular zoning setbacks apply |
| Reading, PA Pennsylvania | No fixed number (the permit sets it) | Not named in the code | Yes: an Animal Control Board permit after an inspection, valid up to 3 years | None stated |
| Scranton, PA Pennsylvania | 2 on lots up to 20,000 sq ft, plus 1 per extra 1,000 sq ft (chickens, ducks and rabbits combined) | Banned | Yes: a zoning permit, $25 | Coop at least 50 ft from any home other than yours; not in a front yard or a street-facing side yard |
| State College, PA Pennsylvania | 4 per one-family home | Banned unless the property is 10 acres or more | Yes: a zoning permit for the hens, coop and run (same fee as a small shed permit) | Coop and run at least 30 ft from any main building on a neighboring lot, plus accessory-structure setbacks |
| York, PA Pennsylvania | Not allowed (poultry is not on the city's allowed-animal list) | Banned (all poultry excluded) | Not available | Not applicable |
| Charleston, SC South Carolina | No set number in code | Banned | Yes: a poultry permit and fee from Animal Control | Coop 50 ft from any other home, unless residents within 50 ft give written permission |
| Columbia, SC South Carolina | 4 | Banned | Yes: $5 per hen license, issued only after Animal Services inspects the coop | No fixed distance. Screen the coop with shrubs or a privacy fence if it sits within 25 ft of a side or rear lot line or within 50 ft of a neighbor's home. |
| Greenville, SC South Carolina | No set number; the flock must not disturb neighbors | Not named in the code; repeated crowing counts as a nuisance | No | None stated |
| North Charleston, SC South Carolina | No set number; must not create a nuisance | Not named in the code | None stated | None stated in the animal code |
| Spartanburg, SC South Carolina | 6 | Banned | Yes: annual permit; fee set in the city fee schedule | Coop at least 50 ft from the nearest home other than yours, and not in a front or side yard |
| Bartlett, TN Tennessee | No set number (the old 8-per-person cap was removed in December 2025) | Not named in the code (excessive noise is banned) | No | None stated in the animal code |
| Chattanooga, TN Tennessee | 8 | Banned (allowed only in A-1 zoning) | No | Rear yard only, at least 5 ft from any abutting property line |
| Clarksville, TN Tennessee | 8 | Banned | Yes: one-time $50 hen permit, with a site drawing and an inspection of the finished coop | Coop and run must be in the back yard, at least 10 ft from the rear and side property lines |
| Collierville, TN Tennessee | No set limit | Not named in the code | No | None stated |
| Franklin, TN Tennessee | Not stated | Not named in the code (treated like other fowl) | Yes: an Animal Husbandry permit if birds are within 1,000 ft of any home, business or public street | No fixed coop distance once a permit is granted; the 1,000 ft rule decides whether you need the permit |
| Hendersonville, TN Tennessee | 1 per 10,000 sq ft of lot (chickens and ducks combined) | Banned | No | Coop and pen at least 15 ft from all property lines, unless the next lot also keeps such animals |
| Jackson, TN Tennessee | 6 | Banned | Yes: a health officer permit for poultry within 1,000 ft of a neighbor's home or a business | Coop and run at least 100 ft from every abutting property line; no permit within 250 ft of any home or business property line |
| Johnson City, TN Tennessee | Not allowed in residential zones | Banned in residential zones (all poultry) | Not available in residential zones | Not applicable |
| Kingsport, TN Tennessee | No limit stated for regular residential zones | Not banned (a crowing rooster can be treated as a nuisance) | No | None stated for regular residential zones |
| Knoxville, TN Tennessee | 6 | Banned | $25 per year | Not in the front yard; at least 10 ft from any abutting property line |
| Memphis, TN Tennessee | 1 per 1,500 sq ft, up to 6; lot must be 5,000 sq ft or more | Banned except in the Conservation Agriculture (CA) district | No | Pen or yard at least 5 ft from property lines |
| Murfreesboro, TN Tennessee | 8 birds total (all fowl and rabbits combined) on lots under 2 acres | Banned unless penned at least 2,000 ft from the nearest home | None stated | None stated for hens |
