Chicken Permit

Backyard chickens are allowed as an accessory use in the following zoning districts.

  • RE (Residential Estate)
  • R-1 (Single Family)
  • R-1AA (Single Family)
  • R-1A (Single Family)
  • R-1B (Single Family)

Please contact the city to confirm the zoning district of the property.

  1. Step 1 - Review and Prepare
  2. Step 2 - Create an Account
  3. Step 3 - Apply
  4. Step 4 - Review and Payment

Review and Prepare

Review Standards for Backyard Chickens *

Failure to comply with these standards will result in need for removal of birds and structure.

  1. All chicken operations must be registered by the property owner with the city prior to placement. The city council will establish a fee for the one-time registration.
  2. Registration process consists of a site and building plan with location and specifics of coop, pen or run, and coop setbacks.
  3. Not more than six (6) hens are allowed. No roosters are allowed.
  4. Coop (and covered run) is limited to not more than sixty (60) square feet.
  5. Shelters or coops shall be in the rear yard only and located at least five (5) feet from side or rear lot lines.
  6. Shelters or coops shall be at least thirty (30) feet from an adjacent home (living space).
  7. All runs must be fenced unless the entire rear yard is fenced. Chickens are not allowed to run free.
  8. Chicken waste must be removed from the coop so as not to cause a nuisance and be properly disposed of or composted.
  9. Slaughtering and processing of the chickens must be done off-site.
  10. Structure must be removed and site restored if keeping of chickens is discontinued for more than twelve (12) months.
  11. If the home is within a managed community and has a home ownership association, the association management must also sign off on the placement of the chickens.
    Note: Many neighborhood associations may prohibit the keeping of chickens or have more stringent standards.

Prepare

The following information and documents are needed for upload during the online application process. Please note, documents need to be in a PDF format (other accepted formats are DOC, DOCX, JPEG, and PNG).

  • Site Plan
    Show the following:
    • Distance from coop to property lines.
    • Distance from coop to neighboring homes
    • Proposed dimensions of the coop
  • Letter from Home Owners Association
    (authorization for keeping of chickens if property is an HOA)
  • Chicken Permit Application Fee - $45
    (due at time of application submittal)