Keeping Chickens in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas

We've compiled a list of major cities and their chicken-keeping laws in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, and Arkansas. Laws are always subject to change, so be sure to visit your city's website or zoning office to obtain the most up-to-date information. Even if you don't live within city limits, you may be subject to county laws. If you don't see your city or county listed, contact your local zoning or code enforcement office to verify any rules that apply to keeping chickens.

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Alabama

Alabama has no statewide restrictions on backyard chickens — the state leaves regulation entirely to cities and counties. Here are some notable cities and counties, along with their chicken-keeping laws. All of the cities listed have coop placement requirements in addition to flock size restrictions.

Cities

• Auburn - 4-6 hens depending on lot size; no roosters
• Birmingham - up to 6 hens on lots less than one acre, up to 12 hens on lots over one acre; no roosters; no permit required; coop must be at least 50 feet from neighboring residences and public rights-of-way
• Daphne - 4-8 hens depending on lot size; no roosters
• Florence - 6-12 hens depending on lot size; no roosters
• Huntsville - no limit on flock size; roosters are allowed
• Mobile - 4-8 hens depending on lot size; no roosters; permit required
• Montgomery - up to 6 hens; no roosters; zoning permit required for the coop enclosure; coop must be screened from public view and set back at least 15 feet from side and rear property lines
• Tuscaloosa - 4-8 hens depending on lot size; no roosters

Counties

• Baldwin County - up to 8 hens per half acre; no roosters
• Jefferson County - up to 20 small fowl (including chickens) per acre in R-1 zones; roosters are not permitted in R-1 subdivisions unless the parcel is at least 2 acres; chickens must not run at large and must not constitute a nuisance or health hazard; zoning was updated October 2025
• Madison County - limits dependent on whether you are within city limits or not; no roosters; permit may be required
• Mobile County - no specified limits for hens, but may depend on lot size; no roosters within residential zones; permit required
• Tuscaloosa County - flock size dependent on zoning area; licensing required for all chickens; no roosters; additional permits may be required

Alaska

Most of Alaska allows backyard flocks, though some cities require permits. There are also guidelines ensuring that chicken waste is disposed of properly so that it does not contaminate water sources. Flocks must be kept in secure enclosures or coops, and most cities have requirements for their placement. Alaska has no statewide permit requirement or flock size limit — all rules are set at the borough or city level.

• Anchorage - up to 5 hens on lots 6,000 sq ft or less, plus 1 additional hen per extra 1,000 sq ft of lot area; no roosters; no permit required; coop must be at least 10 feet from any lot line
• Bethel - no official limits
• Fairbanks - no official limits; roosters allowed
• Juneau - 6-12 hens depending on lot size; no roosters; permit required
• Kenai - 5-10 hens depending on lot size; no roosters; permit required
• Ketchikan - 5-20 hens depending on lot size; no roosters
• Kodiak - up to 6 hens; no roosters
• Palmer - up to 10 birds; roosters allowed
• Sitka - up to 6 hens; no roosters
• Wasilla - no official limits

Arizona

Arizona passed HB 2325 in 2024, which established a statewide baseline preventing cities and counties from banning backyard chickens on single-family detached homes on lots of half an acre or less. Under state law, residents on these lots have a guaranteed right to keep up to 6 hens. Local cities can still regulate setbacks, enclosure standards, sanitation, and noise — but they cannot ban small flocks outright. Like other states, cities in Arizona also have coop placement guidelines and sanitation expectations for chicken-keepers.

• Chandler - up to 5 hens; no roosters; coop must be at least 5 feet from any property line; a building permit is required if the coop exceeds 120 sq ft or is connected to utilities
• Gilbert - up to 5 hens; no roosters
• Glendale - no restrictions in non-urban zones; roosters allowed
• Mesa - up to 10 birds; roosters allowed
• Phoenix - up to 20 hens on lots up to half an acre; roosters are permitted only if they do not make noise that disturbs the peace; chickens must not be kept in the front yard; enclosures must be at least 80 feet from any neighboring residence unless written permission is obtained from neighbors
• Scottsdale - up to 5 hens; no roosters
• Tempe - up to 5 hens; no roosters
• Tucson - number of hens is calculated using an "animal unit" system (each chicken = 1 unit; 2 units are given per 1,000 sq ft of lot size, with a maximum of 24 units on lots up to 16,000 sq ft); no roosters permitted anywhere within city limits; coop must be at least 20 feet from a neighboring dwelling; no permit required

Arkansas

Many residential areas in Arkansas allow chickens, but coop placement and health conditions are enforced. Permits are common in Arkansas cities.

• Bentonville - up to 6 hens; no roosters; permit required
• Conway - up to 6 hens; no roosters; permit required
• Fayetteville - 4-20 hens depending on lot size; no roosters; permit required
• Fort Smith - up to 6 hens; no roosters; permit required
• Jonesboro - up to 6 hens; no roosters; permit required
• Little Rock - no official limit on hens; one rooster per residence permitted; permit required
• Pine Bluff - up to 6 hens; no roosters; permit required
• Rogers - up to 4 hens; no roosters; permit required
• Springdale - chickens are only permitted on properties zoned agricultural (A-1); no fowl of any kind are permitted in platted subdivisions, even if the subdivision is zoned.