St. Joseph County, IN Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)

13 requires anyone raising one or more urban chickens on residentially zoned property under five acres to file a county chicken permit application with the animal control agency and pay an annual filing fee, with the agency inspecting the setup before issuing a durable metal tag for the coop. 08(A)(2) caps flocks at six chickens per half acre of land, with properties under half an acre needing separate animal control commission approval. Only hens are allowed; roosters are specifically prohibited, chickens cannot be kept in multi-family dwellings, and the keeping of chickens is limited to personal, non-commercial use, meaning no selling eggs or manure and no butchering on the premises.

13(E) sets physical standards: a chicken coop must be enclosed on all sides with a solid roof and lockable doors, at least 18 inches high, provide one square foot of floor area per bird, and be impermeable to rodents, wild birds and predators; the outdoor pen must be predator-proof, provide two square feet per bird, and cannot exceed six feet in fence height, with wire, netting or solid roof covering. Enclosures count as accessory structures under all applicable zoning rules, and a building permit is required once an accessory structure reaches 120 square feet. 07(H).