Backyard Chickens in Ammon, Idaho

Q: How many hens can I keep in Ammon?

Up to 6 hens on a lot with a detached home, or 3 hens on a lot with an attached home (such as a townhome), per City Code §5-3-8(E).

Can you keep chickens in Ammon?

Raising backyard hens is welcome in Ammon, Idaho — the City Code allows domestic egg-laying hens on single-family lots in most residential zones, with clear rules on flock size, coop setbacks, and sanitation, but roosters are off the table citywide.

Yes – with conditions

Yes. The City of Ammon permits residents to keep domestic hens (chickens kept for egg production) on single-family residentially zoned lots in the R1, R1A, RP, RPA, and R2 (townhome) zones, per City Code §5-3-8(E). Hens must be kept primarily for egg production, and no rooster is allowed anywhere in the City.

Read the ordinance ↗

The rules at a glance

Hens in city limits: Allowed
How many hens: 6
Roosters: No
Permit required: No
Permit cost: Not specified
Setback from property line: 20 ft.

Peggy knows Ammon

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

Under City Code §5-3-8(E), as summarized in the City's official 'Chickens in Ammon' handout:

Flock size: A lot with a detached home may keep up to six (6) domestic hens; a lot with an attached home (e.g., townhome) is limited to three (3) hens.
Location/setback: Coops, shelters, or enclosures must be at least 20 feet from the primary residence on the same lot and at least 20 feet from any primary residence on an adjacent lot.
Side yard setback: Structures must also meet the zone's minimum side-yard requirement, which varies by zone: R1 = 8 ft, R1A = 8 ft, RP = 20 ft, RPA = 10 ft, and R2 = 8 ft.
Rear yard placement: Hen housing must be located in the rear yard of the property.
Enclosure size: Hens must be kept in a secure enclosure of at least 6 square feet per hen, plus a separate nesting coop area of at least 2 square feet per hen (if elevated, at least 18 inches of clearance beneath it).
Human occupancy: Hens may not be kept inside any structure designed for human occupancy.
Sanitation/nuisance: The keeping area must be cleaned to prevent flies, odors, or health hazards, and must not disturb neighboring properties. Hens must have constant access to feed and unfrozen water.
At-large hens: Hens running at large are declared a nuisance and may be confiscated by Animal Control.
Roosters: Expressly prohibited under all circumstances within the City.
Inspections: An animal control officer may inspect any hen-keeping property upon complaint.

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Ammon

🌡️ Climate

USDA Hardiness Zone 5a/5b

Ammon sits in eastern Idaho's high-desert plain near the Snake River, with cold, snowy winters (regularly dropping below 0°F) and hot, dry summer afternoons. Coop insulation and heated waterers are recommended for winter, while shade and ventilation matter in summer.

🦝 Who's after your hens

RaccoonHawkFoxCoyoteSkunkWeasel

Eastern Idaho backyard flocks face raccoons and skunks prying at latches, hawks hunting by day, and foxes and coyotes testing fence lines, especially near Ammon's undeveloped foothill edges. Use 1/2-inch hardware cloth (not chicken wire), secure carabiner-style latches, and a fully covered run to deter aerial and digging predators.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Plymouth Rock, Wyandotte, Orpington, Australorp, Rhode Island Red, Chantecler (cold-hardy, dual-purpose breeds suited to eastern Idaho's temperature swings)

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

Questions people ask about Ammon

▸How many hens can I keep in Ammon?

Up to 6 hens on a lot with a detached home, or 3 hens on a lot with an attached home (such as a townhome), per City Code §5-3-8(E).

▸Are roosters allowed in Ammon?

No. The ordinance states that under no circumstances shall the allowances for domestic hens be perceived to allow any rooster within the City.

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

The City's official chicken-keeping handout does not describe any permit or license application process for hens (unlike dog licensing, which is required separately) — compliance is instead enforced through zoning rules, setbacks, and nuisance/inspection provisions.

▸How far must a hen coop be from my house or my neighbor's house?

Hen enclosures must be at least 20 feet from the primary residence on the same lot and at least 20 feet from any primary residence on an adjacent lot, in addition to meeting the zone's minimum side-yard setback (8–20 feet depending on zone).

▸What zones in Ammon allow backyard hens?

Hens are permitted in the R1, R1A, RP, RPA, and R2 zones (the R2 allowance applies only to townhome-style development, not apartments), and only on single-family residentially zoned lots.

City rules change, and this page is a summary rather than legal advice. Please confirm with Ammon or your HOA before you order – and call us on (559) 321-7271 if you'd like a hand. Last checked October 3, 2026.