| Nashville, TN Tennessee | 2 to 6, by lot size | Banned | Annual permit | 25 ft from other homes and 10 ft from the property line |
| Smyrna, TN Tennessee | Not stated (poultry counts as agricultural use) | Not named in the code | Not stated | Not confirmed |
| Allen, TX Texas | 4 | Banned (unless 150 ft from every property line) | Yes: a one-time permit | Rear yard, 20 ft from any property line, not visible from the street |
| Arlington, TX Texas | 4 (more on bigger lots) | Banned | No | None for 4 hens; 50 ft for 5 or more |
| Austin, TX Texas | No set limit | Not banned in the animal code | No | Enclosure 30 ft from a neighbor's home or business (50 ft if a health hazard) |
| Baytown, TX Texas | 6 | Banned | No | Coop at least 200 ft from a residential structure |
| Bedford, TX Texas | 5 fowl | Not stated | No | 50 ft from any neighbor's home or business |
| Boerne, TX Texas | No limit stated | Not stated | Not stated | Coop 20 ft from the adjacent lot and 20 ft from any structure on the lot |
| Buda, TX Texas | 4 hens (half acre or less); 10 hens (over half acre) | Banned except in AG zoning | No | Pen at least 10 ft from side and rear lot lines, behind the front building line |
| Burleson, TX Texas | 4 | Banned | No | Coop and run 25 ft from any occupied building except the owner's; not in the front yard |
| Carrollton, TX Texas | 6 | Banned | Yes: an annual chicken permit | Coop 5 ft from property lines and 25 ft from neighbors' homes or businesses |
| Cedar Park, TX Texas | 15 fowl per lot, 1 acre+ lots in DR, ES or SR zoning only | 1 allowed where fowl are allowed | No | Coop at least 25 ft from all property lines |
| Conroe, TX Texas | No set limit (4 sq ft per chicken) | Not stated | No | Fowl lot at least 20 ft from the nearest adjoining residence |
| Converse, TX Texas | 8 domestic fowl | Banned | Unclear: Sec. 6-76 requires a council special use permit to raise fowl; Sec. 6-81 allows 8 at a residence | Coop at least 50 ft from every building except the owner's |
| Coppell, TX Texas | None (poultry banned in single-family zones) | Banned (with all poultry) | No | Not applicable |
| Dallas, TX Texas | No set limit | Allowed per the city (HB 1750) | No | None for hens; a rooster enclosure 20 ft from property lines |
| DeSoto, TX Texas | 6 on a quarter acre; more on bigger lots | Up to 1 per 2 hens | No | For up to 6 birds: 50 ft from neighboring homes and 10 ft from the property line |
| Denton, TX Texas | 8 fowl | Banned on parcels under 1 acre | Yes: a city permit for chickens | Enclosure at least 150 ft from any residence, business, school, hospital or nursing home |
| El Paso, TX Texas | 5 (more with a permit) | Up to 3 | 6 or more birds | 30 ft for permitted flocks |
| Euless, TX Texas | No chicken limit stated (a 4-animal household cap may count hens) | Not stated | No | None stated |
| Flower Mound, TX Texas | 4 on lots up to 1 acre | Banned on lots under 1 acre | Not stated | Coop at least 10 ft from any property line |
| Fort Worth, TX Texas | 12 (lots of half an acre or less) | Up to 2, counted in the limit | No | 50 ft from other homes |
| Frisco, TX Texas | 12 per enclosure | Banned under 1 acre | No | None stated in the animal code |
| Galveston, TX Texas | 6 per lot | Banned east of 103rd Street | Not stated (the fee schedule lists a $10 poultry permit) | None stated |
| Garland, TX Texas | 4 | Banned | No | Enclosure at least 30 ft from any neighbor's home and 5 ft from adjoining residential property |
| Georgetown, TX Texas | 8 hens | Banned | Yes: written notice to Chief of Police (no fee stated) | Coop at least 20 ft from another person's home |
| Grand Prairie, TX Texas | No set number (20 sq ft per bird) | Banned (except on 40+ acre agricultural land) | No | Every part of the coop 150 ft from any home, business or school other than the owner's |
| Grapevine, TX Texas | No set limit | Not stated | Not stated | Every part of the coop 50 ft from any home, business or school other than the owner's |
| Houston, TX Texas | 30 in city code | Banned in city code (Sec. 6-38) | No | 100 ft from any home in city code |
