Santa Fe, NM Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Personal-use raising
- allowed without a permit
- Feeding/watering interval
- at least every 12 hours
- Enclosure standard
- bird must stand fully erect
- Sale restriction
- no unweaned rabbits/fowl under 4 weeks
- Enforcing agency
- Animal Services administrator
- Governing code
- SFCC 1987 §§ 5-8.11, 5-9.2
Summary
Santa Fe lets residents raise chickens, other fowl and rabbits for personal use without a permit, but City Code sets welfare minimums: any confined fowl needs food and water at least every twelve hours in an enclosure letting it stand fully erect, and selling unweaned rabbits or fowl under four weeks old is banned.
5-8.11 - Confining or crating of fowl. It is unlawful for any person to confine any wild or domestic fowl or bird unless provisions are made for the proper feeding and the furnishing of water to the fowl or bird at intervals not longer than twelve (12) hours; and unless provisions are made that the crate, box or other enclosure in which the fowl or bird is confined or impounded permits the fowl or bird to stand in a naturally erect position. ... 5-9.2 - Rabbits or fowl. It is unlawful to sell, offer for sale, barter or give away any unweaned baby rabbits or fowl under four (4) weeks of age. Raising of such rabbits and fowl by an individual for their personal use and consumption is not prohibited provided that they shall maintain proper brooders and other facilities for the care and containment of the animals and fowl while they are in their possession. The sale of young fowl by commercial breeders is not prohibited.
Full Breakdown
Santa Fe City Code addresses backyard fowl and rabbit-keeping through two provisions in Chapter V, Animal Services. 2 SFCC 1987 permits residents to raise rabbits and fowl for personal use and consumption without a permit, provided the keeper maintains proper brooders and other facilities for the animals' care and containment. The same section bars anyone from selling, bartering or giving away unweaned baby rabbits or fowl under four weeks old, though commercial breeders may still sell young fowl of any age. 11 SFCC 1987 (Confining or crating of fowl), applies whenever a bird is kept in a crate, box or other enclosure: the keeper must feed and water the fowl at intervals no longer than twelve hours and must build the enclosure large enough that the bird can stand in a naturally erect position. 2(H). Animal Services, headed by the administrator, enforces both sections and can inspect a property on a complaint.
Violations & Fines
Confining fowl without adequate food, water or standing room, or selling an unweaned rabbit or fowl under four weeks old, is a Chapter V violation punished under Table 5-12.1 or Section 1-3 SFCC 1987. The administrator can also impound a bird kept in the diseased or painfully crippled condition described in Section 5-8.9 and require correction before release.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep chickens or rabbits in my Santa Fe backyard?
How often must I feed and water caged chickens?
Can I sell baby chicks from my backyard flock?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Fe
How Santa Fe compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare Santa Fe to another location·View the New Mexico animal ordinances overview
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