Illinois Backyard Chicken Laws
Backyard chicken requirements vary by municipality and zoning. Find your researched Illinois city or county below.
Quick legal answer
Are backyard chickens legal in Illinois?
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.
4
Cities allow chickens
3
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
Joliet
Chickens classified as farm animals under Joliet's municipal code. Prohibited in residential zones unless property is formally classified as a farm under city zoning.
Rockford
The City of Rockford explicitly states it does not permit ownership of any type of fowl. A proposal to allow up to 4 hens was rejected by City Council in January 2023.
Schaumburg
Schaumburg does not permit chickens under current municipal code. A 2023 village staff memo confirmed the ban remains in effect and that changing it would require zoning amendments and a special use permit process.
Aurora
Up to 6 hens. 25 ft from neighboring occupied residences
Chicago
No fixed max. No simple backyard coop setback found in the reviewed city code; nuisance, sanitation, animal restraint, and zoning rules still apply
Elgin
Up to 4 hens. 25 ft from neighboring property lines
Naperville
Up to 8 hens. 25 ft from neighboring occupied residences
Joliet
Chickens classified as farm animals under Joliet's municipal code. Prohibited in residential zones unless property is formally classified as a farm under city zoning.
Rockford
The City of Rockford explicitly states it does not permit ownership of any type of fowl. A proposal to allow up to 4 hens was rejected by City Council in January 2023.
Schaumburg
Schaumburg does not permit chickens under current municipal code. A 2023 village staff memo confirmed the ban remains in effect and that changing it would require zoning amendments and a special use permit process.
About Illinois Chicken Laws
Backyard chicken requirements in Illinois 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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