Arizona Backyard Chicken Laws
Backyard chicken requirements vary by municipality and zoning. Find your researched Arizona city or county below.
Quick legal answer
Are backyard chickens legal in Arizona?
Conditional — rules vary by municipality or zoning
- Hen limit
- Varies by city
- Roosters
- Varies by city; nuisance rules may also apply
- Permit
- Varies by municipality
- Setback
- Varies by municipality and zoning district
- Zoning
- Your city or county ordinance controls
Last verified: May 2026
Official source varies by municipalityOrdinances and zoning rules change. Confirm the current requirements with your municipality before buying birds or building a coop.
5
Cities allow chickens
0
Cities ban chickens
0
Conditional rules
5
Cities covered
Important: Local zoning and animal ordinances determine whether a particular property qualifies. Confirm the city or county rule that applies to your address. HOA covenants can also be more restrictive.
Easiest cities
Strictest cities
Chandler
Up to 5 hens. Chicken coop outer edge must be at least 5 ft from any property line; larger or utility-served coops may require permits
Mesa
Up to 10 hens. Mesa directs residents to MCC 8-6-21 for containment area distance restrictions
Phoenix
Up to 6 hens. Poultry enclosures must be at least 20 ft from neighboring property lines unless written permission is obtained
Scottsdale
No fixed max. No simple citywide chicken-specific setback found in the reviewed Scottsdale guidance; zoning and nuisance rules still apply
Tucson
Up to 24 hens. Tucson Code Section 4-57 lists a 50 ft dwelling setback except as otherwise provided by the Unified Development Code or other law
About Arizona Chicken Laws
Backyard chicken requirements in Arizona vary across cities, counties, and zoning districts. Local rules address flock size, roosters, permits, coop setbacks, sanitation, and property qualifications.
Always verify rules directly with your city clerk or planning department before purchasing birds or building a coop. Laws change — our pages include a last-verified date and link directly to the municipal code for each city.
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