Own Chickens

Local laws

Check the rules before you buy birds

Start with your ZIP code. Confirm flock limits, rooster rules, coop setbacks, permits, forms, and nuisance rules before spending money.

Check your ZIP code

Enter your ZIP code to see the backyard chicken rules for your area, with links to the official sources.

How it works: we look up your city, county and state, show verified local rules first, and otherwise point you to the official places to check.

Verified cities

Cities with checked chicken rules

Each city page summarizes the official rules in plain language, links the source documents, and shows the date we last checked. We only list cities we could verify on official city sources (37 verified cities across Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio, plus state agriculture and extension resources for all 50 US states).

WI · checked 2026-10-18MadisonUp to 8 chickens. Roosters prohibited. City chicken license required. WI · checked 2026-10-18MilwaukeeUp to 4 chickens. Roosters prohibited. Chicken keeping permit required. WI · checked 2026-10-18Green BayUp to 5 hens. Roosters prohibited. Annual hen license from the City Clerk. WI · checked 2026-10-18AppletonUp to 6 chickens (hens only). Roosters not allowed (the rules define chickens as hens only). Annual Health Department permit. WI · checked 2026-10-18Eau ClaireUp to 5 poultry (hens; quail included). Roosters, cocks, and drakes prohibited. Annual poultry license. WI · checked 2026-10-18La CrosseUp to 8 chickens. Roosters prohibited. Annual chicken license. WI · checked 2026-10-18OshkoshUp to 6 chickens and/or ducks per residential lot. The permit covers hens; confirm rooster rules in Chapter 6 of the Municipal Code. Annual permit. WI · checked 2026-10-18KenoshaUp to 4 chickens. Roosters prohibited. Annual license. WI · checked 2026-10-18ColumbusUp to 4 chickens. Roosters prohibited. Annual license via the City Clerk. WI · checked 2026-10-18JanesvilleUp to 4 hens or 4 female ducks (not both). Roosters and drakes prohibited. Annual residential chicken or duck premises permit. WI · checked 2026-10-25WaukeshaUp to 4 chickens (6 on parcels over 1 acre). Roosters prohibited (ducks, geese, turkeys, and other fowl also prohibited). Community Development Department permit required. WI · checked 2026-10-25SheboyganUp to 3 domestic animals/fowl over 5 months without a permit; Animal Fancier Permit required for more than 3. Subject to nuisance and noise provisions in Sheboygan Municipal Code Sec. 8-15. Animal Fancier Permit required if keeping more than 3 total domestic animals/fowl over 5 months old. WI · checked 2026-10-25WauwatosaUp to 4 chickens (hens). Roosters prohibited. Annual chicken-keeping permit required. WI · checked 2026-10-25Fond du LacUp to 4 hens and/or pullets. Roosters prohibited. Annual Chicken Keeping Permit. WI · checked 2026-10-25WausauUp to 4 hens or pullets. Roosters prohibited. Annual Chicken Keeping Permit. WI · checked 2026-10-25Sun PrairieUp to 4 hens (up to 15 hens at permitted schools). Roosters prohibited. One-time Special Use Permit. WI · checked 2026-10-25Fitchburg25 chickens per acre, prorated by lot size (0.25 animal units per acre under Sec. 22-56(14)). Subject to city noise and nuisance ordinances; check subdivision covenants. No city chicken license required for personal use. WI · checked 2026-10-25MiddletonUp to 6 hens on lots up to 0.5 acre; up to 8 hens on lots over 0.5 acre. Roosters and crowing hens prohibited. Initial Chicken Permit. WI · checked 2026-10-25Stevens PointUp to 5 chickens (or combination of up to 5 chickens, ducks, or rabbits). Roosters prohibited. City Clerk permit required. WI · checked 2026-10-25NeenahUp to 4 total chickens, doves, or other fowl per property. Roosters prohibited. Registration required with the Office of the Building Inspector / Community Development. WI · checked 2026-10-25Beaver DamNot allowed (0 chickens in city