Avondale, AZ Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)

Section 3-26 lets a resident of a single-family detached home keep up to a maximum of six fowl in the backyard. The enclosure must sit in the rear or side yard at least 20 feet from a neighboring property, be no larger than 200 square feet and no taller than 8 feet, and on lots under one acre must stay shorter than the property's fence line. It must be kept clean, with manure picked up and composted or disposed of at least twice weekly, composted manure stored so it doesn't attract insects, water sources given overflow drainage, and feed kept in insect- and rodent-proof containers.

Male fowl, including roosters, are flatly prohibited, and fowl may never run at large. This sits inside Chapter 3, Article II, which also governs larger livestock: § 3-19 bans keeping any live swine or pigs anywhere in the city, § 3-22 requires a minimum of 21,780 square feet of lot area for each horse, cow, burro, mule or similar animal (with small livestock like goats and sheep allowed at two animals per 21,780 square feet, and animals under six months exempt from the ratio), and § 3-21 sets a general 200-foot buffer between any kept animal, livestock or fowl and any residence, business, church or school, except as specifically permitted for backyard fowl under § 3-26.

A general health-nuisance standard at § 3-18 bars keeping any animal, livestock or fowl in a way that creates odors, vermin, flies or manure accumulation.