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Can you legally keep backyard animals where you live?

Plain-language guides to chicken, duck, goat, rabbit, and beehive ordinances by city and county. We translate zoning codes so you don't have to read 60-page PDFs.

▶ Use the Livestock Wizard 📋 Free Research Checklist

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Illustrated backyard scene with chickens, a wooden coop, and garden fence representing a typical residential chicken-keeping setup

Browse by Animal

What are you trying to keep?

Each guide covers permits, setbacks, flock limits, common local restrictions, and a state-by-state overview.

🐔 Chickens Hens, roosters, flock limits, coop setbacks, permit requirements 🦆 Ducks Ordinance differences from chickens, water rules, suburban duck-keeping 🐐 Goats Miniature breeds, residential zoning, male goat restrictions 🐇 Rabbits Pet vs. livestock classification, enclosure rules, HOA considerations 🐝 Honeybees Hive limits, state registration, setback fences, neighbor notification

Browse by State

Your state's ordinance landscape

We cover the 15 states with the highest search volume for backyard livestock questions, including major counties and cities within each.

California→ Texas→ Florida→ North Carolina→ Washington→ Oregon→ Colorado→ Ohio→ Pennsylvania→ Georgia→ Arizona→ Tennessee→ Virginia→ Minnesota→ Michigan→

Free Interactive Tools

Calculators & Planning Tools

Built for homeowners — not lawyers. Every tool runs in your browser, no account needed.

🧭 Start Here Livestock Ordinance Wizard Answer 4 questions about your zoning and animal type. Get permit requirements, setback rules, and flock limits for your situation. All animals · All zoning types · 4 steps 🏠 Calculator Coop Size Calculator Enter flock size, breed, and climate. Get minimum coop sq ft, run space, roost bar length, and nest boxes — checked against your city's limit. 15 breeds · Climate-adjusted · Printable 📐 Calculator Setback Compliance Calculator Visual lot diagram showing exactly where your coop or enclosure can legally sit after required setbacks — with available zone area calculation. Visual diagram · All animals · Printable 📋 Planner Flock Production Planner Annual egg production, monthly feed cost, cost per dozen, and payback period for 15 popular backyard breeds. Includes monthly production chart. 15 breeds · Cost analysis · Monthly chart 🐝 Calculator Beehive Space Calculator Check hive count against city limits and setbacks. Estimate honey yields, flyway fence compliance, and get a full beekeeping checklist. Bees · Honey estimates · Compliance check 📋 Free Downloads Printable Worksheets & Templates Ordinance research checklist, neighbor notification letter builder, and coop permit site plan worksheet — all free, all printable. 3 resources · Permit-ready · Print & use

In-Depth Guides

Understand the rules before you buy

Each guide covers a specific procedural or regulatory topic in detail — the things zoning codes don't explain in plain language.

Zoning Basics Livestock Setback Rules Explained What "setback from property line" actually means, how it's measured, and what happens when neighbors share a fence line. 8 min read · Zoning & Permits Permits Do You Need a Permit for Backyard Chickens? The permit threshold varies by city. Here's the exact process in cities that require one — and what you risk if you skip it. 7 min read · Permits HOA Rules HOA vs. City Rules — Which One Wins? When your HOA prohibits chickens but your city allows them, or vice versa — understanding which set of rules controls your situation. 6 min read · HOA & Zoning Noise Ordinances Rooster Ordinances: Which Cities Allow Them Roosters are banned in most city limits — but not all. A detailed breakdown of rooster rules across major metro areas. 9 min read · Noise & Nuisance Getting Approved How to Apply for a Livestock Variance If livestock isn't permitted in your zone, a variance may be your path. Here's the process, realistic approval rates, and what to prepare. 10 min read · Variances How-To How to Read a Zoning Code (Practical Guide) Most zoning codes bury livestock rules in agricultural use tables. This guide walks you through finding what you need in under 20 minutes. 11 min read · Research Skills Breed Selection Miniature Breeds and Zoning: Does Breed Matter? Can keeping Nigerian Dwarf goats instead of full-size goats change your legal status? The answer varies by jurisdiction — and often yes. 7 min read · Goats & Zoning Enforcement What Happens If You Violate a Livestock Ordinance Fines, abatement orders, and animal confiscation — what enforcement actually looks like and how to respond to a neighbor complaint. 8 min read · Enforcement Structures Chicken Coop Size Requirements by Zoning Type Minimum square footage per bird, height restrictions, and whether your coop needs a building permit — all in one place. 8 min read · Structures Process Neighbor Notification Requirements for Livestock Some cities require written notice to adjacent neighbors before you can keep chickens. Here's when it applies and how to do it correctly. 6 min read · Process

City-Specific Guides

Velocity pages — fast answers for specific cities

These pages answer the most-searched city-specific livestock questions with exact local ordinance details.

Boise, Idaho Backyard Chicken Rules in Boise, Idaho Exact permit fees, setback distances, coop requirements, and the Boise city code section that governs urban chickens. City Guide · Chickens Wake County, NC Can You Keep Goats in Wake County, NC? Lot size thresholds, miniature breed rules, and the specific Wake County zoning table that controls residential livestock. City Guide · Goats Austin, Texas Austin Backyard Chicken Ordinance Guide Austin allows up to 10 hens in most residential zones. Here's the permit process, coop setback rules, and what "domestic fowl" means in the Austin code. City Guide · Chickens Seattle, WA Seattle Backyard Beehive Ordinance Seattle allows up to 4 hives on a standard lot. Exact setback rules, registration with the WA Dept of Agriculture, and the flyway fence requirement. City Guide · Bees Denver, Colorado Denver Backyard Chicken Rules (2024) Denver allows up to 8 chickens on most residential lots. Current permit fees, rooster ban details, and the common-sense coop rules the city actually enforces. City Guide · Chickens Nashville, TN Nashville Metro Chicken Ordinance Nashville permits backyard chickens in most residential zones with specific rules for Metro vs. suburban counties. Here's what applies where. City Guide · Chickens