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

Flagstaff City Code § 6-03-001-0003 regulates the keeping, raising and maintenance of livestock and poultry so the activity does not create dust, fumes, noise, odor, insect or vermin infestations, or visual blight for neighboring properties. Table 6-03-001-0003.A sets the maximum number of animals by lot size and zoning designation: large livestock such as horses, cattle and goats are permitted only in the Estate Residential (ER) and Rural Residential (RR) zones and only on lots of 40,000 square feet or larger, while small livestock, rabbits, poultry and fowl are allowed in every zone at counts that rise from as few as 2 miniature goats or 6 chickens on a lot under 20,000 square feet up to 25 fowl, rabbits or bee colonies on a lot of 80,000 square feet or more.

Livestock must stay in the rear yard unless the parcel is zoned ER or RR, and shelters, feeding troughs and watering troughs must sit at least 20 feet from any neighboring dwelling. Waste must be double-bagged for City garbage pickup, and only poultry or rabbits may be slaughtered on site, out of public view, for personal consumption. Male poultry over four months old are barred entirely, and turkeys, peafowl, geese and other noisy birds are prohibited in every zoning district in the City of Flagstaff.

Anyone keeping livestock outside the ER or RR zones must first obtain a backyard livestock keeping permit from the Sustainability Division under Section 6-03-001-0004; a denial or revocation can be appealed in writing to the Sustainability Division within 10 days, with a response due from a Deputy City Manager within 5 days.