Check with your local animal control or city clerk to determine whether chicken keeping is legal in your city. If you reside within a HOA community, you must follow your HOA rules, regardless of what your city ordinances allow. With that in mind, here are ten Utah municipalities that allow urban chicken farming.
1. Salt Lake City, UT
Backyard chicken keeping is legal in any area zoned as a residential district in Salt Lake City, UT. But before engaging in the practice, you must first apply for and obtain a permit from the Office of Animal Services. The City Code allows as many as 15 female chickens per lot or parcel of land. In all residential districts, backyard chickens must be kept for the sole purpose of producing eggs. You must confine your hens within a secure outdoor enclosed area, which must include a predator-resistant henhouse. Furthermore, you must place your henhouse in the rear yard and at least 25 feet from any dwelling located on an adjacent lot.
2. West Valley City, UT
West Valley City ordinances allow female chickens and ducks to be kept as household pets. The keeping of roosters and crowing chickens is not allowed in the city. Without a permit, you may keep up to 4 female chickens or ducks or any combination of both not exceeding a total of 4 in your backyard.
3. West Jordan, UT
With a Fowl-Keeping Permit, you can own up to 5 backyard chickens In West Jordan, UT. However, you may keep only female chickens for egg production. Roosters and the keeping of hens for commercial purposes are prohibited in the city. The keeping of laying hens is only permitted on properties with a single-family detached dwelling unit, duplex, or twin home. Your henhouse and fenced enclosure must be located at least 20 feet from a nearby residence and 5 feet from the property line.
4. Provo, UT
Urban backyard chicken keeping is permitted in the City of Provo, UT. However, The City Code requires you to first register with the City as a chicken owner. The registration is good for 12 months and may be renewed annually. After the registration, the number of chickens you can own is limited based on the size of your lot or parcel. Up to 6 chickens are permitted per parcel of 10,000 square feet. On a parcel of 9,000 square feet, up to 5 chickens may be kept. The principal use on the lot or parcel must be a one-family dwelling, as required by the City Code.
5. St. George, UT
The keeping of chickens (hens only) as an accessory use to a single-family dwelling is permitted in St. George, UT. The St. George Chicken Code allows up to 6 hens for the first 10,000 square feet of lot area. Then for each additional 1,000 square feet, one additional hen is allowed, up to a maximum of 16 hens. No hens may be kept on lots of less than 10,000 square feet. Your henhouse or pen must be kept in the backyard and be located not less than 20 feet from any property line. However, no setback is required, provided there is a solid masonry wall or solid fence of at least 6 feet tall along the property line.
6. Orem, UT
In Orem, UT, the keeping of chickens (no roosters) for personal use is allowed in residential zones. You may keep laying hens on a single-family lot less than one acre in a residential zone. By ordinances, the number of egg-laying hens you can keep is restricted based on lot size. For example, on a lot of 5000 square feet, a maximum of 2 hens may be kept. Up to 6 hens may be kept on a lot of 10,000 square feet. A maximum of 12 hens is permitted on lots of 30,000 square feet. The setback requirement for chicken coops or tractors from all property lines is 10 feet.
7. Sandy, UT
The city of Sandy's Zoning Ordinance allows you to keep a maximum of 10 female chickens on a non-nuisance basis in your backyard. In addition to the 10 hens, you may keep up to 6 ducks. However, ducks, dogs, cats, and rabbits are considered common household pets, the keeping of which is limited to 6 in total. For example, you may keep ducks, dogs, cats, and rabbits in any combination not exceeding a total of 6 in addition to the 10 hens.
8. Ogden, UT
On December 19, 2017, the Ogden City Council adopted an ordinance allowing urban chicken keeping. Under the ordinance, you're required to obtain a land use permit and pay an annual licensing fee of $5 per chicken. The ordinance allows you to keep up to 6 chickens in your backyard on a single-family, owner-occupied lot, with at least 2,000 square feet of open area. By ordinance, you're required to keep your chicken coop in a sanitary condition and at least 25 feet from neighboring homes and 5 feet from property lines.
9. South Jordan, UT
In South Jordan, UT, backyard chickens are permitted in the following single-family residential zones: R-1.8, R-2.5, R-3, R-4, and R-5. A residential lot of at least 10,000 square feet is required to keep a maximum of 6 chickens. The keeping of roosters is expressly banned in Residential Zones within South Jordan City. Female chickens may be kept only for the purpose of family food production. For more info, check the Residential Chicken Requirements and Standards for Residential Chickens.
10. Layton, UT
In Layton, UT, you may have backyard chickens in the following residential zones: R-1-6, R-1-8, R-1-10, and R-S. A property of 10,000 square feet (0.23 acres) is required to keep up to 6 chickens (no roosters). Your henhouse and chicken run must be located in your backyard and at least 5 feet from any property line. You may need to obtain a permit from the Community & Economic Development Department before keeping any hens.
Other cities that allow backyard chickens in Utah
- Herriman, UT - Hens allowed in R-1-10 and R-1-15 zones
- Taylorsville, UT - Up to 10 chickens with a permit
- Eagle Mountain, UT - Allows chickens and ducks
- Saratoga Springs, UT - Up to 10 hens may be kept in the R1-40, R1-20, and R1-10 zones
- Draper, UT - Up to 6 chickens per lot or parcel
- Murray, UT - Up to 8 chickens depending on lot size
- Spanish Fork, UT - Up to 6 hens with a permit
- Riverton, UT - Up to 20 chickens per ½-acre
- Bountiful, UT - Up to 8 hens per residential lot
- Roy, UT - A permit is required to keep egg-laying hens
- American Fork, UT - Up 6 hens depending on lot size
- Pleasant Grove, UT - Up to 25 chickens or ducks per acre
- Midvale, UT - Up to 8 hens with a permit
- Clearfield, UT - Up to 6 hens with a license
This list is not exhaustive, meaning many more Utah cities allow urban backyard chicken keeping.
Related: How many pets can you own in Utah?
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