Best Cities for Backyard Chickens (2026)

Top 25: Most Chicken-Friendly

Rankings are based on each city's animal control or zoning ordinance for residential poultry. "Permissive" cities allow chickens with minimal restrictions (no permit or simple registration, reasonable hen limits). "Strict" cities ban chickens outright or impose impractical requirements.

1. 1

   Fillmore, CAFew RestrictionsAllowed in most zones

   Fillmore's agricultural heritage means the city allows chickens and various livestock on residential properties depending on lot size and zoning. Agricultural zones permit extensive animal keeping. Residential zones allow limited poultry and small animals with setback requirements from neighboring dwellings.

2. 2

   Baytown, TXFew RestrictionsNot banned, noise may be nuisance

   Baytown's lack of traditional zoning means keeping chickens and small livestock on residential property is generally permitted. The city does not impose lot size minimums, coop setback requirements, or bird count limits typical of zoned Texas cities. Animals must be kept in sanitary conditions and not create a nuisance. Roosters may be kept, though crowing complaints can be filed as nuisances.

3. 3

   Plant City, FLFew RestrictionsAllowed in most zones

   Backyard chickens are allowed in most Plant City residential zones, reflecting the city's agricultural identity. Roosters are restricted in denser residential neighborhoods, but permitted on agricultural-zoned parcels.

4. 4

   Santa Paula, CAFew RestrictionsUp to 6 without permit

   Santa Paula allows chickens and small livestock on residential lots with sufficient acreage. Standard residential lots may keep up to 6 hens (no roosters) without a permit. Larger lots and agricultural-zoned parcels allow additional poultry and livestock including goats, rabbits, and ducks.

5. 5

   Benton County, WAFew RestrictionsCapped by each city

   Rural Benton County is farm and rangeland, so backyard hens and livestock are broadly allowed on appropriately zoned land, and Washington's Right to Farm Act shields established agricultural operations. Tri-Cities lots have tighter limits, and roosters can draw noise complaints.

6. 6

   Fargo, NDFew Restrictions4 to 12 typical in residential

   Fargo regulates keeping of chickens and livestock through zoning ordinances. North Dakota's agricultural heritage means many communities are more permissive than urban areas in other states.

7. 7

   King County, WAFew Restrictions10 ft from lot line

   Unincorporated King County allows up to 8 chickens on lots under 20,000 sq ft in RA and R zones per KCC 21A.30.020, more on larger parcels. Roosters are effectively restricted via noise complaints in dense areas.

8. 8

   San Joaquin County, CAFew Restrictions20 ft coop to dwelling

   San Joaquin County is heavily agricultural, and livestock is broadly permitted. Chickens (including roosters), goats, horses, and cattle are allowed as-of-right in AG, AU, and AG-80 zones on appropriate lot sizes. Residential zones (R-R, R-L) allow limited poultry with coop setbacks; the Right to Farm Act (Civil Code §3482.5) protects existing ag operations from nuisance complaints.

9. 9

   Fresno County, CAFew RestrictionsBanned in R-1

   Livestock and poultry are permitted as of right in Fresno County's AE (Exclusive Agricultural), AL (Limited Agricultural), and RR (Rural Residential) zones. CA Civil Code §3482.5 Right to Farm Act protects established operations from nuisance claims.

10. 10

    Sanger, CAFew RestrictionsGenerally permitted

    Sanger allows chickens and certain livestock on residential properties, reflecting its Central Valley agricultural heritage. Roosters may be restricted in higher-density residential zones. Larger livestock such as horses and cattle typically require a minimum lot size and appropriate zoning.

11. 11

    Takoma Park, MDFew RestrictionsUp to 6 without special permit

    Up to six hens allowed without a special permit, reflecting Takoma Park's progressive urban agriculture stance. Roosters prohibited. Other livestock generally not permitted.

12. 12

    Dallas County, TXFew RestrictionsNone at county level

    No county restrictions on chickens or livestock in unincorporated areas. Texas counties cannot zone or restrict agricultural use. TX Agriculture Code governs livestock health and disease. HOA/deed restrictions may prohibit livestock in subdivisions.

