I wanted to give the correct information to your viewers and members regarding the chicken laws in St. Louis County.

[JohnLeeG]

I work in Code Enforcement and while doing a search I found your webpage. The information is incorrect on the restrictions for chickens in unincorporated St. Louis County. The number of chickens allowed is 8, depending upon the size of your lot in a residential area. The same is true for St. Louis City. Roosters have NEVER been allowed because they violate the noise ordinance enforced by our Health Department. You cannot sell the eggs; chicks; or chickens even if you are registered with the Department of Agriculture. The chickens you keep and the eggs they produce are for consumption by the family members living within the home where the chickens are kept. I hope no one was inconvenience by the previous misinformation that was posted on this website.

 

[chrissynemetz]

Thank you for posting this

 

[poultryprofessor]

You cannot sell the eggs; chicks; or chickens even if you are registered with the Department of Agriculture. The chickens you keep and the eggs they produce are for consumption by the family members living within the home where the chickens are kept.

Where can I find the ordinance that specifies this? I am not in St. Louis myself, but I work with small farmers throughout the state (including some in the St. Louis area).

I have been using this fact sheet as a guide:
https://moenvironment.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Overview-of-BB52-Chickens1.pdf

Is there a better source?

 

[STLCCO chicken lady]

I work in Code Enforcement and while doing a search I found your webpage. The information is incorrect on the restrictions for chickens in unincorporated St. Louis County. The number of chickens allowed is 8, depending upon the size of your lot in a residential area. The same is true for St. Louis City. Roosters have NEVER been allowed because they violate the noise ordinance enforced by our Health Department. You cannot sell the eggs; chicks; or chickens even if you are registered with the Department of Agriculture. The chickens you keep and the eggs they produce are for consumption by the family members living within the home where the chickens are kept. I hope no one was inconvenience by the previous misinformation that was posted on this website.

Can you please provide the ordinance for St Louis County that states chickens are limited to 8 and Roosters are not allowed? I have searched the codes and have found nothing to support your statement. I have also spoken with Animal Control on prior occasions and they "understood" the same thing you are saying; however, none were ever able to provide documentation to back up the claims.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Can you please provide the ordinance for St Louis County that states chickens are limited to 8 and Roosters are not allowed? I have searched the codes and have found nothing to support your statement. I have also spoken with Animal Control on prior occasions and they "understood" the same thing you are saying; however, none were ever able to provide documentation to back up the claims.

The original poster created the account on Oct 7, 2020, made the single post above asserting authority in the matter, and has not been seen on BYC since. It is unlikely they will respond.

The County code describes the following as a "public nuisance" under their authority to regulate matters related to health:
(13)
The keeping of animals or fowl in close proximity to residences, schools, hospitals, public or semipublic buildings, playgrounds, parks, and other public places, except pet cats and dogs, animals in public or licensed zoos, farm animals and in laboratories;


The definition of "close", however, appears to be subject to the discretion of Code Enforcement.