Backyard Chickens in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota

Can you keep chickens in Brooklyn Park?

Dreaming of fresh eggs in Brooklyn Park? Unfortunately, city rules currently keep that dream out of reach for most residential yards — chickens are only permitted on parcels zoned as farmland (5+ acres). Here's exactly what the city's rules say, and why the long-debated backyard hen ordinance still hasn't passed.

Not straightforward

No — Brooklyn Park does not allow backyard chickens on typical residential lots. The city's current code requires that a property be zoned as farmland (at least 5 acres) before any chickens, ducks, pigeons, or other domestic fowl may be kept there. In 2022–2024 the City Council considered an ordinance that would have let single- and two-family homeowners keep up to four hens, but in May 2024 the city confirmed that proposal would not move forward, leaving the acreage requirement in place.

The city's own guidance states plainly that Farm animals living on property not zoned as farmland (5 acres or more) and Birds/fowl such as ducks, pigeons, or chickens living on property that is not zoned as farmland are not allowed as pets. So unless a resident's parcel meets the 5-acre farmland zoning threshold, keeping any chickens (hens or roosters) is prohibited and can be reported to the city's Environmental Health division.

Read the ordinance ↗

The rules at a glance

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

Peggy knows Brooklyn Park

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

Because chickens are categorically prohibited on non-farmland-zoned residential lots, the city has not published coop, run, or setback standards for ordinary backyard flocks. The only pathway to legally keep chickens in Brooklyn Park is owning a parcel large enough (5+ acres) to carry farmland zoning — historically this has applied to properties like those in the R-1 Urban Reserve District and the Conservancy District (e.g., near the Eidem Homestead). On a 2022 draft ordinance that was ultimately not adopted, the city had drafted rules that would have limited households to four hens, banned roosters, required a chicken coop for overnight confinement, and prohibited on-site slaughter — but none of this became law, so no such registration, coop, or run program currently exists for standard residential lots.

Residents who keep chickens without qualifying farmland zoning are subject to a complaint-driven enforcement process through the city's Environmental Health division, and violators are typically required to remove the birds.

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Brooklyn Park

🌡️ Climate

USDA Hardiness Zone 4b/5a

Brooklyn Park sits in the Minneapolis–St. Paul metro area and experiences cold, snowy winters (often well below 0°F) and warm, humid summers. Any coop design (for a qualifying 5+ acre property) needs strong insulation, a heated or well-insulated waterer, and good ventilation to manage both deep winter cold and summer humidity swings.

🦝 Who's after your hens

RaccoonHawkFoxCoyoteSkunk

Suburban Hennepin County properties bordering wetlands, parks, and wooded corridors see regular raccoon, red fox, and coyote activity, along with red-tailed hawks and occasional skunks raiding coops at dusk or dawn. Secure, predator-proof coop construction (buried hardware cloth, locking doors) is essential for any qualifying farmland-zoned property that keeps poultry.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Cold-hardy breeds such as Plymouth Rock, Wyandotte, Chantecler, Australorp, and Orpington do best in Minnesota's harsh winters due to their small combs and heavy feathering.

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

Questions people ask about Brooklyn Park

▸Can I keep backyard chickens in Brooklyn Park, MN?

Only if your property is zoned as farmland, which requires at least 5 acres. On any smaller, typically-zoned residential lot, keeping chickens, ducks, or pigeons is not allowed.

▸Did Brooklyn Park ever consider allowing backyard hens on regular lots?

Yes. In 2022 the City Council debated an ordinance that would have allowed up to four hens (no roosters) on single- and two-family lots, following supportive resident surveys in 2019 and 2021. However, in May 2024 the city announced the proposal would not move forward, and the 5-acre farmland requirement remains in effect.

▸Are roosters allowed anywhere in Brooklyn Park?

No. Since keeping any chickens is restricted to 5+ acre farmland-zoned parcels, roosters (like hens) cannot legally be kept on standard residential lots.

▸What happens if I keep chickens illegally in Brooklyn Park?

The city's Environmental Health division handles complaints about unapproved animals and fowl, and known violations typically result in a requirement to remove the birds.

▸Is there a permit to keep chickens on a qualifying farmland lot?

The city has not published a specific permit or registration process for keeping chickens on farmland-zoned parcels, unlike its beekeeping program, which does require registration.

City rules change, and this page is a summary rather than legal advice. Please confirm with Brooklyn Park or your HOA before you order – and call us on (559) 321-7271 if you'd like a hand. Last checked October 4, 2026.