Backyard Chickens in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Can you keep chickens in Albuquerque?

Thinking about keeping hens in the Duke City? Albuquerque is one of the more permissive major cities in the Southwest for backyard poultry, allowing up to 15 birds and a rooster per household with no special city permit — just solid coop, shade, and predator-proofing to match the high desert.

Yes – with conditions

Yes, backyard chickens are legal in Albuquerque. Under the City's HEART (Humane and Ethical Animal Rules and Treatment) Ordinance, the poultry limit for a household is 15 birds, and no more than one rooster is permitted per household (§ 9-2-4-3, Animal Limits and Restrictions).

The ordinance does not list a separate poultry-keeping permit among its required licenses/permits (§ 9-2-3 lists permits for companion animals, guard dogs, breeders, exotic animals, and pet stores, but no chicken-specific permit), so no special city permit is required to keep hens or a rooster within these limits.

All poultry, like other animals kept outdoors, must comply with the general housing and restraint standards in § 9-2-2-2, which require a Secure Fence or Secure Enclosure, adequate shelter and shade, weekly removal of feces/soiled bedding, and protection from hazards and pests. Roosters and noisy flocks remain subject to the City's general animal-noise nuisance provision (§ 9-2-4-7), which prohibits animals from persistently making noise to the extent it causes a nuisance.

Read the ordinance ↗

The rules at a glance

Hens in city limits: Allowed
How many hens: 15
Roosters: conditional
Permit required: No
Permit cost: Not specified
Setback from property line: Not specified

Peggy knows Albuquerque

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

Albuquerque's ordinance does not set a specific numeric setback distance for chicken coops in the Code of Ordinances text retrieved. Instead, § 9-2-2-2 (Housing and Restraint Standards for Mammals and Birds Kept on Residential Property) requires that outdoor enclosures be a Secure Fence or Secure Facility, provide adequate space to prevent overcrowding, and include Adequate Shelter and shade that protects birds from extreme weather. Feces and soiled bedding must be removed at least weekly, and the area must be kept free of hazards (chemicals, entangling wire, sharp debris) that could harm the birds.

Per § 9-2-4-3, the household-wide cap is 15 poultry with a maximum of one rooster. Some secondary sources report a common-practice ~20 ft setback from neighboring dwellings that many keepers follow, but this figure was not found stated as a hard numeric requirement in the retrieved city code text, so we recommend confirming any zoning-specific setback with the City's Planning Department before building a coop. Note that private HOA covenants in some Albuquerque subdivisions can prohibit poultry even where the city ordinance allows it.

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Albuquerque

🌡️ Climate

Cold semi-arid high desert (USDA Hardiness Zone 7a), ~5,300 ft elevation

Albuquerque sits at over 5,000 feet in a semi-arid high-desert climate with abundant sunshine, low humidity, and wide day-to-night temperature swings. Summers bring intense UV and hot, dry afternoons, while winters can bring hard freezes and occasional snow, so flocks need shade/ventilation in summer and wind-blocked, insulated shelter in winter.

🦝 Who's after your hens

HawkCoyoteFoxBobcatRaccoonSnakeSkunk

Albuquerque's mix of open desert, arroyos, and urban edges supports active populations of hawks and other raptors, coyotes, and other opportunistic predators year-round, making a fully covered, hardware-cloth-secured run important even in town.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Leghorn, Rhode Island Red, Australorp, Easter Egger, Plymouth Rock, Orpington (cold-hardy) and other dual-purpose breeds tolerant of both intense sun and cold desert nights

Our package comes with two Rhode Island Reds – hardy in heat and cold, and friendly with kids.

Questions people ask about Albuquerque

▸How many chickens can I legally keep in Albuquerque?

Under § 9-2-4-3 of the City's HEART Ordinance, the poultry limit per household is 15 birds.

▸Are roosters allowed in Albuquerque?

Yes, but only one rooster is allowed per household under § 9-2-4-3. Roosters (and any noisy flock) also remain subject to the City's general animal-noise nuisance rule in § 9-2-4-7.

▸Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Albuquerque?

No specific poultry-keeping permit is listed in the City's animal ordinance permit schedule (§ 9-2-3), so keeping chickens within the 15-bird/1-rooster limit does not require a special city permit.

▸What are the coop requirements in Albuquerque?

Per § 9-2-2-2, outdoor enclosures must be a Secure Fence or Secure Facility, provide adequate space, shelter, and shade, and be kept clean (feces/soiled bedding removed at least weekly) and free of hazards.

▸Can my HOA ban chickens even though the city allows them?

Yes. City ordinance rules are separate from private HOA covenants, and many Albuquerque-area HOAs prohibit poultry even though the city itself permits it, so always check your subdivision's governing documents.

City rules change, and this page is a summary rather than legal advice. Please confirm with Albuquerque or your HOA before you order – and call us on (559) 321-7271 if you'd like a hand. Last checked September 1, 2026.