Keeping Chickens in California, Colorado, Connecticut

We've compiled a list of major cities and their chicken-keeping laws in California, Colorado, and Connecticut. 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 planning or zoning office to verify whether any rules apply.

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California

California has no statewide limit on backyard chickens — all rules are set at the city and county level. Regulations can vary dramatically depending on where you live. Most cities allow hens only and prohibit roosters in residential areas. Sacramento has some of the strictest rules, with a 3-hen limit and annual permits required per bird.

• Anaheim - 1 hen per 1,800 sq ft of lot area (maximum of 5 in standard R-1 zones); no roosters; no permit required
• Bakersfield - chickens permitted only in Agricultural or Residential-Suburban (R-S) zones; roosters allowed in permitted zones; no permit required
• Fresno - up to 6 hens depending on exact location and zone; no roosters
• Long Beach - up to 4 hens without a permit; 5–10 hens require a permit and 35 ft setback; 11–20 hens require a permit and 50 ft setback; no roosters
• Los Angeles - up to 4 hens; 1 rooster permitted per property (coop must be at least 100 ft from neighboring residences if a rooster is kept); no permit required (Los Angeles Municipal Code § 53.59)
• Oakland - up to 6 hens; no roosters; coop must be at least 20 ft from any dwelling, church, or school
• Sacramento - up to 3 hens; no roosters; coop must be at least 20 ft from any neighboring dwelling; annual permit required for each chicken kept; no on-site slaughtering
• San Diego - up to 5 hens if coop is in rear yard with standard setbacks; up to 15 hens if coop is at least 15 ft from all property lines; up to 25 hens if coop is at least 50 ft from any residential building; no roosters
• San Francisco - backyard chickens are effectively prohibited for most residential properties. While SF Health Code Sec. 37 technically permits up to 4 small animals (including chickens) in combination, the 20 ft setback requirement from any door or window makes this impractical on nearly all residential lots. Contact the San Francisco Department of Public Health before keeping chickens.
• San Jose - up to 6 hens without a permit on most residential lots; permit from the health officer required for more than 6; no roosters; coops must be at least 25 ft from neighboring residences
• Stockton - no official hen limit specified; no roosters; contact the Stockton Planning Division for current requirements

Colorado

Colorado has no statewide limit on backyard chickens — all regulation is local. Most cities allow hens in residential areas but prohibit roosters and require permits. Note that HOA rules can override city allowances, so always check with your HOA before getting chickens.

• Aurora - up to 6 hens on lots under 20,000 sq ft; up to 8 hens on larger lots; no roosters; one-time permit required ($40 fee, apply via the city's eTRAKiT portal); hens must stay in their coop from dusk to dawn (Aurora City Chickens & Ducks page)
• Centennial - up to 6 hens in most residential zones; no roosters; permit required; chickens must be secured in an enclosure from dusk to dawn
• Colorado Springs - up to 10 hens; no roosters; no permit required; coop must provide at least 4 sq ft of floor space per bird
• Denver - up to 8 hens; no roosters; a $25 Food Producing Animal permit is required from Denver Animal Protection; coop must be in the backyard and predator-proof; each hen requires at least 16 sq ft of permeable land area
• Fort Collins - up to 6 hens (up to 12 depending on lot size); no roosters; a one-time coop license ($30) is required through NOCO Humane; enclosure inspection required before license is issued; quantities determined by property size
• Pueblo - up to 6 hens; no roosters; permit required; contact Pueblo Animal Services for current permit requirements
• Thornton - backyard chickens are only permitted on properties zoned for agricultural use (A, AR, or R1a); standard residential zoning does not allow chickens; a commercial animal license is required; contact the City of Thornton Planning Division to verify your zoning before purchasing chickens
• Westminster - up to 6 hens on lots under 2 acres; up to 12 hens on lots of 2+ acres; no roosters; a one-time Backyard Livestock Permit is required ($25 fee); coop must be in the rear yard, set back at least 10 ft from all side and rear property lines; rear yard must be screened by a privacy fence at least 6 ft high; hens must be in their coop from dusk to dawn (Westminster Municipal Code § 6-7-12)

Connecticut

Connecticut regulates backyard chickens at the municipal level. As of 2025, 111 of Connecticut's 169 municipalities (66%) allow backyard chickens, according to research by the Western Connecticut Council of Governments. Most towns that permit chickens prohibit roosters and set flock size limits. The state sets no specific standards for backyard poultry — all practical rules are local. For a full overview of how Connecticut municipalities approach this, see the UConn Extension guide to backyard chickens in Connecticut.

• Danbury - backyard chickens are currently not permitted in residential zones. There is an active petition to change this. Contact the Danbury Planning & Zoning Department for the latest status.
• Greenwich - up to 9 poultry (chickens, ducks, peacocks and the like) on any residential parcel; no roosters on properties under 4 acres; no sale of eggs; no on-site slaughter; coop must meet the accessory structure setbacks of the zone and be located behind the rear plane of the primary structure (Greenwich Building Zone Regulations § 6-11(6)(C))
• Hartford - up to 6 hens in residential zones (R-2 and R-3); 6–12 hens permitted in community gardens or urban farms in additional zoning districts; no roosters; no on-site slaughtering; henhouse must be in the rear yard, at least 25 ft from any street line, 15 ft from any residential dwelling, and 15 ft from any property line; henhouse limited to 200 sq ft; zoning permit required (Hartford Zoning Regulations)
• New Britain - up to 10 adult hens permitted on residential properties; no roosters; full ordinances available via Municode; contact the New Britain Planning Department to confirm current permit requirements
• New Haven - up to 6 hens; no roosters; coop must be locked, secure, and placed entirely in the rear yard; enclosure must be at least 25 ft from any street line, 15 ft from any residential dwelling, and 5 ft from any property line; coop building must be at least 10 ft from any lot line; permit required (New Haven Code of Ordinances § 34)
• Norwalk - up to 12 chickens; roosters older than 4 months are prohibited; coop or pen must be at least 50 ft from any property lines and 25 ft from any neighboring dwelling; coop must be kept in a clean and sanitary condition (Norwalk Municipal Code § 118-340)
• Stamford - no official hen limit specified; no permit required; coop must be at least 25 ft from all property lines and kept clean, ventilated, and predator-proof; chickens must not create a noise or odor nuisance; contact the Stamford Land Use Bureau for additional permitting information (Stamford Municipal Code § 111-4)
• Waterbury - up to 25 fowl per parcel; roosters strictly prohibited; chickens must be kept in an enclosed coop set back at least 50 ft from every adjacent lot line; zoning permit required; contact the Waterbury City Planning Department at (203) 574-6817 or cityplan@waterburyct.org to apply

A note on HOAs and rental properties: Even where a city permits backyard chickens, your HOA may prohibit them — and HOA rules take precedence over city allowances. If you are a renter, you will also need your landlord's written permission regardless of local law. Always check both before getting your flock.