Maricopa, AZ Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)

Backyard poultry in the City of Maricopa is governed by the city's own zoning code, §18.80.030 (Animal keeping), not a county rule. The code permits keeping hens of the domestic chicken on residential lots subject to specific standards: no more than six hens may be kept on an individual lot. The enclosure (coop/run) must be located in the rear or side yard of the property and kept at least 10 feet from a neighboring property; the size of the enclosure is capped at a maximum of 200 square feet, with a maximum height of eight feet. The code also requires that the enclosure be maintained and that manure be picked up and disposed of or composted at least twice a week, addressing odor and sanitation. The 'six hens' framing is built around hens specifically; the urban-chicken allowance does not extend to roosters. Larger-scale poultry or other fowl would fall under the livestock and commercial-agriculture standards elsewhere in §18.80.030, which carry acreage and setback requirements. Because these rules are in the published Maricopa zoning code, they apply citywide within the relevant residential districts; rural and agricultural districts may permit more. HOAs and CC&Rs in Maricopa's master-planned communities frequently prohibit poultry entirely regardless of the city allowance, so residents should check their community rules in addition to the city code.