Backyard Chickens in Eagan, Minnesota

Can you keep chickens in Eagan?

Dreaming of fresh eggs in Eagan? The city allows up to five backyard hens on single-family residential lots with a permit from the City Clerk — just remember: no roosters, no egg sales, and a coop/run that meets the city's setback and construction rules.

Yes – with conditions

Yes. Eagan residents on single-family residential property may keep chickens if they obtain a Chicken Permit from the City Clerk's office (City Code Sec. 10.12). Without acreage, chickens are otherwise classified as 'farm animals' and are prohibited outside agriculturally-zoned land of at least 5 acres, where they may be kept without a permit.

Under the residential permit program, up to five (5) chickens may be kept, roosters are prohibited, slaughtering chickens on residential property is prohibited, and eggs may not be sold — they are for personal use only.

Read the ordinance ↗

The rules at a glance

Hens in city limits: Allowed
How many hens: 5
Roosters: No
Permit required: Yes
Permit cost: $50
Setback from property line: 25 ft.

Peggy knows Eagan

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

A chicken coop AND an attached, fully-enclosed chicken run are both required; together they are treated as a single accessory structure.
Coop interior floor space: minimum 2 sq ft per chicken authorized on the permit.
Run floor area: minimum 5 sq ft per chicken authorized on the permit.
No chicken coop or run may be within 25 feet of the outer perimeter of any inhabitable building.
The coop/run must be set back at least 10 feet from the rear lot line and at least 5 feet from side lot lines (on Estate-zoned lots, 10 feet from both rear and side lot lines).
The coop/run cannot be located in the front yard.
Exterior finish must be weather-resistant/decay-resistant (or painted/protected) and must be rodent-proof.
Feed must be stored in water-tight, vermin-proof containers.
If chickens are allowed to roam the yard outside the run, the entire property must be enclosed by a chicken-proof fence.
The coop/run must be kept sanitary and odor-free with frequent waste removal.
The chicken owner must occupy the permitted premises, and the permit is non-transferable between properties or owners.
The property is subject to inspection by Animal Control both before initial permit issuance and for annual renewal.
The coop/run must be removed immediately if the permit expires or is revoked.
Initial chicken permit application fee is $50, with a $25 annual renewal fee, per the City's current fee schedule.

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Eagan

🌡️ Climate

USDA Hardiness Zone 4b/5a

Eagan has a humid continental climate with cold, snowy winters (often well below 0°F) and warm, humid summers. Coops need solid insulation, draft-free but ventilated design, and freeze-proof waterers for the long Minnesota winter, while summer housing should allow for good airflow and shade.

🦝 Who's after your hens

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Eagan's wooded parks and wetland corridors support healthy populations of raccoons, red foxes, coyotes, opossums, and birds of prey such as red-tailed hawks, all of which will take backyard poultry given the chance. A fully-enclosed, predator-proof run (buried hardware cloth, secure latches, and a covered top) is essential, especially since Eagan's ordinance already requires the run to be fully enclosed by fencing.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Plymouth Rock, Wyandotte, Orpington, Australorp, Chantecler (cold-hardy, dual-purpose breeds well suited to Minnesota winters)

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

Questions people ask about Eagan

▸How many chickens can I legally keep in Eagan?

Up to five (5) chickens per permitted residential property. Larger flocks are only allowed on agriculturally-zoned parcels of 5 acres or more, where no permit is required.

▸Are roosters allowed in Eagan?

No. Eagan's chicken permit ordinance specifically prohibits roosters on residential property.

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

Yes. A Chicken Permit from the City Clerk's office is required, including a site plan, an initial inspection of the coop/run, and annual renewal with inspection. The initial application fee is $50, with a $25 renewal fee.

▸How far must my coop be from my house and my neighbor's property?

The coop and run cannot be within 25 feet of any inhabitable building, must be set back at least 10 feet from the rear lot line and 5 feet from side lot lines (10 feet from both on Estate-zoned lots), and cannot be placed in the front yard.

▸Can I sell eggs from my backyard chickens?

No. Eagan's ordinance requires that all eggs produced be for personal use or consumption only — selling or offering eggs for sale is prohibited.

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