Sioux City, IA Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)

Title 7 of the Sioux City Municipal Code (https://online.encodeplus.com/regs/siouxcity-ia/) sets the framework for keeping animals inside the city. Section 7.06.010 requires a fowl-and-swine permit through the Sioux City Health Department / Animal Control Division before any chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, doves, pigeons, game birds, or pigs may be kept on a residential property. The standard permit allows up to four hens, prohibits roosters older than four months (to avoid crowing noise complaints), and requires coops to be at least 25 feet from any neighboring residence and located behind the front building line. Coops must be predator-resistant, kept reasonably clean and free of vermin, and feed must be stored in rodent-proof containers. Livestock such as cattle, sheep, goats, and horses are generally limited to the Agricultural (AG) zoning district under Title 25 (Zoning and Sign Code) and are not a by-right use in residential districts. Iowa state law layers on top: Iowa Code Chapter 162 (Animal Care Providers) requires commercial operations to register with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and Iowa Code Chapter 717B addresses animal-cruelty conduct. Iowa has not preempted municipal poultry zoning, so Sioux City's permit-and-cap framework controls inside city limits. Call the Sioux City Animal Adoption and Rescue Center at (712) 279-6968 to confirm current permit terms.