Meridian, ID Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Meridian City Code § 6-2-7
- Chickens/poultry status
- Classified as livestock
- Manure removal
- At least once weekly
- Fencing
- Must be stock-tight
- Permit required
- No permit named in section
Summary
Meridian lets residents keep chickens and other livestock citywide, but requires stock-tight fencing, weekly manure removal, and quiet animals under City Code section 6-2-7.
A. Stable refuse care. It shall be unlawful to allow stable refuse to accumulate in such a manner that it becomes unsightly and/or offensive to the smell. It is hereby required that such refuse be removed from the legal sanitary limits of the city at least once each week. B. Undue noises. It shall be unlawful to harbor or allow to remain within the corporate limits of the city any livestock which emits noises disturbing to residents of the city. C. Stock tight fences. It shall be unlawful to allow or maintain fences which are inadequate to keep livestock within the confines of the plot, lot or pasture where such livestock is normally harbored.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 14).
Full Breakdown
Meridian City Code defines livestock to include chicken hens and roosters along with horses, goats, sheep, swine, and other outdoor-kept animals (6-2-1). Section 6-2-7 then sets three citywide conditions on keeping them: stable refuse cannot be left to pile up and become unsightly or smell offensive, and must be cleared from the city's sanitary limits at least once a week; livestock cannot emit noise that disturbs residents; and fences confining livestock to their lot or pasture must actually be stock-tight. There's no permit or headcount cap in this section, it's a nuisance-abatement standard, not a licensing scheme.
Violations & Fines
Violations are enforced as animal control code infractions/misdemeanors. Letting manure accumulate and smell, keeping noisy livestock that disturbs neighbors, or maintaining fencing too weak to hold livestock in are each separately unlawful acts under 6-2-7, subject to the chapter's citation and fine process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep chickens in Meridian city limits?
How often must I clean up manure?
What kind of fence do I need for livestock?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Meridian
How Meridian compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare Meridian to another location·View the Idaho animal ordinances overview
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Chickens & Livestock in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle chickens & livestock.