Ann Arbor chicken laws

Quick facts

Chicken limit

Up to 6 birds (chickens, ducks, or a combination of both)

Roosters

Roosters (male chickens) prohibited; drakes (male ducks) and hen ducks are permitted

Permit or license

6-Bird Permit from the City Clerk ($55 fee; valid for 5 years from issuance)

Last checked

2026-10-25

This applies inside Ann Arbor city limits. ZIP codes and mailing addresses can cross city lines, and nearby towns, villages, and counties have their own rules. HOA rules and leases can be stricter.

Before you apply

• Submit the Permit to Keep Backyard Chickens application, property diagram, and $55 fee to the City Clerk's Office prior to acquiring birds.
• Diagram must show proposed enclosures, distances to property lines (minimum 10 ft), and distances to neighboring residential structures (minimum 40 ft).
• Renters must include the property owner's signed consent; two-family dwellings or waivers of the 40-foot neighbor-house distance require signed written consent from all adjacent landowners and building occupants.

Key rules

• Governed by Ann Arbor City Code Chapter 107 (Animals), Section 9:42 (Keeping of chickens or ducks).
• Allowed on properties whose principal use is a single-family dwelling, two-family dwelling, or primary/secondary school.
• Covered and fenced enclosures must be in the rear yard, at least 10 feet from any adjacent property line, and at least 40 feet from any residential structure on an adjacent lot (only the 40-foot distance can be waived with adjacent-owner consent).
• Birds may be outside the enclosure in the rear or side yard only when a person is present with the birds in the same location.
• Enclosures and feed storage must be constructed and maintained to prevent rats, mice, or other rodents. Slaughtering chickens or ducks is prohibited.

Official sources

We summarize these documents in plain language. The official text always wins.

• Ann Arbor Backyard Chickens Permit Application & Code Sec. 9:42 PDF
  Official City Clerk permit packet including the 40-foot waiver form and full text of Section 9:42.
• Ann Arbor City Code, Chapter 107 Animals (Municode)
  Official codified ordinance text on Municode.

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Next steps

• Size your coop and run: housing guide.
• Pick breeds that handle Michigan weather: breed guide.
• Estimate your setup cost, including the permit fee: cost calculator.
• Print the First-Year Starter Checklist.