| Hurst, TX Texas | 5 hens (20 on lots over 1 acre) | Banned | No | Coop 50 ft from any residence except the owner's |
| Hutto, TX Texas | 5 (pen 50-100 ft from neighbors) or 10 (100 ft+) | Banned | No | Pen more than 50 ft from any building or home occupied by others |
| Irving, TX Texas | 25 chickens (lots of 1 acre or less) | 1 allowed, only with at least 6 hens | No | Coop at least 25 ft from any occupied building on another property |
| Katy, TX Texas | 25 per acre (lots of 1 acre or more) | Not stated (night noisemakers must be indoors 6 pm to 6 am) | Yes: an annual animal permit on tracts of 1 to 5 acres | Pen at least 100 ft from any home or business not on your land |
| Keller, TX Texas | 12 hens (SF-8.4 zoning or larger) | Only hens on lots smaller than SF-20 | No | Pen or coop 5 ft from any property line |
| Kyle, TX Texas | 6 hens (plus up to 2 other fowl) | Banned | No | Coop at least 20 ft from neighboring homes |
| League City, TX Texas | Up to about 96 per acre (a density cap shared with other barnyard animals) | Not stated | No (a permit only for selling fowl) | Coop at least 50 ft from any home except the owner's |
| Leander, TX Texas | 10 chickens or other fowl | Banned on lots under 3 acres; 200 ft rule otherwise | No | Coop at least 50 ft from any home except the owner's |
| Lewisville, TX Texas | 6 on lots under 1 acre (5 per quarter acre on 1+ acre) | Banned under 1 acre | Yes: an annual chicken permit | Coop and run 25 ft from neighbors' homes or businesses (150 ft on lots of 1 acre or more) |
| Little Elm, TX Texas | 10 fowl | Banned | No | 30 ft from any home except the owner's |
| Live Oak, TX Texas | Not allowed | Banned | No | Not applicable |
| Mansfield, TX Texas | 6 at 50 to 70 ft from neighbors' homes; up to 25 farther out on bigger lots | Banned (except on poultry farms) | Not stated | Coop at least 50 ft from neighbors' homes (70 ft or more for over 6 birds) |
| McKinney, TX Texas | 12 | Banned | No | None stated for fowl |
| Mesquite, TX Texas | Not allowed in residential zones | Banned in residential zones | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Missouri City, TX Texas | No set limit | Not banned (excessive crowing is a nuisance) | No | Pen at least 30 ft from any adjoining property line |
| New Braunfels, TX Texas | 4 hens on lots under 40,000 sq ft | Banned on lots under 40,000 sq ft | Yes: register with animal control (no fee stated) | Covered coop at least 10 ft from adjacent property lines and 30 ft from neighbors' homes |
| North Richland Hills, TX Texas | 6 at 30 to 50 ft from neighbors' homes; up to 18 farther out on bigger lots | Banned | Yes: an annual permit and a chicken care course | Coop 30 ft from neighbors' homes and 3 ft from property lines |
| Pasadena, TX Texas | No set limit | Not stated | No (a permit only for commercial fowl) | Coop at least 50 ft from any residence, including your own |
| Pflugerville, TX Texas | No limit stated | Treated as livestock: zoning rules plus 50 ft setbacks | Not stated | None stated for hens |
| Plano, TX Texas | Counts toward 10 animals per lot, pets included | Banned | Yes: a yearly backyard hen permit and a hen care course | Coop 20 ft from adjacent buildings (fewer than 5 animals); 50 ft for 5 or more |
| Prosper, TX Texas | 12 fowl per enclosure | Banned (except on ag-exempt land) | No | None stated |
| Richardson, TX Texas | 8 | Banned | No | No distance rule in the animal code; the coop meets building and zoning rules |
| Rockwall, TX Texas | None (agricultural zoning only) | Banned (with all chickens) outside agricultural zoning | No | Not applicable |
| Round Rock, TX Texas | 5 (pen 25-50 ft from neighbors) or 10 (50 ft+) | Not stated | No | Pen more than 25 ft from any building or home occupied by others |
| Rowlett, TX Texas | 10 | Banned within 150 ft of others' homes | Not stated | Coop at least 50 ft from the nearest home other than the owner's |
| San Antonio, TX Texas | 8 | 1 allowed | Only over 8 birds | None stated for 8 or fewer |
| San Marcos, TX Texas | 8 hens | Not covered by hen rule; 100 ft rule applies | No | Coop at least 30 ft from neighboring homes |
