Pennsylvania Backyard Chicken Laws
Pennsylvania has no statewide chicken law — every city sets its own rules. Find your city below.
2
Cities allow chickens
2
Cities ban chickens
4
Cities covered
Important: Pennsylvania delegates all backyard chicken rules to local municipalities. Your city's ordinance is what matters — not state law. HOA covenants can also override city rules on your specific property.
Easiest cities
Strictest cities
Harrisburg
Up to 10 hens. Poultry pen, shelter, or enclosure must be at least 75 ft from front, side, and rear lot lines
Pittsburgh
Up to 5 hens. Housing structures must meet urban agriculture standards; chicken/duck housing minimum 6 sq ft plus 2 sq ft per additional bird
Allentown
Allentown Code Section 163-13 prohibits keeping fowl in the city except for limited listed purposes.
Philadelphia
Philadelphia Code Section 10-112 generally prohibits farm animals except in listed situations, including parcels of 3 or more acres.
About Pennsylvania Chicken Laws
Like most US states, Pennsylvania does not have a single statewide law governing backyard chickens. Each city, village, and county sets its own rules about flock size, roosters, permits, coop setbacks, and sanitation.
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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