Norwalk, CT Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Chicken limit
- 12 chickens maximum per property
- Roosters
- Banned once over 4 months old
- Property-line setback
- 50 feet from any boundary
- Dwelling setback
- 25 feet from any dwelling
- Penalty
- $250 per day of noncompliance
Summary
Norwalk allows backyard chickens and other fowl or livestock on residential property, but caps flocks at 12 chickens, bans roosters over four months old, and requires every coop, pen, or stable to sit at least 50 feet from the property line and 25 feet from any dwelling. Enclosures must also meet the Zoning Regulations' accessory-structure setbacks and stay clean and odor- and pest-controlled.
§ 15-5. Keeping of livestock and fowl on residential property. A. No person shall keep any live poultry, goats, cattle or other livestock in any stable, pen, structure and enclosure which is less than 50 feet from any property boundary, or less than 25 feet from any dwelling within the City of Norwalk. ... D. All livestock and fowl must be kept in stables, pens, structures and enclosures, and not allowed to run at large or onto public property or premises other than those belonging to or occupied by the party owning such livestock. E. Every stable, pen, structure or other enclosure in which animals are kept must meet minimum yard setbacks for accessory structures contained in the Zoning Regulations for the applicable zoning district. F. The keeping of roosters over four months of age is prohibited. G. No person shall keep more than 12 chickens.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4888624; v55 updated 2026-05-26; through 05-26-2026).
Full Breakdown
Amended in 2013, § 15-5 of Chapter 15 governs live poultry, goats, cattle, and other livestock kept on residential property anywhere in Norwalk. Subsection A sets the core setback: no stable, pen, structure, or enclosure housing such animals may sit closer than 50 feet to any property boundary or 25 feet to any dwelling. Subsections B and C require every stable, pen, or enclosure to be kept clean and sanitary and to be built and maintained so as to minimize offensive odors, noise, pests, and predators.
Subsection D bars livestock and fowl from running at large onto public property or onto land other than the owner's, meaning the animals must stay enclosed at all times. Subsection E layers the Zoning Regulations on top of the setback rule, requiring every enclosure to also meet the minimum yard setbacks that apply to accessory structures in the applicable zoning district, so a coop can face a stricter line than 50 feet depending on the zone. Subsection F bans keeping any rooster more than four months old, and Subsection G caps a household's flock at 12 chickens total. 1, with a $250-per-day civil penalty for noncompliance and Superior Court collection through the Corporation Counsel.
Violations & Fines
Keeping more than 12 chickens, a rooster over four months old, or livestock inside a stable or pen closer than the 50-foot property-line or 25-foot dwelling setback violates § 15-5. The Director of Health can order the owner to correct the violation, and failing to comply brings a $250-per-day civil penalty enforceable through a Corporation Counsel lawsuit in Superior Court.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Norwalk
How Norwalk compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare Norwalk to another location·View the Connecticut animal ordinances overview
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