Backyard Chickens in Ankeny, Iowa

Can you keep chickens in Ankeny?

Thinking about starting a backyard flock in Ankeny? Since October 2023, the city has allowed residents to keep hens under a permit system — but there are real hurdles, including a minimum lot size, a required chicken-keeping class, strict setback rules, and an absolute ban on roosters. Here's everything Peggy's Happy Chickens found in Ankeny's actual municipal code.

Yes – with conditions

Yes — Ankeny allows backyard chickens, but only under a permit system established by Ordinance 2156, which added Chapter 58 ("Urban Chickens") to the Ankeny Municipal Code, effective October 23, 2023. A valid permit from the City's Permitting Officer is required before any resident may "raise, harbor or keep chickens" within city limits (§ 58.02(a)). Permits are only granted for single-family residential tracts of at least one-quarter acre (10,890 sq. ft.) (§ 58.04), and only hens (female chickens) may be kept — roosters are expressly prohibited (§ 58.03(b), § 58.12(e)). Chickens may not be used for any commercial purpose such as breeding, egg sales, or slaughter within the city (§ 58.05, § 58.12(d)).

Read the ordinance ↗

The rules at a glance

Hens in city limits: Allowed
How many hens: 6
Roosters: No
Permit required: Yes
Permit cost: $100
Setback from property line: 25 ft.

Peggy knows Ankeny

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

Per Ankeny Municipal Code Chapter 58:

Chickens must be kept in an enclosure or fenced area at all times and secured in a henhouse or chicken tractor during non-daylight hours (§ 58.06(a)).
Henhouses/chicken tractors must provide a minimum of 4 sq. ft. per bird, be fully enclosed with a roof and lockable doors, and any openings must be covered with predator/bird-proof wire with openings smaller than 1 inch (§ 58.06(d)(1)).
Structures must use uniform, non-scrap building materials and be well maintained (§ 58.06(d)(1)(ii)).
Henhouses, chicken tractors, and pens may only be located in the rear yard, must be at least 25 feet from any property line, and at least 10 feet from any stormwater drainage/detention easement (§ 58.06(d)(2)-(4)).
Enclosed pens must use sturdy wire fencing and be covered with wire, aviary netting, or solid roofing (§ 58.06(e)).
Odors and noise from chickens may not be perceptible/disturbing beyond the property boundary (§ 58.07).
No more than 3 cubic feet of manure may be stored on the property at a time, and it must be kept in a fully covered structure; waste areas must stay free of trash and droppings (§ 58.10).
Chickens may not roam off the permitted property, and each bird must wear a leg band showing the permit number (§ 58.11).
Chickens may not be kept inside a dwelling unit, slaughtered within city limits, or kept on a vacant/uninhabited tract (§ 58.12(c),(d),(f)).
Applicants must complete an approved urban-chicken-keeping class before applying, and permits must be renewed annually ($50 renewal fee) (§ 58.02(c)(5), (d)).
Homeowners' association covenants that prohibit chickens/livestock override the city ordinance and must still be followed.

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Ankeny

🌡️ Climate

USDA Hardiness Zone 5a/5b

Ankeny sits in central Iowa with a humid continental climate featuring hot, humid summers and cold, snowy winters, with lows regularly dropping below 0°F. Coops should be well-insulated and draft-free for winter while still providing ventilation for summer heat and humidity.

🦝 Who's after your hens

RaccoonHawkFoxCoyoteOpossumSkunk

Common Iowa predator threats to backyard flocks include raccoons, hawks, foxes, coyotes, opossums, and skunks; the ordinance itself requires that enclosures be impermeable to rodents, wild birds and predators, including dogs and cats, and that henhouses use predator-proof wire with openings under one inch.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Cold-hardy, dual-purpose breeds do best in Ankeny's climate, such as Plymouth Rock, Rhode Island Red, Wyandotte, Buff Orpington, and Australorp.

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

Questions people ask about Ankeny

▸How many chickens can I keep in Ankeny?

Up to six (6) hens are allowed per tract of land, and only female chickens — no roosters are permitted at all.

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

Yes. No person may raise, harbor, or keep chickens in Ankeny without a valid permit from the city's Permitting Officer, which costs $100 initially with a $50 annual renewal, and requires completing an approved urban chicken-keeping class first.

▸What size lot do I need to keep chickens in Ankeny?

Permits are only granted for single-family residential tracts of at least one-quarter acre (10,890 square feet).

▸How far must a chicken coop be from my property line in Ankeny?

Henhouses, chicken tractors, and chicken pens must be located at least 25 feet from any property line, only in the rear yard, and at least 10 feet from stormwater drainage easements.

▸Can I sell eggs or slaughter chickens at home in Ankeny?

No. The permit is for non-commercial use only — no breeding, egg or chicken sales, and no on-site slaughter is allowed within city limits.

City rules change, and this page is a summary rather than legal advice. Please confirm with Ankeny or your HOA before you order – and call us on (559) 321-7271 if you'd like a hand. Last checked August 29, 2026.