Penn Hills, PA Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Hens allowed
- Up to 4 hens per property
- Roosters
- Prohibited except on 5+ acre farms
- Coop setback
- 25 feet from neighboring dwelling
- Registration
- Required with Code Enforcement
- Slaughtering
- Prohibited within the Municipality
Summary
Penn Hills residents may keep up to four hens per property in a coop after registering with Code Enforcement, but roosters are banned outside farms of five acres or more.
No residence shall contain at any one time more than four hens. In the case of two-family dwellings or conversion dwellings without individually owned backyards, the maximum number of hens allowed is four per property. No person shall keep or harbor any rooster within the Municipality. (Exception: Roosters shall be permitted on a farm as defined in § 1260.07 of Penn Hills Zoning Ordinance 2420.)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4434863; v5 updated 2025-07-21; through 07-21-2025).
Full Breakdown
Under § 1282.05(a) of the Zoning Code, a Penn Hills household may keep up to four hens, four per property for duplexes without separate yards, but no roosters, except on a farm as defined in § 1260.07. Keepers must register with the Department of Code Enforcement and obtain a building permit for any coop, which must sit at least 25 feet from a neighbor's dwelling, be predator-proof, and provide three square feet per bird. Chickens must stay in a coop or fenced run, with slaughtering, free-roaming, and manure-spreading all prohibited; nuisance odor, noise, or unsanitary conditions can bring a citation.
Violations & Fines
Unregistered coops, keeping roosters, slaughtering chickens on-site, letting birds run at large, or spreading manure on the ground are violations subject to citation by the Department of Code Enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many chickens can I keep in Penn Hills?
Do I need a permit for a chicken coop in Penn Hills?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Penn Hills
How Penn Hills compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare Penn Hills to another location·View the Pennsylvania animal ordinances overview
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