Backyard Chickens in Bentonville, Arkansas

Can you keep chickens in Bentonville?

Thinking about keeping a small backyard flock in Bentonville, Arkansas? The city's hobby-chicken ordinance allows up to 4 hens per single-family home — no roosters, no permit for that standard allowance, but a required 25-foot setback from neighboring homes. Here's exactly what Peggy's Happy Chickens found in the code.

Yes – with conditions

Yes. Bentonville's Municipal Code contains a dedicated "hobby chickens" provision (Sec. 601.11) that allows hens in permitted residential districts, subject to strict limits. The ordinance text states: "No more than four (4) hens shall be allowed for each single-family dwelling. No birds shall be allowed in multi-family complexes." Roosters are flatly banned city-wide, and there is no allowance for outdoor slaughtering of birds.

Read the ordinance ↗

The rules at a glance

Hens in city limits: Allowed
How many hens: 4
Roosters: No
Permit required: No
Permit cost: Not specified
Setback from property line: 25 ft.

Peggy knows Bentonville

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

Under Sec. 601.11 of the Bentonville Municipal Code:

Placement: All hen enclosures shall be placed at least 25 feet from neighboring dwellings and located in a rear or side yard.
Condition: All enclosures must be kept in a neat and sanitary condition at all times and must be cleaned on a regular basis so as to prevent offensive odor.
Feed storage: All food used for chickens shall be kept in a suitable container with a tight-fitting cover so as to be inaccessible to rodents.
Exemptions: These regulations are not intended to apply to indoor birds kept as pets, such as parrots or parakeets, nor the lawful transportation of fowl through the city. They also do not apply to poultry kept on property zoned A-1 (Agricultural), which is exempt from the 4-hen cap.
Slaughter: No outdoor slaughtering of birds is permitted anywhere in city limits.
Permits: No specific city permit is required for the standard 4-hen hobby allowance within these limits.

Note: Bentonville adopted a new unified "Bentonville Community Code" in April 2026 (effective May 2026) that reorganized its zoning/development chapters. Verify that Sec. 601.11 has not been renumbered or amended by contacting Bentonville Planning before building a coop.

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Bentonville

🌡️ Climate

Humid Subtropical (USDA Hardiness Zone 6b–7a)

Bentonville sits in the Ozark hill country of northwest Arkansas. Summers are hot and humid statewide with sustained mid-90s temperatures, while winters are mild in the south and noticeably colder in the mountain regions, so coops need strong ventilation for summer humidity and modest cold-weather protection (rather than heavy insulation) in winter.

🦝 Who's after your hens

RaccoonHawkFoxCoyoteSnakeOpossumBobcat

Raccoons are the most frequent backyard chicken predator in the region, capable of opening simple latches, while hawks, owls, foxes, coyotes, bobcats and snakes are all present in the wooded Ozark terrain surrounding Bentonville. Secure, buried hardware-cloth fencing and a nightly-locked coop are strongly recommended given the mix of suburban and wooded habitat in the area.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Rhode Island Red, Easter Egger, Plymouth Rock, Australorp, Wyandotte (rose-comb breeds like Wyandottes resist frostbite during occasional Ozark cold snaps, while heat-tolerant layers like Leghorns handle humid Arkansas summers well)

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

Questions people ask about Bentonville

▸How many chickens can I legally keep in Bentonville, Arkansas?

Up to four (4) hens per single-family dwelling under the city's hobby-chicken ordinance. No birds of any kind are allowed at multi-family properties like apartments.

▸Are roosters allowed in Bentonville?

No. Bentonville's ordinance explicitly prohibits roosters city-wide, regardless of lot size, primarily due to noise concerns.

▸Do I need a permit to keep backyard chickens in Bentonville?

No specific permit is required for the standard 4-hen hobby allowance, according to the ordinance's terms as reported by chicken-law resources. However, homeowners should still confirm current requirements with the city, since Bentonville adopted a new unified Community Code in 2026.

▸How far from my neighbor's house does my coop need to be?

Hen enclosures must be placed at least 25 feet from neighboring dwellings and located in a rear or side yard.

▸Can I keep more chickens if I live on agricultural land in Bentonville?

Yes. The hobby-chicken regulations, including the 4-hen cap, do not apply to poultry kept on property zoned A-1 (Agricultural) within city limits.

City rules change, and this page is a summary rather than legal advice. Please confirm with Bentonville or your HOA before you order – and call us on (559) 321-7271 if you'd like a hand. Last checked September 23, 2026.