Johnson County, IA Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Chicken (3+ lb)
- 0.01 animal unit per head
- Dog limit
- 6 adults (6+ months) per parcel
- Cat limit
- 10 adults (6+ months) per parcel
- RS district cap
- 1 AU for top animal-unit tier
- Exemption
- Agriculturally exempt parcels excluded
Summary
Johnson County caps backyard poultry and livestock by animal unit under UDO Section 8:1.24(A), converting each species into a fraction of an animal unit and capping the running total per acre by zoning district and parcel size. A chicken weighing three pounds or more counts as 0.01 animal unit, while dogs and cats are governed separately at six adult dogs and ten adult cats per parcel.
A. Animal Husbandry and Keeping of Animals. Animal husbandry is a primary use in the A, SF, and AG-T districts and keeping of animals is an accessory use in the AR, RS, RC, and C-Ag districts. Both uses are subject to the following limits unless a property is agriculturally exempt: 1. With the exception of cats and dogs, animal types are classified based on animal units (AU). ... Chicken 3 pounds or greater 0.01 ... Chicken less than 3 pounds 0.0025 ... 3. No more than six (6) adult dogs (six (6) months or older) and ten (10) adult cats (six (6) months or older) may be kept on a parcel. There is no limit on the permitted number of juvenile (less than six (6) months old) animals permitted on the property provided they are offspring to the adults currently on the property.
Full Breakdown
Section 8:1.24(A), Animal Husbandry and Keeping of Animals, makes animal husbandry a primary use in the A, SF, and AG-T districts and an accessory use in the AR, RS, RC, and C-AG districts, all subject to animal unit limits unless the property is agriculturally exempt. Except for cats and dogs, every animal type is converted to Animal Units (AU) using a table adapted from the 2018 Iowa Code: a chicken of three pounds or more counts as 0.01 AU, a chicken under three pounds as 0.0025 AU, turkeys at 0.018 or 0.0085 AU depending on weight, and rabbits at 0.01 AU, alongside larger livestock such as a horse at 2.0 AU or mature dairy cattle at 1.4 AU.
The county then caps cumulative animal units per acre by district and parcel size. In the RS district, a parcel in the 'Greater than 0.99' animal-unit tier is capped at 1 AU, the 0.1 to 0.99 tier at 0.5 AU, with an additional 0.2 AU per acre beyond two acres. The AR district allows up to 25 AU on a minimum two-acre parcel in the top tier, plus 2.5 AU for each additional acre, while the SF district allows up to 30 AU on its minimum five-acre parcel.
All animal types are considered cumulatively, so a mix of chickens, goats, and larger livestock on one parcel must stay under the combined AU ceiling for that parcel's district and size. Separately, Section 8:1.24(A)(3) sets a flat cap of six adult dogs and ten adult cats six months or older per parcel, with no limit on their juvenile offspring living on the same property.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the animal unit cap, keeping more than six adult dogs or ten adult cats, or keeping livestock in a district where animal husbandry is not permitted is a County Infraction under Section 8:8.3, punishable by a civil penalty of up to $750 for a first offense and up to $1,000 for a repeat offense, with each day of the violation counted separately. Criminal penalties under Section 8:8.4 can add a $625 fine and up to 30 days in jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many chickens can I keep on a Johnson County property?
Are dogs and cats limited the same way as livestock?
What zoning districts allow keeping farm animals?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Johnson County
How Johnson County compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare Johnson County to another location·View the Iowa animal ordinances overview
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