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Keep some chickens - It's the Law!
Well, in an ideal world it would be! Most States allow you to keep chickens as pets in your garden, and if you let your neighbor know you're unlikely to encounter any problems.
For example, you can keep as many chickens as you like in New York City, you just need to obtain a permit and promise to keep them clean. And if you live in Chicago you can have as many chickens as you like so long as they are pets. They also need to be kept in an eglu. Alright we made that last bit up! But they do need to have their own home, so don't try and hide them in the bedroom.
Los Angeles, Miami and Seattle are all chicken friendly and if you live in Houston, Texas you can keep up to 30 pet chickens!
The rules do vary a bit so we have listed most big cities and States to help you check if there are any requirements you should know about. If you are in any doubt you need to contact your local DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, they can also help you to obtain a permit if you are required to have one where you live.
Portland, Oregon. You are allowed three hens without a permit. Roosters are not allowed. You need to apply for a permit to keep chickens. Permit for more costs $31. Any eglus must be kept more than 25ft. from residences.
Gresham, OR. Unlimited chickens allowed, provided your eglu is kept 100ft. from neighbors,
Spokane, WA. Up to three chickens allowed here.
Falls Church, VA. Chickens not allowed. You could still have an eglu though, have you seen they are available for rabbits and guinea pigs too!
Topeka, KS. Unlimited chickens allowed. Your chickens must be 50 feet from any neighbors house.
Syracuse, NY. Chickens are sometimes allowed here. It depends on your zoning. But definitely no roosters!
Mobile, AL. You can keep as may hens as you like here but no breeding allowed so definitely no to roosters!
Santa Rosa, CA. May have up to 25 chickens. No chickens in residential areas zoned R1, R2 or PRC.
Westfield, MA. Chickens not allowed. But you can have up to five cats and dogs. Hang on a minute, why not teach your chickens to bark and catch a ball? That way if anyone asks you can say they are just a very rare breed of dog!
Casper, WY. Chickens are sometimes allowed. for example if your children are taking part in a 4-H project or you are learning to bake cakes and need to have a good supply of eggs!
Corvallis, OR. Unlimited chickens allowed. No roosters though. Your Chickens must be penned, that's what an eglus for!
Santa Fe, NM. We've always liked Santa Fe and now there's another reason...you are allowed as many chickens as you like here.
Little Rock, AR. Up to four chickens allowed, perfect fit for your eglu!
Oswego, NY. Can only have chickens that were "grandfathered." Not sure what this means, do they have to know what it was like in the good old days?
New York City. You can keep as many chickens as you like. You have to have a permit for your chickens. Must be kept clean. No roosters.
Chicago, IL. Can keep as many chickens as you like but only if they will be your pets. You are not allowed to keep them for slaughter. You must also keep them penned.
Seattle, WA. Can have a total of three small animals; more if the lot is large.
Houston, TX. Up to 30 chickens allowed. Chickens must be kept 100 feet from neighboring properties.
Detroit, MI. Not allowed sorry. No "farm animals." Is a chicken with a name that sits on your knee in the backyard a farm animal? Your Honour I would motion the prosecutions case be thrown out!
Miami, FL. May have up to 15 hens, no roosters. Must be contained at least 100 feet from neighboring structures.
Minneapolis, MN. Unlimited. Applicant needs consent from 80 percent of neighbors within 100 feet of real estate. Chickens must be penned.
Los Angeles, CA. You can keep as many as you like but 20 feet away of owner's residence, and must be at least 35 feet from any other dwelling.
Round Rock, TX. Up to 5 chickens if your chicken pen is 25 ft. away from neighbor's residences. If the pen is 50 ft. away, you can have 10 chickens.
Portland, ME. Chickens not legal. Sorry! Your chickens would be Outlaws! If you did get some, would your neighbors put up posters with "Wanted, Dead or Alive"?
Burlington, VT. Up to 3 chickens per household. Eggcellent!
Aiken, SC. Chickens must be penned, and the pen kept 40 ft. from neighboring residences.
San Antonio, TX. Up to 5 chickens, any gender, per household. Must keep in an eglu, 20 feet from any other dwelling.
Ponca City, OK. Chickens must be kept 100 ft. from neighbor's houses.
Austin, TX. Up to 10 chickens per household allowed, but keep in an enclosure that's 50 ft. away from neighbors.
Anaheim, CA. Can keep 3 chickens on a 5,000 sq.ft. lot, 6 chickens on a 10,000 sq.ft. lot.
Albuquerque, NM. Zoning allows the raising of unlimited chickens if penned at least 20 feet from neighboring dwellings.
Madison, WI. Up to four chickens per household allowed. You are not allowed to let your chickens roam free. Keep you pen 25 ft. from your neighbors. There is a $6 annual permit required.
Boston, MA. All residential zones in Boston forbid "auxilliary keeping of animals", which includes chickens and other livestock. But if your neighbors don't mind, who's gonna know?
Huntsville, AL. Chickens must be kept 150 ft. from the neighbors.
Lawrenceville, GA. No chickens allowed. However, apparently this law is only enforced if someone complains. So maybe speak to you neighbors first to check they are happy.
San Jose, CA. You can keep up to 6 chickens at least 20 ft. from residences. Up to 4 chickens 15 ft. away from residences. No roosters.
Mountain View, CA. Up to 4 hens without a permit can be kept. Keep them 25 ft. from residences. Within 25 ft. is OK with written consent from neighbors. No roosters.
Nampa ID. You can keep 3 chickens here if they are kept 50 ft. from neighbors. You need a permit which costs $50. No roosters.
Bakersfield, CA. Municipal code 6.08.010 Any chickens must be kept securely enclosed in a yard or pen at all times. An eglu is perfect for you!
Des Moines, IA. If you have 1 acre, you can have up to 30 chickens; lots 1 acre or larger, up to 50 chickens. You are not allowed to keep them in the front yard, and must be at least 25' from neighbors.
Johnston, IA. "No...chickens shall be allowed to run at large within the corporate limits of the city..."
Urbandale, IA. Your chickens must be kept at least 150 feet from any dwelling.
Clive, IA.No more than 12 chickens on lots less than 1.5 acres. Must be 150 feet from homes and 50 feet from property line.
West Des Moines, IA. Chickens must be kept penned.
Windsor Heights, IA. No more than 2 chickens allowed they must be kept in your eglu and run at all times. They must be at least 25' from neighboring residences, and may not be in the front yard.
Waukee, IA. No chickens shall be kept within the city limits of the City, except in A-1 District or A-2 Annexation District on tracts of one (1) or more acres.
Sioux City, IA. A Permit is required here.No roosters over 4 months old. No more than 50 birds in total. Must be kept at least 25' from the home and at least 150' from neighboring homes.
Davenport, IA. Chickens not allowed, unless property is zoned as agricultural.
Rochester, NY requires a $25 license for keeping pet chickens; in the city
limits, no roosters and no commercial breeding allowed. Coops must be
kept 25 feet away from houses. Coops must provide a minimum of four
square feet of room per bird; the eglu and run together measures 26.75sqft or 6.7sqft per chicken if you have 4 chickens in the eglu. Your coop set-up must be inspected before
adding chickens, to make sure it provides enough space and healthy
conditions for the birds. Licensing and inspection is done through
the Rochester City Police Department (Sgt. DeAngelo). The online city
code which outlines this can be found in Chapter 30, Section 19.
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