Arapahoe County, CO Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Where allowed
- A-E, A-1, RR-A, RR-B zone districts
- RR-B cap
- 1 agricultural animal per acre
- RR-B exemption
- Small non-commercial animals uncapped
- Private stable setback
- 25 ft from property line, 50 ft from dwelling
- Commercial stable setback
- 50 ft from property line, 100 ft from dwelling
- Feed yard/sales yard setback
- 200 ft from any property line
Summary
Unincorporated Arapahoe County allows agricultural animals by right in the A-E, A-1, RR-A and RR-B zone districts. There's no cap on numbers in most of those districts, but RR-B parcels are limited to one agricultural animal per acre unless the animals qualify as small non-commercial agricultural animals.
A. AGRICULTURAL ANIMALS
1. Agricultural animals are permitted only in the A-E, A-1, RR-A, and RR-B zone districts and there is no limit to the number of agricultural animals allowed per acre except as provided for below.
2. In the RR-B zone district a maximum of one agricultural animal per acre is allowed except that there is no limit on small agricultural animals kept for non-commercial use (see definitions chapter for 'agricultural animal, small, non-commercial').
Full Breakdown
A of the Arapahoe County Land Development Code governs agricultural animals on unincorporated land. 2 carves out the RR-B district: a maximum of one agricultural animal per acre applies there, except small agricultural animals kept for non-commercial use are exempt from that cap (the code cross-references its own definitions chapter for "agricultural animal, small, non-commercial"). 3 extends the same framework to PUD zone districts with minimum lot sizes comparable to A-E, A-1, RR-A or RR-B, provided the PUD's own zoning doesn't prohibit agricultural animals, and where a PUD's lot sizes track RR-B, the one-animal-per-acre limit applies there too.
The same Use-Specific Standards section separately regulates related facilities: animal feed yards, commercial animal sales yards, riding academies and public stables must sit at least 200 feet from any property line and control odor, dust, noise and drainage so as not to create a nuisance. Private stables in the A-E, A-1, RR-A and RR-B districts must be on the rear half of the lot, 25 feet from property lines and 50 feet from any dwelling; commercial stables need 50 feet from property lines and 100 feet from any dwelling.
Because this authority derives from the county's Title 30, Article 28 planning and zoning power, none of it reaches incorporated land in Aurora, Centennial, Littleton or the county's other cities and towns, those residents fall under their own municipal codes.
Violations & Fines
Zoning enforcement runs through the county's Public Works and Development Department. Keeping agricultural animals in a district where they aren't a permitted use, exceeding the one-per-acre RR-B cap without qualifying for the small-animal exemption, or placing a stable or feed yard closer than the required setback are code violations subject to the Land Development Code's Chapter 6 enforcement process, which can include a notice of violation and civil penalties until the property is brought into compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep livestock on my property in unincorporated Arapahoe County?
Does this rule apply inside Aurora or Centennial?
How far must a private stable be from my neighbor's property?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Arapahoe County
How Arapahoe County compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare Arapahoe County to another location·View the Colorado animal ordinances overview
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