Columbus chicken laws

Quick facts

Chicken limit

Determined 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

Roosters prohibited (peafowl, geese, and turkeys also prohibited)

Permit or license

4-year Columbus Public Health permit ($50 plan-review fee + $100 permit fee at final inspection; fees waived with SNAP or WIC documentation)

Last checked

2026-10-25

This applies inside Columbus 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

• Complete Columbus City Chickens Basics Training (or provide proof of general chicken-care knowledge) and obtain NPIP Form 9-3 or a veterinary health certificate for your birds.
• Submit the Chicken Permit Application to Columbus Public Health (EH@columbus.gov) with a yard drawing, coop/run dimensions, flooring/bedding details, cleaning/disinfection schedule, waste disposal plan, and $50 plan-review fee.
• Renters must obtain the property owner's signature on the application before submitting.
• After plan approval, build the coop and pass a final onsite inspection by Columbus Public Health ($100 4-year permit fee collected at inspection).

Key rules

• Governed by Columbus City Health Code Sections 221.05 and 221.06.
• Coops must be covered, have approved impervious flooring (concrete, pavers, rubber stall mats, brick, or treated plywood) topped with bedding, and be rodent-proofed with hardware cloth, wood, or siding (openings no larger than 1/2 inch) to at least 36 inches high.
• Supervised free-roaming in the yard is allowed up to 4 hours per day if flight is prevented (clipped wings or overhead barrier), the owner is present, and no waste leaves the property.
• Up to 10 gallons of bagged waste per week may be placed in the trash, or waste may be composted on site.

Official sources

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

• Columbus Public Health: Guide for Starting a Chicken Coop PDF
  Official Public Health guide covering space per bird, impervious flooring, rodent-proofing, and the 3-step permit process.
• Columbus Public Health: Chicken Permit Application PDF
  Official application form and plan-review checklist (fees waived for SNAP/WIC).
• City of Columbus Animals & Pets page
  Official city portal linking Columbus Public Health animal permitting resources.

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Next steps

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