Salt Lake County, UT Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Max chickens
- 50, but only if it's your one species
- Species cap per lot
- 3 kinds at once
- Cows/sheep/goats
- 2 each max
- Scope
- Unincorporated county only
Summary
Unincorporated Salt Lake County caps backyard fowl and small livestock through its 'family food production' rule, with a three-species-at-a-time limit per lot.
"Family food production" means the keeping of not more than two cows, two sheep, two goats, twenty rabbits, fifty chickens, fifty pheasants, ten ducks, ten turkeys, ten geese and twenty pigeons, provided that not more than three of the above-listed kinds of animals and fowl are permitted at any one time on any lot in zones where family food production may be a permitted or conditional use.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 49).
Full Breakdown
The county code defines 'family food production' as keeping up to two cows, two sheep, two goats, twenty rabbits, fifty chickens, fifty pheasants, ten ducks, ten turkeys, ten geese and twenty pigeons, but no more than three of those kinds of animals or fowl may be on one lot at the same time. It's a permitted or conditional use only in zones that allow it, such as R-1-21, R-1-43 and the agricultural zones; horses and other family-food-production animals also require health department sign-off that the use won't cause erosion, water pollution or other environmental harm. This is unincorporated-area zoning only, Salt Lake City, West Jordan, Sandy and the valley's other cities set their own chicken/livestock rules.
Violations & Fines
Planning commission may limit animal numbers or land devoted to the use, or order an established use abated after notice and hearing if it causes unreasonable environmental degradation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many chickens can I keep in unincorporated Salt Lake County?
Does this apply inside Salt Lake City or West Jordan?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Salt Lake County
How Salt Lake County compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare Salt Lake County to another location·View the Utah animal ordinances overview
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