Backyard Chickens in Hazelwood, Missouri

Can you keep chickens in Hazelwood?

Thinking about raising a few backyard hens in Hazelwood, Missouri? The City allows a small home flock for personal egg production, but it comes with clear limits: no more than three hens, no roosters, and a City permit before you start. Here's exactly what Hazelwood's ordinance requires so your flock stays happy, healthy, and 100% code-compliant.

Yes – with conditions

Yes, backyard chickens are permitted in Hazelwood, Missouri, but only in a limited way. Under the City's fowl ordinance, it shall be unlawful for a person to keep more than three (3) domestic fowl as pets or for domestic egg production on any property that is not zoned and used for farm purposes, and a permit from the City is required before keeping any fowl. Roosters are not permitted — the code states that no crowing hens or adult male chickens may be kept on any non-farm-zoned property. All keeping of chickens must be for personal, non-commercial use only.

Read the ordinance ↗

The rules at a glance

Hens in city limits: Allowed
How many hens: 3
Roosters: No
Permit required: Yes
Permit cost: $25
Setback from property line: 10 ft.

Peggy knows Hazelwood

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

Coop & Property Rules (Hazelwood Municipal Code §210.160):

No commercial operations are allowed, and this applies to residential districts only, not agricultural zones.
Chickens are allowed as long as they do not create a nuisance (no roosters or crowing hens), stay confined on the property, are properly cared for, and are kept for personal consumption only.
Chickens must be kept in a coop that is not greater than thirty square feet in size, and the coop must be at least ten feet from buildings and property lines.
A permit is required to keep chickens and must be filed with the City's Public Works Department.
Permits are required via the Code Office for a $25 fee and expire in three (3) years.

Coops must also be located in the rear yard, screened from view of neighboring properties and the street, have a hard roof, and may not be attached to any building other than a detached garage, per the City's fowl ordinance.

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Hazelwood

🌡️ Climate

USDA Hardiness Zone 6b/7a — Humid Continental

Hazelwood sits in the St. Louis metro area, which experiences hot, humid summers (often in the 90°Fs) and cold winters with occasional snow and sub-freezing temperatures. Coops should provide good ventilation for summer heat and windbreaks/insulation for winter cold.

🦝 Who's after your hens

RaccoonHawkFoxOpossumCoyote

Suburban St. Louis County neighborhoods like Hazelwood commonly see raccoons, red-tailed hawks, red foxes, opossums, and occasional coyotes near wooded areas and creek corridors, all of which can threaten unsecured flocks. A fully enclosed, hard-roofed coop with a secure run (as required by City code) helps guard against these predators.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Plymouth Rock, Buff Orpington, Australorp, Wyandotte, Rhode Island Red

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

Questions people ask about Hazelwood

▸How many chickens am I allowed to keep in Hazelwood?

It is unlawful to keep more than three (3) domestic fowl as pets or for domestic egg production on property that is not zoned and used for farm purposes. So on a typical residential lot, three hens is the maximum.

▸Can I keep a rooster in Hazelwood?

No. No crowing hens or adult male chickens may be kept on any property that is not zoned and used for farm purposes.

▸Do I need a permit to keep chickens?

Yes. A permit is required to keep chickens and must be filed with the City's Public Works Department. Permits are issued via the Code Office for a $25 fee and expire after three (3) years.

▸How big can my coop be and how far from my property line?

Chickens must be kept in a coop that is not greater than thirty square feet in size, and the coop must be at least ten feet from buildings and property lines.

▸Can I sell eggs or meat from my Hazelwood flock?

No. No commercial operations are allowed, and chickens must be kept for personal consumption only.

City rules change, and this page is a summary rather than legal advice. Please confirm with Hazelwood or your HOA before you order – and call us on (559) 321-7271 if you'd like a hand. Last checked September 16, 2026.