Lakewood, CO Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit
- required from the City
- Limit
- 6 hens or 6 ducks
- Roosters
- prohibited
- Enclosure max
- 32 sq ft, 10 ft tall
- Yard fence
- min. 4 ft, no front yard
Summary
Lakewood permits up to six hens or six ducks, or five ducks and a drake, per property with a City permit, bans roosters, and caps enclosures at 32 square feet and 10 feet tall.
A permit for the keeping of hens, ducks, and drakes must be obtained from the City. A maximum of six hens or six ducks or 5 ducks and one drake shall be allowed on a single property. Roosters shall be prohibited. A predator-resistant enclosure must be provided... the total size of an enclosure shall not exceed 32 square feet and shall not exceed 10 feet in height.
Full Breakdown
As a limited small-animal use, hens, ducks, drakes and dwarf goats require a City permit before they can be kept accessory to a residential property. Hens and ducks are capped at six per property (or five ducks plus one drake), roosters are banned outright, and birds need a predator-resistant, secure, roofed and ventilated enclosure with at least 6 square feet per bird, though the whole enclosure cannot exceed 32 square feet or stand taller than 10 feet. Birds must stay in the enclosure or a fenced yard at least 4 feet high, kept out of the front yard, and the permit is tied to the current occupant and revocable by the Director.
Violations & Fines
Keeping more than six hens or ducks, keeping a rooster, or housing birds in an enclosure over 32 square feet or 10 feet tall violates the standard and the Director can revoke the permit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are backyard chickens legal in Lakewood, Colorado?
Can I keep goats with my chickens in Lakewood?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lakewood
How Lakewood compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare Lakewood to another location·View the Colorado animal ordinances overview
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Chickens & Livestock in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Jefferson County handle chickens & livestock.