| Schertz, TX Texas | No fowl cap; general limit of 3 animals per species may apply | Not stated | Not stated | Coop at least 50 ft from others' homes |
| Seguin, TX Texas | 8 (up to 26 or 50 with larger setbacks) | Banned | Yes: annual permit from animal services (fee in Appendix C) | Enclosure at least 10 ft from all property lines |
| Sugar Land, TX Texas | None (fowl banned on any property) | Banned | Not available | Not applicable |
| The Colony, TX Texas | No set number (10 sq ft per bird) | Not stated | Not stated | Enclosure 200 ft from any inhabitable building, including your own |
| Tomball, TX Texas | No set limit (more than 10 must be penned) | Not stated | No | None stated |
| Wylie, TX Texas | 8 hens | Banned | Yes: fowl permit from Animal Services, fee set by council | 25 ft from a neighbor's home; 5 ft from property lines |
| Orem, UT Utah | Based on lot size: 2 hens on 5,000 sq ft, up to 12 hens on 30,000 sq ft; 20 poultry per acre on lots of 1 acre or more | Banned (hens only) | None stated | Coop or chicken tractor at least 10 ft from all property lines and not in the front yard |
| Provo, UT Utah | Based on lot size: 2 hens on 6,000 sq ft, up to 6 hens on 10,000 sq ft or more | Banned (hens only) | Yes: yearly city registration, $20 | Coop in the rear yard, at least 15 ft from every property line and 6 ft from any dwelling |
| Salt Lake City, UT Utah | 15 | Banned | Yes: a yearly animal services permit (the city page says $75) | Rear yard, at least 25 ft from any home on an adjacent lot |
| Sandy, UT Utah | 10 | Banned (not allowed as household pets) | None stated | Coop behind the house and at least 30 ft from neighboring homes, plus the normal accessory building setbacks |
| West Jordan, UT Utah | 5 hens plus up to 5 chicks | Banned (roosters and crowing hens prohibited) | Yes: a yearly fowl keeping permit; fee set in the city fee schedule | Coop in the rear or interior side yard, at least 5 ft from the property line and 20 ft from the nearest home on a neighboring lot |
| West Valley City, UT Utah | Up to 4 household pets per address in total, and hens count toward that 4 | Banned (roosters and crowing hens may not be kept) | None stated | No coop distance rule stated for household pet hens |
| Richmond, VA Virginia | 6 | Banned | $60 per year | At least 15 ft from any home on an adjacent lot; not in the front or street-side yard |
| Virginia Beach, VA Virginia | Agricultural zones only | Banned | Not available | Not applicable |
| Bellevue, WA Washington | 6 (more only on lots of 10,000 sq ft or more) | Not named; noise nuisance applies | No | Coop at least 15 ft from any property line; birds kept from coming within 15 ft of a line |
| Bellingham, WA Washington | No set limit | Allowed (a noisy rooster is an infraction) | No | Fowl confined so they cannot get within 50 ft of any dwelling or occupied building, including your own |
| Everett, WA Washington | 6 on lots up to 10,000 sq ft (more on larger lots) | Banned | Yes: a $50 yearly small livestock license for 6 or more chickens | Enclosures and pens at least 5 ft from adjacent properties; no coops in front yards |
| Kent, WA Washington | 3 on a 5,000 sq ft lot, plus 1 per extra 1,000 sq ft | Allowed; habitual crowing is a nuisance | No | Coop at least 10 ft from any other residential lot |
| Olympia, WA Washington | 5 on lots up to 1 acre (up to 10 on larger lots) | Banned | No | No coop distance stated |
| Redmond, WA Washington | 4 to 10 by lot size (none under 4,000 sq ft) | Banned | Yes: a chicken husbandry registration | Coop and run at least 15 ft from any property line (5 ft next to parks, schools, streets or wide easements) |
| Seattle, WA Washington | 8 | Banned | No | 10 ft from a neighbor's home |
| Spokane, WA Washington | 1 per 1,000 sq ft of lot | Banned outside the RA zone | No | Same setbacks as accessory structures |
| Tacoma, WA Washington | 6 (10 with neighbor consent; more on lots over 10,000 sq ft) | Banned | No (building permit only for a coop over 200 sq ft) | Coop at least 12 ft from the nearest part of any residence |
