Omaha allows backyard chickens with a permit, limits flocks by lot size, requires coop setbacks from neighboring dwellings, and prohibits roosters in most residential areas.
Omaha Municipal Code Chapter 6 permits backyard chickens in residential zones subject to an annual permit from Animal Control. Typical allowance is up to 6 hens for standard lots, with larger lots potentially approved for more. Roosters are prohibited in residential zones due to noise. Coops must be setback at least 25 feet from neighboring dwellings and kept in a sanitary condition; run enclosures must be predator-resistant. Neighbor notification is required in some cases. Slaughtering on-site is prohibited in residential zones. Feed storage must be rodent-proof. Chickens cannot roam free and must be contained on the owner's property. Nebraska Rev Stat §54-7 governs livestock at the state level but cities can add regulation. HOAs may prohibit chickens regardless of city permit. Beyond chickens, goats, pigs, and larger livestock are generally prohibited in residential zones and require agricultural zoning or an urban-ag overlay. Complaints about odor or noise are handled by the Omaha-Douglas County Health Department and Animal Control.
Specific penalty amounts for this ordinance are not published in a publicly accessible fine schedule. Contact Omaha code enforcement directly for current fines, enforcement procedures, and hearing options.
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