Commerce City, CO Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required
- Yes, from Community Development Dept.
- Roosters allowed
- No, banned under the permit
- Outdoor space per chicken
- 16 feet permeable land area
- Coop space per chicken
- At least 2 square feet
- Front yard chickens
- Not allowed at any time
- Small coop building permit
- Not needed under 6 ft / 32 sq ft
Summary
In Commerce City zones where keeping farm animals is not otherwise allowed, a resident needs a backyard chicken permit from the Community Development Department before keeping chickens under Sec. 4-5001. Sec. 4-5002 then sets coop size, enclosure space, and sanitation standards, and bans roosters outright.
(b)Backyard chicken permit required. In those zoned districts no where the keeping of farm animals and livestock is not otherwise allowed, the keeping of chickens shall be permitted only after a valid backyard chicken permit has been issued to the property owner or occupant. ... ... Sec. 4-5002. - Backyard chicken requirements.(a)Roosters. No roosters may be kept under a backyard chicken permit.(b)Outdoor enclosure. An outdoor enclosure must be provided for the chickens which, at a minimum, must:(1)Provide sixteen (16) feet of permeable land area available for each chicken within the enclosure; and(2)Be adequately fenced to prevent chickens from escaping the enclosure and/or permitted property.
Full Breakdown
Article V of the Commerce City Animal Code, Sec. 4-5000 through 4-5008, governs backyard chickens outside zones where farm animals are already allowed by right. Sec. 4-5001 requires an applicant to file a permit application with the Community Development Department, pay an application fee, and submit a site diagram showing the coop and enclosure; if the applicant is not the property owner, a notarized letter from the owner is required, and every adult resident must consent in writing if the property has more than one dwelling unit.
Sec. 4-5002 then sets the physical standards: no roosters are allowed under the permit, the outdoor enclosure must provide sixteen feet of permeable land per chicken and be escape-proof, and the coop must let chickens stand erect, provide at least two square feet per bird, include predator protection and ventilation, and stay easy to clean. Chickens must have clean water at all times, access to the coop and yard during daylight, and must be locked in the coop from dusk until dawn; they cannot be kept in the front yard, and coops smaller than six feet high and thirty-two square feet do not need a separate building permit.
Coops and enclosures must sit back from the property line by the same setback required of the main house, and the Community Development director can quarantine or euthanize chickens during a disease outbreak.
Violations & Fines
A violation of Article V is a civil infraction under Sec. 4-5006, prosecuted in municipal court or through the city's administrative hearing process. A permittee convicted of a violation, or found liable through that process, can have the backyard chicken permit suspended, revoked, or denied, and the Community Development Department must give written notice at least twenty-one days before a suspension or revocation takes effect unless the violation is cured.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Commerce City?
Can I keep roosters under a Commerce City backyard chicken permit?
How much space does each chicken need?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Commerce City
How Commerce City compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare Commerce City to another location·View the Colorado animal ordinances overview
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Chickens & Livestock in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Adams County handle chickens & livestock.