Keeping Chickens in Hawaii, Idaho, and Illinois

We've compiled a list of major cities and their chicken keeping laws in Hawaii, Idaho, and Illinois. 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. And, 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 of residence listed, contact your appropriate office to verify if there are laws that apply to keeping chickens.

Hawaii

Hawaii is famous as a tropical paradise. And, as descendants of Junglefowl, domesticated chickens can be quite comfortable in this climate. Hawaii has no statewide chicken limits - all rules are set at the county level and vary significantly by island. Most residential zones restrict roosters due to noise. All chicken keepers across all islands are required to register their flock with the Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) for biosecurity purposes.

• East Honolulu - up to 6 hens; no roosters; coop must be at least 50 feet from a neighboring residence; HDOA flock registration required
• Ewa Gentry - up to 6 hens; no roosters; coop must be at least 50 feet from a neighboring residence; HDOA flock registration required
• Hilo - number of hens determined by lot size: up to 4 hens for the first 5,000 sq ft, plus 1 additional hen per 1,000 sq ft thereafter; no roosters in residential zones; HDOA flock registration required (updated 2025)
• Honolulu - up to 6 hens; no roosters; coop must be at least 50 feet from a neighboring residence; HDOA flock registration required
• Kahului - no chickens allowed within residential areas
• Kailua - up to 6 hens; no roosters; coop must be at least 50 feet from a neighboring residence; HDOA flock registration required
• Kaneohe - up to 6 hens; no roosters; coop must be at least 50 feet from a neighboring residence; HDOA flock registration required
• Mililani - up to 6 hens; no roosters; coop must be at least 50 feet from a neighboring residence; HDOA flock registration required
• Pearl City - up to 6 hens; no roosters; coop must be at least 50 feet from a neighboring residence; HDOA flock registration required
• Waipahu - up to 6 hens; no roosters; coop must be at least 50 feet from a neighboring residence; HDOA flock registration required

Idaho

Idaho is a chicken-friendly state, but there are flock size restrictions and permits for most cities. Some cities are vague in their labeling of chickens as livestock or pets, so be sure to contact the city office before making definitive decisions.

• Boise - up to 6 hens; no roosters; permit required
• Caldwell - up to 10 hens; no roosters; permit required
• Coeur d'Alene - up to 2 hens; no roosters
• Idaho Falls - up to 6 hens on lots of at least 5,000 sq ft; 1 additional hen permitted per 1,250 sq ft over the 5,000 sq ft minimum; maximum of 12 hens total; no roosters; permit required
• Lewiston - no official limits; permit required
• Meridian - no official limits
• Nampa - up to 10 hens; no roosters; permit required
• Pocatello - no official limits, but a written application must be submitted to the Director of Animal Services for a permit to keep both hens and roosters
• Twin Falls - up to 4 hens with no permit required; can apply for a permit to keep more; no roosters

Illinois

If you live in Illinois, you may run into laws that vary widely by city. Several cities that previously banned chickens outright have updated their ordinances in recent years to allow small backyard flocks. Always check your local city or zoning office for the most current rules, as this state has seen significant changes. Illinois state bill HB4764, which would establish a statewide right to keep backyard hens, was introduced in 2026 but has not yet passed into law.

• Aurora - up to 6 hens; no roosters; must be kept at least 25 feet from neighboring properties; zoning approval required
• Champaign - up to 6 hens; no roosters; permit required
• Chicago - up to 10 hens depending on lot size; no roosters; rear yard only; permit required
• Elgin - up to 4 hens; no roosters; permit required
• Joliet - up to 6 hens; no roosters; rear yard only; zoning approval required
• Naperville - up to 8 hens; no roosters; permit required
• Peoria - up to 6 hens; no roosters; rear yard only; zoning approval required
• Rockford - up to 6 hens; no roosters; rear yard only; zoning approval required
• Springfield - chickens allowed in most zones; up to 6 hens in residential zones; flock size may vary by zone; no roosters; permit required
• Waukegan - no chickens allowed