| Vancouver, WA Washington | No set limit | Banned | No | Shelter in the rear yard, meeting the house's side and rear setbacks |
| Appleton, WI Wisconsin | 6 | Banned (the rules define chickens as hens only) | Yes: Health Department permit, $81 pre-inspection fee plus $28 per year (2026 fees) | Coop at least 25 ft from a home, church, school or business on an abutting lot; coop and run 3 ft from side and rear lot lines; coop 10 ft from other buildings on your lot unless attached to a garage or shed; rear yard only |
| Green Bay, WI Wisconsin | 5 | Banned | Yes: City Clerk hen license, $75 first year and $25 to renew (2026 fee schedule) | Coop at least 25 ft from any home you do not own; not in a front or side yard |
| Kenosha, WI Wisconsin | 4 | Banned | Yes: $200 license approved by the Common Council after a public hearing; $100 to renew each year | Coop and run at least 25 ft from any home on an adjacent lot (detached garages do not count); rear yard only |
| Madison, WI Wisconsin | 8 | Banned | Yes: $10 per year city chicken license, plus free state livestock premises registration | Coop or enclosure at least 25 ft from any home on a neighboring lot |
| Milwaukee, WI Wisconsin | 4 | Banned | $35.56 one time | 25 ft from neighbors' homes |
| Racine, WI Wisconsin | 4 | Banned | Yes: $55 per year Health Department chicken permit (includes inspection), plus an $80 building permit | Coop and pen at least 25 ft from a neighbor's home, 2 ft from side and rear lot lines, 5 ft from your own house; back yard only; 75 ft from lakes and streams |
Free to use with a link to Coop Ready from Cooped Up Life. The CSV includes each source link, how closely we checked it and the month we checked.
Writing about backyard chickens? You are welcome to use these numbers and the download with a link back to this page or to Coop Ready.
How did we gather these chicken laws?
In October 2026 we reviewed the municipal code or official city animal services page for each of the 50 largest US cities by population. We recorded the rules for a typical single family home lot. Where a city code and a newer state law conflict, as in Texas and Arizona, we note it. Each row links to the source we used.
For a few cities, including Louisville and Indianapolis, the full code text was hard to load online, so we relied on city summaries or code mirrors. Treat those rows as a starting point and confirm with the city.
Update, October 24, 2026: an independent recheck found that Raleigh’s own planning page says animal raising is not allowed in residential districts, which conflicts with the city code we first cited, and that Memphis has newer hen rules in its development code. We marked both rows as under review while we confirm them, and fixed several source links. The charts above still count the original 50 rows.
Frequently asked questions
Can you have chickens in city limits?
In most large US cities, yes. 46 of the 50 largest cities allow backyard hens on a typical home lot, though 14 require a permit and most set a hen limit and coop setback.
Which big cities do not allow backyard chickens?
Philadelphia, Fresno, Virginia Beach and Bakersfield do not allow hens on typical residential lots. Miami and Washington, DC allow them but with setbacks that rule out most city lots.
How many chickens can I have in city limits?
It depends on the city. The most common limit is 6 to 8 hens. Sacramento allows 3 without extra permits and Portland allows 4, while Atlanta allows 25 and New York, Los Angeles and Chicago set no hen limit.
Are roosters allowed in the city?
Usually not. 28 of the 50 largest cities ban roosters. Cities that allow them often cap the number at 1 to 3.
Do I need a permit for backyard chickens?
In 14 of the 50 largest cities, yes. Fees range from $25 in Jacksonville and Denver to $100 for four years in Columbus. Many other cities only require a permit for larger flocks.
Can my HOA ban chickens if the city allows them?
Often yes. HOA rules and deed restrictions can be stricter than city code, so check them before you buy hens.
This table reflects city rules as published in October 2026. Codes change, so confirm with your city before building a coop. Not legal advice.
