Backyard Chickens in Belleville, Illinois

Can you keep chickens in Belleville?

Great news for aspiring flock owners in Belleville: after decades of prohibiting backyard poultry, the city now allows residents to keep a small flock of hens under a permit system adopted in 2023. Here's what Peggy's Happy Chickens found in Belleville's actual municipal code so you can raise healthy, legal, neighbor-friendly hens.

Yes – with conditions

Yes. Belleville lifted its long-standing chicken ban in 2023. Under the city's "Urban Chickens" subchapter (Belleville City Code §§ 90.60–90.72, adopted by Ord. 9189-2023), a resident may keep hens if they first obtain an annual permit from the city. No person may raise, harbor, or keep chickens in Belleville without a valid permit, and the city caps the total number of permits issued at 50 for the entire city (§ 90.61(A)). Permits are limited to owner-occupied, single-family dwellings, only hens (female chickens) may be kept, and roosters are not permitted (§ 90.62(B)). Commercial egg sales and on-site slaughtering of birds are not allowed.

Read the ordinance ↗

The rules at a glance

Hens in city limits: Allowed
How many hens: 6
Roosters: No
Permit required: Yes
Permit cost: $25
Setback from property line: 10 ft.

Peggy knows Belleville

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

Permit required: No one may raise, harbor, or keep chickens in Belleville without a permit from the Permitting Officer (the Mayor or designee). Permits last one year and must be renewed annually, and citywide issuance is capped at 50 permits total (§ 90.61(A)).
Application fee: $25 per application, plus inspection by the Director of Health, Housing and Building confirming the enclosure complies with the code (§ 90.61(B)-(C)).
Eligible properties: Only tracts of land with one owner-occupied single-family dwelling qualify (§ 90.61(C)(4); § 90.60 defines a "tract of land").
Flock size/sex: Maximum of 6 chickens per tract of land regardless of how many dwelling units are on it, and only hens (female chickens) are allowed — roosters are prohibited (§ 90.62).
Enclosure standards: Chickens must be kept in an enclosure/fenced area at all times and secured in a hen house or chicken tractor during non-daylight hours. Hen houses/runs must be clean, dry, odor-free, ventilated, sun/shade-appropriate, and impermeable to rodents, wild birds, and predators such as dogs and cats, providing at least 4 square feet per chicken (§ 90.65(A)-(D)).
Setbacks & placement: Hen houses, chicken tractors, and pens must be located only in the rear yard, set back at least 10 feet from all property lines (and must otherwise meet zoning setbacks), may not exceed 6 feet in height, and must be at least 10 feet from any adjacent residential dwelling, church, school, or place of business (§ 90.65(E)-(F)).
Non-commercial use only: Chicken-keeping is for personal/household use; commercial egg sales are not permitted, and butchering/slaughtering chickens on the property is prohibited.
Inspections: Permitted properties are subject to annual inspection to confirm continued compliance.

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Belleville

🌡️ Climate

USDA Hardiness Zone 6b/7a (Humid Continental)

Belleville, Illinois (St. Clair County) sits in the humid continental climate belt near the St. Louis metro area, with hot, humid summers (often into the 90s°F) and cold winters that regularly dip below freezing with occasional snow and ice. Coops should provide good ventilation and shade for summer heat plus wind-blocking and insulation for winter cold snaps.

🦝 Who's after your hens

RaccoonHawkFoxCoyoteOpossum

Belleville's mix of established residential neighborhoods and nearby wooded/creek corridors means backyard flocks face pressure from raccoons and opossums (skilled climbers and diggers that raid coops at night), red-tailed hawks and other birds of prey (a daytime risk for free-ranging hens), and roaming foxes or coyotes on the city's edges. Since Belleville's ordinance requires chickens be locked in a predator-proof hen house from dusk to dawn, a secure, well-built coop with hardware-cloth-covered vents and locking doors is essential.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Rhode Island Red, Plymouth Rock, Wyandotte, Orpington, Australorp

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

Questions people ask about Belleville

▸Can I keep chickens in Belleville, Illinois?

Yes, as of a 2023 ordinance change, Belleville allows residents to keep hens with a city-issued permit, though the total number of permits citywide is capped at 50.

▸How many chickens can I have in Belleville?

Up to 6 chickens (hens only) per tract of land, regardless of how many dwelling units are on that property.

▸Are roosters allowed in Belleville?

No. Belleville's ordinance limits permitted birds to female chickens (hens) only; roosters are not permitted.

▸Do I need a permit, and what does it cost?

Yes. You must obtain an annual permit from the city's Permitting Officer. The application fee is $25, and the property must pass an inspection confirming the coop/enclosure meets code before a permit is issued.

▸How far from my property line does my coop need to be?

Hen houses, chicken tractors, and pens must be in the rear yard, at least 10 feet from all property lines, no taller than 6 feet, and at least 10 feet from any neighboring dwelling, church, school, or business.

City rules change, and this page is a summary rather than legal advice. Please confirm with Belleville or your HOA before you order – and call us on (559) 321-7271 if you'd like a hand. Last checked September 26, 2026.