Address search by Nominatim, © OpenStreetMap contributors.
3. Draw your yard
Click or tap each corner, then click the first point (or press Finish) to close the shape.
4. Drop in a coop
5. Share or print
Your coop check
Based on your sketch. Lines drawn on satellite imagery can be several feet off, so measure on the ground before you build.
- Pick your city, find your home and draw your lot to start.
Planning aid only. Satellite imagery and hand-drawn lines are not a survey, and Coop Ready cannot see zoning, HOA rules, easements or every local exception. Your plan is saved in this browser only. Confirm with your city before you build.
How it works
What Coop Ready measures
You draw your yard. Coop Ready measures the gaps your city cares about and compares them with its rules.
- Coop to lot line: the shortest gap to the edge of your lot
- Coop to neighbor's house: the gap to the closest home next door
- Coop to your house: some cities set this too
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Pick your city
Its hen limit, rooster, permit and coop distance rules load in.
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Draw your yard
Click the corners of your lot, your house and the house next door.
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Drop in a coop
Place a coop and run at their real size, then drag them where you want.
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Get your check
See each rule marked OK, close or too close. Then share or print a site plan.
Reading your results
- Looks OK on your sketch for that rule.
- Close call, or part of the rule can't be measured on a map (like which line is your rear line).
- Too close: the sketch breaks the rule. Move the coop.
Lines drawn on satellite photos can be a few feet off, so measure on the ground before you build.
Space per hen, rule of thumb
For standard-size hens. Work out your flock with the coop size calculator.
Questions
How far does a coop have to be from my house or my neighbor's?
It depends on the city. Some set no distance for a small flock, many use 10 to 25 feet, and a few require 50 to 100 feet from a neighbor's home. Look up your city to see its rule and the source.
Can I print a site plan for my permit?
Yes, free. "Free permit site plan" makes a one-page drawing with your lot, house, neighbor's house, coop and run, the distances marked, a north arrow, a scale bar, your city's rules and a signature line. Type in your name and parcel number, then print it or save it as a PDF. It is drawn from satellite imagery, so it is not a survey; if your city wants a surveyed plot plan, use it as your starting sketch.
How do I share my plan?
Press "Share my plan" to get a link. Your drawing is packed into the link itself, so anyone who opens it sees your lot, house, coop and run and can change their own copy. Your street address is not in the link.
Is my plan saved? Is anything sent to you?
Your plan is saved in this browser only, and nothing you draw is sent to Cooped Up Life. The address you search goes to OpenStreetMap's Nominatim service to find it on the map.
