Backyard Chickens in Golden Valley, Minnesota

Can you keep chickens in Golden Valley?

Thinking about raising hens in Golden Valley, Minnesota? The city allows backyard chickens with a license, but keeps a tight, detailed rulebook covering flock size, setbacks, and coop construction. Here's exactly what City Code Section 6-71 requires before you bring home your first hens.

Yes – with conditions

Yes. Golden Valley residents may keep hen chickens on their property, per City Code Section 6-71, but only after obtaining a valid license from the City. Roosters are strictly prohibited, and any chicken license issued for property under a private covenant that bans chickens is automatically void.

Read the ordinance ↗

The rules at a glance

Hens in city limits: Allowed
How many hens: 4
Roosters: No
Permit required: Yes
Permit cost: $75
Setback from property line: 10 ft.

Peggy knows Golden Valley

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

Under City Code Section 6-71, chickens must be confined at all times to a licensed coop or run and may never be kept in the principal dwelling, garage, front yard, or side yard.

Coop/run must be set back at least 10 feet from the principal dwelling, 50 feet from principal dwellings on adjacent lots, and 10 feet from the property line, and must sit closer to the licensee's own dwelling than to any neighboring dwelling.
Coop/run must be set back at least 25 feet from a delineated wetland edge or the top of a bank of a pond/filtration/infiltration basin.
Coops must have a footprint of 5-10 square feet per chicken; runs must have a footprint of 10-20 square feet per chicken.
The coop must be elevated at least 12 inches above ground, cannot exceed 6 feet in height, must be fully enclosed and rodent-proof, and must be winterized to protect chickens from the elements.
No coop or run may be located in an easement or right-of-way, and fencing/electrical work must meet city building and zoning permit requirements.
Butchering chickens on the property and cockfighting are both prohibited, and feed/grain must be stored in rodent-proof containers.
An initial property/coop/run inspection ($75) is required before licensing, with annual renewal inspections and a $25 annual fee (licenses expire every April 1). Owners must remove the coop once they stop keeping chickens.

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Golden Valley

🌡️ Climate

USDA Hardiness Zone 4b/5a (Upper Midwest, humid continental climate)

Golden Valley sits in the Minneapolis metro area, which experiences cold, snowy winters (often well below 0°F) and warm, humid summers. Coops must be well-insulated and winterized, which aligns with the city's own requirement that coops be built to withstand the elements.

🦝 Who's after your hens

RaccoonHawkFoxOpossumSkunkWeasel

In suburban Twin Cities settings like Golden Valley, common backyard predators include raccoons, red foxes, hawks/owls, opossums, skunks, and weasels, all of which can exploit gaps in poorly secured coops. The city's requirement that coops and runs be 'completely enclosed and rodent proof' also helps deter many of these predators.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Cold-hardy breeds recommended for Minnesota winters include Plymouth Rocks, Wyandottes, Orpingtons, Australorps, and Chantecler chickens, all known for good cold tolerance and calm temperaments suited to small backyard flocks.

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

Questions people ask about Golden Valley

▸How many chickens can I keep in Golden Valley?

Golden Valley allows a maximum of four hen chickens per licensed residence, and no roosters are permitted.

▸Do I need a permit or license to keep chickens?

Yes. You must obtain an annual license from the City, which requires an initial $75 inspection fee and a $25 annual renewal fee, with licenses expiring every April 1.

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

The coop or run must be set back at least 50 feet from principal dwellings on adjacent lots, at least 10 feet from your own dwelling, and at least 10 feet from your property line, and it must be positioned closer to your own home than to any neighboring home.

▸Can I butcher chickens at home in Golden Valley?

No. The butchering of chickens is explicitly prohibited on the property under the city's ordinance.

▸What happens to my coop if I stop keeping chickens?

Residents must remove the coop from the property once they no longer keep chickens, per the city's ordinance.

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