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📍 City Guide — Denver, CO

Denver Backyard Chicken Ordinance: 8 Hens, $50 Permit & 15-Foot Setback

Denver's chicken ordinance is well-structured and frequently cited as a model for other cities. Up to 8 hens, a one-time $50 permit, and a 15-foot setback from any structure. Here's what the Denver Revised Municipal Code actually says.

Denver Quick Summary
Maximum hens: 8 · Roosters: Not permitted · Permit required: Yes ($50 one-time) · Setback: 15 ft from any structure · Code reference: Denver Revised Municipal Code § 8-92 (Domestic Fowl)

What Denver's Ordinance Says

Denver's chicken rules are in the Denver Revised Municipal Code, Title VIII (Animals), Section 8-92. Key provisions:

  • Maximum of 8 hens per single-family residential lot
  • Roosters are prohibited in all residential zones (Chapter 36, Denver Zoning Code, supports this with noise provisions)
  • A $50 one-time use permit is required from Denver Community Planning and Development (CPD)
  • The enclosure must be at least 15 feet from any structure — including structures on adjacent properties (not just your own)
  • Chickens must be kept in a covered enclosure at all times — no free-ranging unsupervised outside a secured enclosure
  • Feed must be stored in a sealed rodent-proof container
  • The enclosure must be cleaned at minimum once per week to prevent odor and pest attraction

One Key Clarification Missing from Most Online Guides

The 15-foot setback is from "any structure" — which Denver Code Enforcement interprets to mean any occupied structure on any adjacent property, not just structures on your lot. This is a more restrictive reading than simply "15 feet from your property line."

Practical implication: if your neighbor's garage is 10 feet from your shared property line, your coop needs to be 15 feet from that garage wall — meaning 25 feet from your shared property line on that side. In dense Denver neighborhoods like Sunnyside or Globeville where houses are close together, this calculation can significantly limit coop placement options.

The Denver Permit Application Process

  1. Download the "Domestic Fowl Use Permit Application" from the Denver CPD website (denvergov.org/permits) or pick up in person at 201 W. Colfax Ave.
  2. Complete the application including a simple site sketch showing: lot boundaries, all structures (yours and adjacent), proposed coop location, and all setback measurements
  3. Submit with $50 check or money order payable to the City and County of Denver
  4. CPD reviews the application (typically 10–15 business days)
  5. Permit issued — no site inspection in most straightforward cases
  6. Keep permit on file; no annual renewal

Denver's Enforcement Reality

Denver Code Enforcement (part of Denver Community Planning and Development) handles chicken complaints. The most common citation triggers:

  • Operating without a permit (most common)
  • Rooster noise complaints
  • Odor from infrequently cleaned coops
  • Rodent attraction from open feed storage
  • Chickens free-ranging outside a secured enclosure

Denver CPD inspectors are generally described as cooperative in helping permit-holders come into compliance on first complaints, especially when the keeper has a valid permit. Unpermitted operations are treated more seriously from the start.

Frequently Asked Questions — Denver Chickens

The city permit doesn't override your HOA. Many Denver metro HOAs — particularly in newer suburban neighborhoods like Stapleton/Central Park, Highlands Ranch, and Aurora — prohibit poultry regardless of Denver's city allowance. Denver's older established neighborhoods (Capitol Hill, Washington Park, Berkeley, Baker) are less likely to have HOA restrictions on chickens. Review your specific CC&Rs before applying for the city permit.
No — those are separate municipalities with their own codes. Denver's ordinance applies only within the City and County of Denver boundaries. Aurora, Lakewood, Englewood, Arvada, Westminster, Broomfield, and other Denver metro cities each have their own ordinances. See our Colorado state guide for a summary of other Front Range cities.
Denver's ordinance doesn't address egg sales specifically, but Colorado state law governs. Colorado exempts "home producers" with fewer than 500 hens from most commercial egg production regulations — meaning small-scale egg sales from backyard flocks are generally permitted under state law without a commercial license. However, selling eggs at farmers markets or to restaurants may trigger different requirements. Contact the Colorado Department of Agriculture for current home producer exemption details.

Recommended Resource

Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens

Once you know your ordinance is clear, this is the most comprehensive beginner-to-experienced guide to actually keeping a healthy, productive flock. Covers breeds, coop design, feeding, health, and egg production.

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Disclaimer: This page provides general informational guidance only. Ordinances change frequently. Always verify current rules directly with your local planning or zoning department before acquiring animals.