Philadelphia generally prohibits keeping chickens, poultry, and livestock; farm animals (other than pigs) are allowed only on parcels of three or more acres, plus narrow exceptions like slaughterhouses, zoos, and vet clinics.
Philadelphia Code Section 10-112 (Keeping Farm Animals), as amended by Bill No. 040566 in 2004, makes it unlawful to keep a farm animal anywhere except in listed locations: a licensed slaughterhouse or commercial live-animal retailer selling animals to be killed for food; an animal purchased for food and kept no more than 24 hours; a zoological park; a veterinary hospital or clinic; an animal shelter; a circus or licensed entertainment venue; an educational or scientific facility such as a school or laboratory; or on a parcel of real property of three (3) or more acres -- though the three-acre exception does not apply to pigs, which remain banned outside slaughter and the other narrow uses. Section 10-101(8) defines a 'farm animal' as any chicken, goose, duck, turkey, goat, sheep, pig, cow, or other farm animal that presents a public nuisance due to smell and/or noise (cats and dogs are excluded). Because typical Philadelphia residential lots are far smaller than three acres, backyard chickens are effectively prohibited in most of the city. Animal husbandry as urban agriculture is regulated separately under Zoning Code Section 14-603 and remains subject to these Title 10 limits.
Keeping prohibited farm animals violates Phila. Code Sec. 10-112 and is enforced by ACCT Philly and the Department of Public Health with code penalties and removal of the animals.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia caps amplified music and other sound by decibels above background at the property boundary: 3 dB near hospitals/schools/houses of worship, 5 dB ...
Philadelphia, PA
On-street parking in Philadelphia is governed by Title 12 of The Philadelphia Code and enforced by the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA), with restriction...
Philadelphia, PA
No zoning permit is needed for a fence at or below the Zoning Code limits; exceeding them requires a permit and a ZBA appeal. A building permit is required f...
Philadelphia, PA
No Philadelphia-specific ordinance directly imposes wildland-style defensible-space or brush-clearance requirements; the dense urban setting means there is n...
Philadelphia, PA
True backyard ground fires (recreational fires and bonfires) are not freely allowed in Philadelphia. The Air Management Code Section 3-202 prohibits open fir...
Philadelphia, PA
Pennsylvania's Act 43 of 2017 (the Fireworks Law) legalized consumer fireworks statewide and largely preempts local bans, but it imposes strict use limits th...
See how Philadelphia's chickens & livestock rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.