13. 13

    Fort Collins, COFew Restrictions8 maximum

    Fort Collins permits up to 8 hens on lots ≤0.5 acre (12 hens for 0.5-1 acre, +6 per additional 0.5 acre). Roosters prohibited. Coop must be in rear yard, ≥15 ft from neighboring residence and ≥5 ft from side/rear lot lines.

14. 14

    Manchester, NHFew RestrictionsTypically 6 to 12 per lot

    Manchester regulates backyard chickens and livestock through local zoning ordinances. New Hampshire's agricultural tradition and Right to Farm law RSA 432:32 generally support keeping poultry and livestock.

15. 15

    Bexar County, TXFew RestrictionsNone in unincorporated Bexar

    Unincorporated Bexar County allows backyard chickens and small livestock with no numeric limit; HOA covenants often restrict. San Antonio allows up to 8 hens, no roosters, with a 20-foot coop setback.

16. 16

    Vista, CAFew RestrictionsRestricted in residential

    Vista allows chickens and limited livestock on residential lots reflecting its agricultural heritage. E-1 Estates allows one horse per half-acre. R-1 allows horses on 1+ acre lots. Roosters restricted in standard residential zones.

17. 17

    Isleton, CAFew Restrictions6 typical

    Backyard chickens are allowed in Isleton on residential lots. Typically up to 6 hens may be kept with no roosters, and coops must meet setback and sanitation standards to avoid nuisance complaints.

18. 18

    Brentwood, CAFew Restrictions~4-6 hens typical

    Backyard chickens are permitted in Brentwood on most residential lots, with limits commonly of 4-6 hens, no roosters, and coop setbacks from neighboring structures. Agricultural-zoned parcels have no hen limit. Under BMC Title 17, coops must be kept sanitary and meet setback requirements from property lines.

19. 19

    Galt, CAFew RestrictionsAbout 4 to 6 on residential lots

    Galt allows backyard chickens on residential and agricultural-residential lots given the city's farming heritage, typically permitting a small flock of hens with no roosters in standard residential zones and larger flocks with roosters on AG-zoned parcels.

20. 20

    Collin County, TXFew RestrictionsNone (county)

    Backyard chickens are unrestricted in unincorporated Collin County. No permit, coop setback, hen limit, or rooster ban. Agricultural character of eastern Collin County (Farmersville, Blue Ridge, Nevada) makes poultry common. HOAs in master-planned communities often prohibit them.

21. 21

    Travis County, TXFew RestrictionsNone

    Unincorporated Travis County has no chicken or poultry limits. No zoning means no coop setbacks, flock caps, or rooster bans apply countywide. Austin ETJ and HOA rules may restrict in some subdivisions.

22. 22

    Tarrant County, TXFew RestrictionsNone countywide

    Unincorporated Tarrant County allows chickens and livestock without permit or flock limit. The county is closed range, so owners must contain livestock. TX Right to Farm Act protects ag operations.

23. 23

    Denton County, TXFew RestrictionsNo limit on livestock

    Unincorporated Denton County does not restrict chickens, livestock, or poultry on private property. As a closed-range county, livestock owners must fence in their animals. Horse and cattle operations are common throughout north Denton County.

24. 24

    Pepperell, MAFew Restrictions

    Pepperell adopted a Right to Farm Bylaw that protects agricultural activities — including incidental noise, odor, and dust — as not constituting a nuisance. Livestock owners must comply with the Pepperell Board of Health 2017 Stable Regulations, the Wetlands Protection Bylaw, and the Zoning Bylaw. The Town Animal Control Officer inspects approximately 75 barns annually.

25. 25

    Pekin, ILFew RestrictionsNone in the code

    Pekin sets no limit on the number of chickens but requires any poultry structure to sit at least 15 feet from the nearest adjoining property line. Roosters are not separately banned.

State-by-State Breakdown

How each state leans overall, based on the cities and counties we have data for in that state.

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