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Keeping Chickens in Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky

We’ve compiled a list of major cities and their chicken keeping laws in Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, and Kentucky. 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.

Indiana

There are still several cities in Indiana that prohibit keeping backyard chickens, but those that do allow them are generous with their flock allowances. Permits are required for most cities that do allow chickens.

  • Bloomington - up to 5 hens; no roosters; permit required
  • Carmel - up to 6 hens; no roosters; permit required
  • Evansville - up to 6 hens; no roosters; permit required
  • Fort Wayne - no chickens allowed
  • Gary - no official limit; permit required
  • Hammond - no chickens allowed
  • Indianapolis - up to 12 hens and 1 rooster; permit may be required
  • Noblesville - no chickens allowed
  • South Bend - up to 6 hens; no roosters; permit required

Iowa

Iowa has diverse laws when it comes to keeping chickens. In fact, in Waterloo, residents are required to obtain their neighbor’s consent before getting chickens. Most cities also require permits to own chickens.

  • Ames - no official limit; permit required
  • Ankeny - no chickens allowed
  • Cedar Rapids - up to 6 hens; no roosters; permit required
  • Council Bluffs - no official limit; permit required
  • Davenport - up to 6 hens; no roosters; permit required
  • Des Moines - up to 30 chickens depending on lot size; permit required
  • Iowa City - up to 4 hens; no roosters; permit required
  • Sioux City - up to 4 hens; no roosters; permit required
  • Waterloo - up to 8 hens depending on lot size; no roosters; must obtain neighbor consent before getting chickens
  • West Des Moines - no chickens allowed

Man crouching down next to an Eglu Cube large chicken coop.
The Eglu Cube chicken coop makes chicken keeping straightforward and fun, perfect for both newbies and advanced hen keepers.

Kansas

Kansas is a chicken-friendly state with a wide range of laws regarding how many chickens you can keep. Some cities allow roosters, and most of the cities on our list require permits to have chickens.

  • Kansas City - up to 6 hens; no roosters; permit required
  • Lawrence - up to 20 hens depending on lot size; no roosters
  • Lenexa - 5 hens per acre, with 1 acre lot being the minimum size; no roosters
  • Manhattan - no official limit
  • Olathe - up to 4 hens; no roosters; permit required
  • Overland Park - limits based on lot size; no roosters on properties smaller than 3 acres; permit required
  • Salina - up to 15 chickens; permit required
  • Shawnee - up to 10 hens; no roosters; permit required
  • Topeka - no official limit; permit required
  • Wichita - up to 12 chickens; roosters are allowed on lots larger than 10,000sqft; no permit required for 3 chickens or less; permit required for flocks over 3 chickens

Kentucky

Kentucky allows chickens in most cities, but most require permits. On our list, the only city that doesn’t currently allow chickens is Owensboro.

  • Bowling Green - up to 5 hens; no roosters; permit required
  • Covington - 8 or more, depending on lot size; no roosters; permit required
  • Elizabethtown - no official limits
  • Hopkinsville - no official limit; permit required
  • Jeffersontown - up 5 hens on lots half an acre or less; additional hens may be obtained on larger lots with permission from the city
  • Lexington - no official limit
  • Louisville - up to 6 hens; no roosters; permit required
  • Nicholasville - no official limit; permit required
  • Owensboro - no chickens allowed

Omlet and your flock

With sanitary chicken coops in alignment with state recommendations, we’ve got the setups you need to have a thriving backyard flock in compliance with your city. Our mobile chicken coops and walk in chicken runs make it easy to create your hen’s home within the parameters set forth in your area.

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Comments

Deanna, 19 January 2024

Are chickens allowed in Pulaski County outside the city limits?


Bppayne, 1 February 2023

Chickens are not allowed at all within Fort Wayne City Limits. There is an ordinance posted on the city website, but it did not pass, 7-2.


Taiya, 28 May 2022

I was thinking of getting a duck or chicken and I live in city limits. Are they allowed or not in city limits?


Amy, 4 May 2022

I live in a residential neighborhood in Radcliff ky. Can I have chickens?


Melanie, 3 February 2022

Fort Wayne Indiana does not have urban hens (yet). We're working on it.