Tempe, AZ Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)

Section 3-404(I) of Tempe's Zoning and Development Code, which governs Agricultural Uses, allows small animals and pot-bellied pigs on any residential lot with a single-family dwelling, but caps the total at five small animals per lot and two pot-bellied pigs (counted within that five). Domestic chickens, defined elsewhere in the Code as female hens excluding roosters, are capped separately at six birds per lot and do not count toward the five-animal small-animal limit, but keeping roosters or peafowl is prohibited everywhere except the AG (agricultural) zoning district.

On lots smaller than one acre, chicken enclosures cannot be taller than the property's fence or wall line. Anyone wanting more animals than these caps allow, or wanting to keep livestock as defined in Section 3-404(B), must apply for a Use Permit under Section 6-308 and show adequate space and control of the animals' living quarters. Section 3-404(B) separately regulates livestock, cattle, horses, sheep or goats, on a formula of one horse, cow or similar animal (or two sheep, goats or similar animals) per 6,000 square feet of net lot area after deducting at least 30% of the lot (and up to a half-acre) for the home site, with a hard ceiling of 24 animals total and animals six months or younger excluded from the count; livestock keeping is a permitted use only in the AG district, with horse-keeping additionally allowed by use permit in certain R1-15 and R1-10 lots zoned before January 20, 1985 that meet minimum setback and lot-size conditions.

Household pets and dogs and cats regulated under City Code Chapter 6 are exempt from the small-animal count entirely. Section 3-404(I)(7) separately makes it unlawful to keep small animals or livestock in a manner that constitutes a nuisance.