Linn County, IA Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Large animals
- 1 per acre (horses, cattle)
- Intermediate animals
- 3 per acre (sheep, goats, swine)
- Small animals/fowl
- 12 per acre, 12 max under 1 acre
- Juveniles
- Under 8 months don't count
- Show animals
- Exempt from the 12-per-acre cap
Summary
Unincorporated Linn County caps livestock and poultry by lot size in residential-zoned districts: one large animal per acre, three sheep or goats per acre, and up to twelve fowl or rabbits per acre.
Agriculture, horses and non-commercial livestock on lots in VR, VM, RR or USR zoning districts... the following standards shall apply to the keeping of horses and other non-commercial livestock: Horses and non-commercial livestock are limited to the maximum animal densities as shown in Table 107-112 below... Small animals: domestic fowl, rabbits, chinchillas, and other similar size animals: Twelve (12) per acre. For parcels less than one (1) acre in size, no more than twelve total.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 16).
Full Breakdown
In the VR, VM, RR1-RR3 and USR districts, the county limits horses, cattle and similar large animals to one per acre; sheep, goats, swine, geese and turkeys to three per acre; and domestic fowl, rabbits and chinchillas to twelve per acre, with a flat cap of twelve total on lots under one acre. In the VM and USR districts, large and intermediate animals additionally require at least three acres, and swine are excluded there. Juvenile animals under eight months don't count against the limit, and fair or show animals kept for exhibition are excluded from the twelve-per-acre small-animal cap. This governs unincorporated county land only, not Cedar Rapids or the county's other cities.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the density table or skipping the required waste-disposal standards is a county infraction under § 107-160, enforced with civil penalties under chapter 1, article II.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many chickens can I keep on unincorporated Linn County land?
Can I keep chickens in Cedar Rapids under this rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Linn County
How Linn County compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare Linn County to another location·View the Iowa animal ordinances overview
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