Danbury, CT Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- General rule
- No livestock/poultry outside a farm lot
- Farming allowed
- RA-80 district only, 5-acre minimum
- Horse as pet
- RA-80 only, 20,000 sq ft enclosure
- Excluded uses
- Slaughterhouses, kennels, commercial stables
Summary
Danbury's Zoning Regulations bar keeping livestock or poultry anywhere in the city except on a lot operating as a farm in a district where farming is a permitted use, which today means the RA-80 district only.
The keeping of livestock and poultry shall not be permitted except in a farm in zoning districts where farming is specifically allowed as a use.
b. Horses as Household Pets. The keeping of a horse(s) or other equine(s) as household pets shall be permitted only in the RA-80 Zoning District provided: (1) no manure is stored on the lot; (2) all animals are secured within a fenced enclosure of not less than 20,000 square feet, said enclosure located not closer than fifty (50) feet from any street or within one hundred (100) feet from any other property line; and, (3) all other public health requirements are met. 4.G.7. Housing Redevelopment Option. [Eff. 10/2/2010]
a. General. This Housing Redevelopment Option is intended to encourage the replacement of deteriorated apartment houses, garden apartments, row houses, or two and three family dwellings with new, attractive and safe housing which meets all current health and building code requirements of the City. Landowners may develop their properties in accordance with the provisions specified in the Zoning Regulations or may, at their option, choose to apply to redevelop existing deteriorated housing, as defined herein, in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Section. All new development of eligible housing units shall meet all applicable provisions of these Regulations except as otherwise specified herein.
b. Scope.
Full Breakdown
Section 4.G.6.a of the Zoning Regulations bars keeping livestock or poultry on residential property unless the lot is operating as a farm in a zoning district where farming is specifically allowed. Farming is a special exception use limited to the RA-80 district, requires a minimum five-acre lot, and is restricted to dairy, truck and nursery gardening, and commercial livestock; slaughterhouses, kennels, and commercial stables are excluded. A narrow carve-out at Section 4.G.6.b lets a homeowner keep a horse or other equine as a household pet in RA-80 only, inside a fenced enclosure of at least 20,000 square feet set back 50 feet from any street.
Violations & Fines
Keeping livestock or poultry on a lot that isn't an approved RA-80 farm is a zoning violation the Zoning Enforcement Officer can order stopped under Section 4.G.6.a.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep chickens, goats, or other livestock in a Danbury residential yard?
Can I keep a horse as a pet in Danbury?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Danbury
How Danbury compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare Danbury to another location·View the Connecticut animal ordinances overview
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