Fountain, CO Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit
- Required; one per household
- Hen density
- 1 hen/1,000 sq ft, max 10
- Coop setback
- 5 feet from property line
- Coop size
- 4 sq ft/bird, 120 sq ft max
- Coop height
- 6 ft (12 ft in LLR/RA)
- Location
- Rear or back yard only
- Adopted
- Ord. No. 1742, Jan. 14, 2020
Summary
Fountain, Colorado requires a city-issued chicken permit before any household in city limits keeps chicken hens. Lots of 2,500 square feet or more may keep one hen per 1,000 square feet of gross lot area, capped at ten hens, and every coop must meet fixed size, setback and construction standards under Fountain Municipal Code Chapter 17.18.
E.Chicken hens. A city chicken permit is required for the keeping of chickens. No more than one chicken permit per household shall be issued by the zoning administrator. ... 2.Number of chickens.a.Single family, two-family, townhome and mobile home residential lots 2,500 square feet or greater in area shall be allowed to keep chicken hens. One chicken hen per 1,000 square feet of gross lot area shall be allowed, up to a maximum of ten chicken hens. ... 4.Chicken coops required. All property owners approved for the keeping of chicken hens shall provide chicken coops on their lots. Chicken coops and runs shall meet the following minimum requirements:a.Located in the rear yard or back yard of the lot with the exception of coops located in the RA, LLR and POS zone districts.b.Set back a minimum of five feet from any property line or any other structure.c.Be predator-proof with a solid top.d.Minimum of four square feet per chicken.e.Maximum of 120 square feet in area per chicken coop and per lot or parcel. ... f.Maximum height of six feet.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 3).
Full Breakdown
020(E) makes the keeping of chicken hens conditional on a city chicken permit issued by the zoning administrator, with no more than one permit per household. The permit is tied to the person and the property, cannot be transferred, and stays valid only as long as the holder meets every condition; violating the section or any other part of the Municipal Code is grounds for revocation. 26. The density formula caps residential lots at one hen per 1,000 square feet of gross lot area up to ten hens, rounding fractional results down.
Chickens must stay in the rear or back yard in every zoning district except RA, LLR and POS, and coops must sit at least five feet from any property line or other structure, be predator-proof with a solid top, provide a minimum of four square feet per bird, and stay under 120 square feet total, with a maximum height of six feet (twelve feet in the LLR and RA districts). Free ranging is allowed only under direct supervision with the entire rear yard enclosed by a solid fence. 1, which limits cock birds to two per animal unit. The current text traces to Ord. No. 1742, § 1, adopted January 14, 2020.
Violations & Fines
Keeping unpermitted chicken hens, exceeding the ten-hen residential cap, housing birds outside the rear yard, or building a non-conforming coop violates Fountain Municipal Code § 17.18.020. The zoning administrator may revoke the household's permit for any violation of the section or other applicable Municipal Code provisions. General enforcement runs through the procedures in Chapter 17.02, and any resulting foul or hazardous condition, including manure accumulation, is also subject to nuisance abatement under Chapter 8.12.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Fountain, Colorado?
How many chickens can I keep on a residential lot in Fountain?
Where on my property can I keep chickens in Fountain?
What size and setback does a Fountain chicken coop need?
Can I keep roosters in Fountain?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fountain
How Fountain compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare Fountain to another location·View the Colorado animal ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Chickens & Livestock in Nearby Cities
How other cities in El Paso County handle chickens & livestock.