Backyard chickens in Flint, Michigan
Everything you need to know before you start a backyard flock in Flint – the rules, the climate and the neighbors with teeth.
Can you keep chickens in Flint?
Thinking about keeping a few hens in your Flint backyard for fresh eggs? Unfortunately, Flint's animal ordinance stands squarely in the way: the City Code bans poultry and domestic fowl on residentially zoned lots citywide. Before you buy a coop, read on to understand exactly what the law says — and where nearby communities like Flint Township differ.
No. The City of Flint's Code of Ordinances, Chapter 9 (Animals and Fowl), § 9-15.1 “Keeping of Poultry and the Like Restricted”, flatly bans keeping poultry on residential lots citywide. The ordinance states that no poultry or domestic fowl (other than caged household pets like canaries and parakeets) may be kept on any residentially zoned lot in the City. Since the overwhelming majority of Flint's housing stock sits on residentially zoned parcels, this amounts to a de facto citywide ban on backyard chickens for typical homeowners. The ordinance dates back to 1968 (Ord. 2058) and remains in force in the current codified code.
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 Flint
The rules, straight from the municipal code.
Because § 9-15.1 prohibits poultry outright on residentially zoned lots, there is no permit process, coop specification, or setback rule for backyard hens in Flint — the keeping of the birds itself is the violation, not the structure housing them. The only narrow exception written into the code is for small caged household pet birds such as canaries and parakeets, which are not considered 'poultry or domestic fowl' under the ordinance.
Residents who want to keep hens have occasionally tried to argue their case to code enforcement citing zoning nuances, but the City has confirmed (via zoning officials responding to resident inquiries) that keeping chickens is treated as a zoning violation on residential property. If a property happens to sit in a City-designated agricultural or green-industrial zoning district (a small fraction of parcels under Flint's 2022 Chapter 50 zoning code), different use rules may apply, but this is not the typical residential backyard scenario and would require direct confirmation from the City's Planning & Zoning Department.
Where this comes from
- City of Flint, MI Code of Ordinances, § 9-15.1 (American Legal Publishing) ↗
- Ferndale Chickens - Michigan Cities that Allow Keeping of Chickens (and those that don't) ↗
- The Hen House Collection - Can I Have Chickens in My Backyard in Michigan? ↗
- Genesee County View - Flint Township passes amendment regarding livestock ordinance ↗
Keeping a flock happy in Flint
🌡️ Climate
USDA Hardiness Zone 6a (parts of 5b)
Flint sits in a humid continental climate with cold, snowy winters (lows often in the teens °F or below) and warm, humid summers. Because chickens cannot legally be kept in Flint's residential zones, this climate information is provided for reference only and would apply to nearby townships (like Flint Township) or other Genesee County communities where hens are permitted.
🦝 Who's after your hens
Even where chickens are legally kept in the greater Flint area (e.g., Flint Township or unincorporated Genesee County), common backyard predators include raccoons, hawks, foxes, opossums, and skunks, all of which are active in the mixed urban-rural landscape surrounding the city.
🐔 Breeds that do well here
Not applicable in Flint city limits, but cold-hardy dual-purpose breeds such as Plymouth Rock, Wyandotte, Orpington, and Australorp are well suited to this region's climate for keepers in surrounding townships.
Our package comes with two Rhode Island Reds – hardy in heat and cold, and friendly with kids.
Questions people ask about Flint
▸Can I keep just a couple of hens for eggs in my Flint backyard?
No. Under § 9-15.1 of the Flint Code of Ordinances, no poultry or domestic fowl (other than small caged pets like canaries and parakeets) may be kept on any residentially zoned lot in the City, regardless of how few birds you have.
▸Are roosters treated differently from hens in Flint?
No — the ordinance does not distinguish between hens and roosters. Both are classified as 'poultry or domestic fowl' and are equally prohibited on residential lots within the City.
▸Is there a permit I can apply for to keep chickens in Flint?
No. Because the keeping of chickens itself is prohibited on residential lots, the City does not offer a chicken-keeping permit process the way some other Michigan cities (like Ann Arbor) do.
▸What about Flint Township or other nearby communities — do they allow chickens?
Flint Township is a separate municipality from the City of Flint with its own ordinance. News coverage indicates Flint Township has gone back and forth on chicken rules, at one point banning chickens on parcels under 10 acres, then amending its ordinance to allow up to six hens per parcel (with roosters prohibited) on parcels of at least one acre, subject to shelter and setback requirements. Rules for the City of Flint itself remain a full ban regardless of these township changes.
▸What happens if I keep chickens in Flint anyway?
The ordinance is enforced as a zoning violation; residents in Flint have reported being told by the City that keeping chickens is a zoning issue, and city zoning/code enforcement staff can require removal of the birds. Always contact the City's zoning department directly before acquiring chickens.
City rules change, and this page is a summary rather than legal advice. Please confirm with Flint or your HOA before you order – and call us on (559) 321-7271 if you'd like a hand. Last checked September 16, 2026.
Ready to start your own flock?
Everything arrives at your door – the coop, two Rhode Island Red hens, and all the gear in between.
Start my farm · $1,499or 4 interest-free payments of $374.75 with
