Can we start a list of cities that allow chickens?

[VillageMom]

Hello! I'm new here, have been wanting chickens for almost a year, been lurking here most of that year. Finally dh built me a coop and I went to buy myself some chickens. The guy at the feed store (a few towns over) informed me that my town (actually called a villlage as it is only 208 population) doesn't allow chickens. Dh later confirmed this with the mayor himself (at the bar, again, SMALL town!)

We are building a case to present to the city council so we can try to get this changed. We are in the middle of farms and more farms, so why we cannot have chickens is beyond me. Most of the families here are farm families or have siblings that run a farm, they should understand that chickens are not dirty and that they have value. It's crazy to think that big metro cities get this but a small country village does not...

So I was thinking that it would be good to have a list of some cities that are for sure allowing their residents to have chickens as pets. Could you post your city, and possibly a link to the city laws if they are online and you know where they are? I will update this post as often as I can with the replies so that folks coming here looking for examples to share with their city council have a quick list.

thank you all!

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

The problem is that in many cases it is not as clearcut as a city allowing or disallowing them.

Most cities have multiple zoning districts, and the rules often vary depending on the particular zoning district.

My city (Tempe, AZ) allows up to 5 hens in all single family residential districts, but the rules vary from that for the AG district (no limit and roosters are allowed) and possibly for lots abuting the Ag District (not sure about chickens, but I know they vary for livestock).

Most HOAs have rules against livestock, so that puts on a restriction that Tempe does not.

 

[ChooksChick]

Lawrence, KS allows up to 20 birds, hens only, if your lot is 10,000 sq. ft. smaller lots may have 6, graduating up to the 20 by area.

HOA rules win if they say "no chickens."

Ducks follow same rules, 20 bird max, chickens and ducks combined.

 

[Thoroughbred]

Albuquerque, NM allows 15 birds (including only one rooster). This includes chickens, ducks, turkey and geese. The actual city ordinance states that you can have "unlimited" numbers of birds. However, a while back good old animal control came in and overrode that with a new rule capping the limit at 15. Of course, subdivisions with covenants barring chickens supersede any city ordinance.

 

[SproutGirl]

Missoula, MT allows up to 6 hens per parcel. No roosters. If there is more than one family per parcel, such as in a duplex or apartment, there must be a written agreement between all tenants allowing the hens. There is a yearly $15 chicken permit fee. There are also regulations regarding coop size per number of hens, feed storage, and allowing the hens to have access to shelter, food, and water at all times.

Edited to add this link. See section 6.12.020 (F). Subsection F is what allowed our city to have chickens and amended the previous ban on them.
http://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/DocumentView.aspx?DID=1028

 

[ChickenSmitten]

Madison Wisconsin allows 4 hens with setback laws...

 

[Frachioni]

I live in a small suburb of Pittsburgh - Penn Hills. We are allowed only ONE hen per household up until 5 acres of property. Then, after 5 acres, there is no limit. Makes NO sense to me whatsoever! We live on 1.5 acres and can only LEGALLY have ONE?? Humph.

 

[JLMom]

My town,Somerset, Massachusetts (population about 20,000, with a population density of 2,250 people per square mile) is zoned agricultural throughout the whole town! It is the least agricultural town in the whole area! But I called, and I can have chickens and roosters, and whatever else I want!

 

[Mahonri]

Phoenix: Allows 20 HENS, must be in an enclosed coop and run and written permission from any neighbor's residence within 80 feet of the coop.

 

[redhen]

This thread is a great idea!