Bozeman allows backyard hens under its urban chicken ordinance: up to 6 hens with a $25 permit (renewable every three years), or 7-15 hens with a $50 permit, scaled to lot size. Roosters are not allowed. Coops must be predator-proof and set back at least 10 feet from neighboring structures.
Bozeman adopted an urban chicken ordinance in 2009, and it has run smoothly since. Residents may keep up to six hens with a $25 permit that is renewable every three years; keeping between seven and 15 hens requires a $50 permit. The number of birds is tied to lot size: the minimum lot for up to four chickens is 3,000 square feet, and one additional chicken is allowed for each additional 1,000 square feet of lot, up to a maximum of 15. Roosters are prohibited because of noise. The chicken coop and run must be kept predator-proof and located at least 10 feet from neighboring structures, and chickens (like cats and dogs) must be licensed/permitted with the city. Applicants start by obtaining the city's Urban Chicken Permit Packet. Slaughtering is restricted and birds must be kept in sanitary conditions to avoid creating a nuisance.
Keeping chickens without the required permit, exceeding the hen count for your lot size, keeping roosters, or failing to maintain a sanitary, properly set-back coop can result in code-enforcement action and fines under the city's general penalty provisions. Repeat or nuisance conditions can lead to removal of the birds.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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