Colorado Backyard Chicken Laws
Backyard chicken requirements vary by municipality and zoning. Find your researched Colorado city or county below.
Quick legal answer
Are backyard chickens legal in Colorado?
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: July 2026
Official source varies by municipalityOrdinances and zoning rules change. Confirm the current requirements with your municipality before buying birds or building a coop.
7
Cities allow chickens
0
Cities ban chickens
0
Conditional rules
7
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
Aurora
Up to 8 hens. Chicken housing rules apply; review Aurora's permit packet and site drawing requirements before placing the structure
Boulder
No fixed max. Boulder animal care and zoning rules apply; confirm neighborhood zoning and enclosure placement before building
Colorado Springs
Up to 10 hens. Chicken or rabbit shelters must provide at least 4 sq ft per animal; structures must also comply with zoning, building, and accessory-structure rules.
Denver
Up to 8 hens. Check zoning and structure rules before building; Denver's food-producing animal materials include enclosure and predator-proofing expectations rather than a simple citywide backyard setback.
Fort Collins
Up to 8 hens. Poultry house and outdoor enclosure must be at least 15 ft from abutting property lines unless affected abutting owners give written consent.
Lakewood
No fixed max. Lakewood zoning standards apply to animal keeping and coop placement; verify the current zoning article for your parcel
Westminster
Up to 6 hens. The coop must be at least 10 ft from all side and rear property lines.
About Colorado Chicken Laws
Backyard chicken requirements in Colorado 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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