Sparks, NV Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Hens
- 2 to 16 by lot size
- Roosters
- Prohibited
- Coop Size
- 10 sq ft per hen
- Coop Setback
- 10 ft home, 5 ft line
- Code
- SMC 20.03.048
Summary
Sparks allows backyard hens scaled to lot size, from two hens on lots under 2,000 square feet up to sixteen on parcels over 10,000 square feet. Roosters and on-site slaughter are prohibited. Larger livestock needs agricultural or SF-40 zoning.
Livestock used for recreational purposes may be kept only in the agricultural ("A-5" and "A-40") and "SF-40" residential district, if: a. The minimum size of the lot is one acre; b. No more than one head of livestock may be maintained per 20,000 square feet of land area; and/or c. The keeping of poultry and large fowl or birds is limited to 12 per acre of property.
Full Breakdown
Sparks' urban-agriculture ordinance, Section 20.03.048, lets residents keep hens in SF, MF, MUD-MR, and MUD-RN districts, with the number tied to parcel size: two hens under 2,000 square feet, four hens from 2,001 to 6,000 square feet, and up to sixteen hens on lots over 10,000 square feet. Roosters and on-site slaughter are banned. Each hen needs at least ten square feet of covered coop, set back ten feet from the home and five feet from side and rear property lines, with no front-yard access. Under Section 20.03.005, production livestock is limited to the A-5 and A-40 agricultural districts, and recreational livestock is allowed in A-5, A-40, and SF-40 on lots of at least one acre.
Violations & Fines
Keeping roosters or exceeding the hen limit leads to a code-enforcement order to remove the birds. Unauthorized livestock must be removed, and nuisance or sanitation violations carry fines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep backyard chickens in Sparks?
Can I keep goats or a horse in Sparks?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sparks
How Sparks compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare Sparks to another location·View the Nevada animal ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Chickens & Livestock in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Washoe County handle chickens & livestock.