Dearborn generally prohibits chickens and farm livestock in residential zones, treating them as nuisance animals unless kept on large agricultural-zoned parcels, which are rare in the city.
Dearborn is a fully built-out urban city with no agricultural zoning districts, so backyard chickens, ducks, goats, pigs, and other farm livestock are not permitted on standard residential lots. The animal control ordinance classifies these species as prohibited in R-1 through R-5 residential zones. Owners found keeping chickens face notice-and-removal orders followed by civil fines starting around 100 dollars per animal per day. The city has occasionally discussed pilot urban-chicken programs but has not adopted one. Service animals and common household pets (dogs, cats, small caged birds, fish, reptiles in compliance with exotic-pet rules) are exempt. 4-H exhibition animals may be temporarily permitted for events.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Dearborn, MI
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Wayne County.
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