Maricopa County, AZ Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Hen limit, R1-35
- Up to 6 chicken hens
- Rural zoning districts
- No cap on farm animals
- Small-lot enclosure height
- Can't exceed perimeter fence
- Governing section
- MCZO § 603.1
- Jurisdiction
- Unincorporated Maricopa County only
Summary
Unincorporated Maricopa County lets R1-35 lots keep up to six chicken hens under MCZO § 603.1, with no cap at all in Rural-zoned districts, though enclosures on sub-acre subdivision lots can't exceed the perimeter fence height.
The Keeping of Farm Animals. No limit on number of farm animals in Rural zoning districts. In the R1-35 zoning district subject to the following conditions: 1. Up to six (6) chicken hens. Lots less than 1 acre in size with a recorded subdivision community, the enclosure for the chicken hens shall not exceed the height of the perimeter fencing of the lot.
Full Breakdown
Maricopa County Zoning Ordinance § 603.1, "The Keeping of Farm Animals," governs chicken and livestock keeping in unincorporated areas. Rural-zoned parcels have no numeric cap on farm animals, chickens included. In the R1-35 residential district, the ordinance limits households to six chicken hens. On lots under one acre inside a recorded subdivision community, the hen enclosure can't be built taller than the lot's perimeter fencing. Horses are addressed in the same section: corrals must sit in the rear yard, set back at least 40 feet from every lot line, with 1,200 square feet of area per horse, and horse-keeping outside a permitted corral is prohibited in residential zoning districts.
Violations & Fines
Keeping more than six chicken hens on an R1-35 lot, or building a coop or enclosure taller than the lot's perimeter fence on a sub-acre subdivision lot, violates MCZO § 603.1 and can draw county zoning code enforcement action.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many chickens can I keep in unincorporated Maricopa County?
Does this chicken-hen limit apply inside Phoenix or Scottsdale?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Maricopa County
How Maricopa County compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare Maricopa County to another location·View the Arizona animal ordinances overview
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