Winnebago County, IL Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- R-A District limit
- 6 chickens max
- R-E District limit
- 3 chickens max
- Roosters
- Not permitted
- Coop setback
- 10 ft from lot line
- Manure storage setback
- 20 ft from property line
Summary
Winnebago County caps backyard chickens at six birds in the R-A district and three in R-E, bans roosters, and requires coops in the rear yard only.
Chicken coops are permitted in the R-A and R-E Subdistricts of the R-A District only (prohibited in R-R Subdistrict) and only as accessory to a single-family use. No person may keep more than six (6) chickens on the property at any time in the R-A District and no person may keep more than three (3) chickens on the property at any time in the R-E District. ... Roosters are not permitted.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 64).
Full Breakdown
Under the county's Unified Development Ordinance, chicken coops are an accessory use limited to the R-A and R-E subdistricts of the R-A District (they are prohibited in R-R) and only alongside a single-family home. Owners may keep up to six chickens in R-A or three in R-E, with no commercial activity allowed. Roosters are banned outright, though a chick of undetermined gender can stay up to six months. Coops and runs must sit in the rear yard, at least 10 feet from the house and 10 feet from any lot line, kept clean, ventilated, and free of odor or nuisance, with manure stored at least 20 feet from the property line. Chickens must be locked in the coop from dusk to dawn, and slaughtering on-site is prohibited.
Violations & Fines
Zoning enforcement can order noncompliant coops, excess birds, or roosters removed; unresolved violations of the UDO are enforceable as zoning code violations subject to citation and fines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep a rooster in unincorporated Winnebago County?
Where can my chicken coop be located?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Winnebago County
How Winnebago County compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare Winnebago County to another location·View the Illinois animal ordinances overview
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