Rapid City, SD Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)

021 permits hens, and only hens, on any single-family lot in the LDR-1, LDR-2, MDR, HDR, MHR and PF zoning districts, capping the flock at 6 adult hens plus up to 6 female brooding chicks under 12 weeks kept for replacement. Roosters are banned outright under subsection A. The hens must have a coop providing at least 2 square feet per hen and an attached, enclosed chicken run of at least 10 square feet per hen, both built to exclude dogs, cats, wildlife, predators and rodents; an optional supervised exercise yard is allowed with predator-proof fencing.

5 bars selling chickens, eggs or manure or breeding for commercial purposes, and coops, runs and exercise yards must sit in the back yard, never a front or side yard, easement, or special flood hazard area, and never on a multi-family, two-family or townhouse lot. Setbacks under subsection C require the coop, run or exercise yard to be at least 25 feet from any residential dwelling, church, school or business (excluding the resident's own home) and 15 feet from any lot line, whichever is greater.

Dead chickens must go to the city landfill within 36 hours; curbside pickup is not allowed. Land zoned General Agricultural (GAD) is exempt from the whole section. 030 bans horses, cattle, mules, donkeys, swine, sheep and goats from running at large or being tethered so they can stray off an unenclosed lot, though horses, mules, donkeys and oxen may use city streets under the direct control of their owner.