limits). Prohibited (all chickens and farm poultry prohibited). None available. WI · checked 2026-10-25WatertownUp to 4 hens. Roosters prohibited. Raising of Chickens zoning/accessory permit plus residential building permit for the coop/run. WI · checked 2026-10-25BeloitUp to 4 female chickens. Roosters prohibited (including capons). Annual residential chicken permit required. WI · checked 2026-10-25De PereUp to 4 chickens (combined dogs, cats, and chickens cannot exceed 6 animals). Roosters prohibited. Annual chicken permit from the Clerk-Treasurer. MN · checked 2026-10-18MinneapolisPermit fee tiers cover 1-6, 7-15, and 16-30 birds. Separate rooster permit fee ($110); neighbor consent required. Annual fowl permit: $32 for 1-6 birds, $58 for 7-15, $84 for 16-30. MN · checked 2026-10-18Saint PaulUp to 15 hens (Tier One: 1-6, Tier Two: 7-15). Roosters prohibited. Tier One: $26 initial, $16 annual renewal. Tier Two: $76 initial, $28 annual renewal. IL · checked 2026-10-25ChicagoNo numeric limit in city code for egg-laying hens (must meet sanitation, noise, and space standards). Not explicitly banned by species, but crowing that disturbs neighbors violates Chicago noise and animal nuisance ordinances. No residential permit required for keeping hens for eggs. IL · checked 2026-10-25Evanston2 to 6 hens (minimum of 2, maximum of 6). Roosters prohibited on residential properties (limited exception for accredited educational institutions under Ord. 22-O-23). Annual Hen Coop License. MN · checked 2026-10-25RochesterUp to 3 hens (up to 12 hens for educational or instructional activity with letter of request). Roosters prohibited. Chicken permit required under Chapter 3-4. MN · checked 2026-10-25DuluthUp to 5 female chickens. Roosters prohibited. Annual Keeping of Chickens license. IA · checked 2026-10-25Des MoinesUp to 30 birds total (max 2 species) on parcels under 1 acre; up to 50 on 1 acre plus 50 per additional acre. Roosters require written consent from every abutting property owner or lawful occupant (Ord. 16,402). No city permit required for hens when setback and lot rules are met. IA · checked 2026-10-25Cedar RapidsUp to 6 hens (female chickens). Roosters prohibited. Annual Urban Chicken Permit. IA · checked 2026-10-25Iowa CityUp to 4 hens. Roosters prohibited. Urban Chicken Permit required. MI · checked 2026-10-25Ann ArborUp to 6 birds (chickens, ducks, or a combination of both). Roosters (male chickens) prohibited; drakes (male ducks) and hen ducks are permitted. 6-Bird Permit from the City Clerk. MI · checked 2026-10-25Grand RapidsUp to 4 hens on lots 3,800–5,000 sq ft; up to 6 hens on lots over 5,000 sq ft (lots under 3,800 sq ft ineligible). Roosters expressly prohibited regardless of age. Backyard Chicken Permit required via Grand Rapids Citizen Access. IN · checked 2026-10-25IndianapolisUp to 12 adult poultry (chickens, ducks, quail, or pigeons) per lot. Up to 1 rooster allowed per lot, provided it is kept inside a fully enclosed structure from dusk to dawn. No city chicken permit required for up to 12 personal poultry. OH · checked 2026-10-25ColumbusDetermined by coop and run space (laying hens need at least 1.5 sq ft inside the coop and 8 sq ft in the outside run per bird; large chickens need 2 sq ft coop / 10 sq ft run; bantams 1 sq ft coop / 4 sq ft run). Roosters prohibited (peafowl, geese, and turkeys also prohibited). 4-year Columbus Public Health permit.

How we check

  • We read the city's own pages, ordinances, applications, and fact sheets, and link every source we use.
  • We record the date we last checked. Fees and rules change, so treat older dates with extra care.
  • We do not guess. If a rule is unclear on official sources, we say so and point you to the ordinance.
  • City rules apply inside city limits only. Villages, towns, townships, and counties have their own rules, and HOAs or leases can be stricter.

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