Top 10 Oklahoma Cities That Allow Backyard Chickens

A red hen

Can you keep backyard chickens in Oklahoma? The answer is it depends on where you live within the Sooner State. While many Oklahoma cities allow residents to raise a limited number of chickens in their residential backyards, some do not. Therefore, if you're considering raising backyard chickens, first contact your local animal control or city clerk's office to determine whether such practice is permitted in your locality. Meanwhile, you can own chickens in the Oklahoma cities listed below:

1. Oklahoma City, OK

Currently, you don't need a permit to raise backyard chickens or quails in Oklahoma City. The City Council approved an ordinance in 2022, allowing residents to keep a limited number of chickens or quails in their residential backyard. Per the City's Development Services, you're allowed to keep a maximum of 6 chickens or quail in your backyard without a permit. However, you must comply with the city's chicken-keeping rules, the enforcement of which will be enacted on a complaint basis. For starters, you're allowed to keep only female chickens (hens), roosters are banned. Your chicken enclosure must be located at least:
  • 5 feet away from the side property line
  • 10 feet away from the back property line
  • 30 feet from an adjacent dwelling
In addition, your chicken enclosure must provide at least 4 square feet of floor space per bird.

2. Tulsa, OK

You can legally own backyard chickens in Tulsa, Oklahoma. If you live in an area zoned for agriculture (AG), the number and type of chickens you can own aren't restricted. However, Tulsa's municipal code requires that you keep your chicken enclosure at least 100 feet away from an adjoining property line. If you reside in an area not zoned for agriculture, the number of chickens you can keep is limited to 6. Your chicken enclosure must not be closer than 50 feet to any adjoining residence. Furthermore, you must keep your chickens in a manner not offensive or dangerous to public health.

3. Norman, OK

In Norman, OK, chickens are permitted to be kept in the R-1 zoning district, provided certain conditions are followed. The City's municipal code specifies that no more than 4 chickens, excluding roosters, may be kept per R-1-zoned parcel. Hens must be kept in a chicken coop and run, which must be located in the backyard only.

The code requires the chicken coop to be attached to the chicken run. Both enclosures must be located at least 5 feet from any side or rear property lines and 25 feet from any neighboring dwelling unit. Additionally, your chicken coop is required to provide at least 4 square feet of space per hen while your chicken run must provide 8 square feet of space per hen.

4. Broken Arrow, OK

In the City of Broken Arrow,  you may keep a limited number of chickens in your backyard, provided your chicken coop is located at least 40 feet from any residence other than yours. Per Chapter 5, Sec. 5-11. of the city's municipal code, you must not keep more than 4 chickens on your property, unless it's zoned agricultural (A-1).

5. Edmond, OK

The keeping of backyard chickens is permitted on single-family residential lots within the City of Edmond, OK. According to the City's chicken-keeping ordinance, the keeping of roosters is not permitted. You may keep laying hens only and the number of hens you can keep depends on the size of your property.

For example, a total of 4 hens may be kept on a lot less than 0.33 acres. On a lot of 0.33 acres to 0.68 acres, a maximum of 6 hens may be kept. No more than 8 hens may be kept on lots of 30,000 square feet to one acre. On lots greater than one acre to two acres, a maximum of 12 hens may be kept. The ordinance prohibits the slaughtering of hens.

6. Lawton, OK

In Lawton, OK, chickens, guineas, geese, and ducks are considered "Small Animals." Per Lawton's municipal code, you may keep a combined total of 12 small animals. That means you may keep chickens, guineas, geese, and ducks in any combination not exceeding a total of 12. However, you must keep your domestic birds at least 25 feet away from the exterior limits of any dwelling other than yours. Additionally, you must confine your birds within an enclosure sufficient to prevent their being at large.

7. Midwest City, OK

By ordinance, chickens, turkeys, guineas, geese, and ducks are deemed small animals in Midwest City, OK. You may keep no more than 12 chickens or other legal domestic birds on any parcel of land that is at least 2,000 square feet in area. For each additional 1,000 square feet of area, 12 or fewer additional chickens are allowed. Chickens or other legal domestic birds must be confined in an enclosure that must be located 40 feet from the exterior limits of a residence other than that of the owner. But before the keeping of any legal domestic birds, an Animal Permit must be obtained.

8. Enid, OK

In Enid, OK, backyard chickens may be kept on properties zoned A agriculture or R-1 residential estates. If you reside in a district not zoned A or R-1, you need a lot one acre or larger to keep chickens. If your property is less than an acre and not zoned A or R-1, you may obtain a waiver from the City Marshal to keep no more than 6 female chickens. To qualify for the waiver, the city code requires that you have adequate space for the upkeep and care of the hens.

9. Stillwater, OK

In Stillwater, OK, the keeping of backyard chickens is permitted on property zoned for single-family residential use. Per Chapter 6, Sec. 6-82. of Stillwater's Code of Ordinances, you may keep no more than 6 chickens (hens only) in the rear yard of your single-family residential property. Eggs produced by your hens must be for personal consumption only. The city code prohibits the commercial marketing of backyard chicken eggs. Your henhouse and run must not be located closer than 25 feet to any neighboring property, nor closer than 5 feet from any side or rear yard property line.

10. Bartlesville, OK

In residential agricultural (RA) districts within Bartlesville, OK, there are no restrictions on the keeping of chickens other than chicken coops must be located at least 100 feet from an adjoining property line. However, in single-family residential districts (RS), the number of chickens you can keep is limited to 6. Only hens are permitted to be kept in single-family residential districts, according to the City Code. The henhouse or enclosure must be kept no closer than 50 feet to any adjoining residence.

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