Backyard Chickens in Kentwood, Michigan

Can you keep chickens in Kentwood?

Thinking about starting a backyard flock in Kentwood? The city allows hens under a specific zoning permit, but there are clear rules on flock size, coop setbacks, and rooster restrictions you'll need to follow before your first bird arrives.

Yes – with conditions

Yes. The City of Kentwood permits residents to keep chickens, but they are treated as a conditional "other domestic animal/fowl" use rather than a use allowed by right. Under Kentwood Zoning Ordinance Section 3.12(B), the keeping of chickens (along with ducks, rabbits, pigeons, goats and bees) in residential districts is allowed only with a permit from the Zoning Administrator, issued after the adjacent property owners have been notified.

Once permitted, hens may be kept for personal egg consumption only — commercial sales, outdoor slaughter, and roosters are all prohibited (Section 3.12.B.1.a). Flocks must be housed in a fully enclosed shelter with a fully fenced (sides and top) run located in the rear yard at all times, and specific size and setback rules apply depending on flock size and lot size.

Read the ordinance ↗

The rules at a glance

Hens in city limits: Allowed
How many hens: 6
Roosters: No
Permit required: Yes
Setback from property line: 10 ft.

Peggy knows Kentwood

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

Kentwood Zoning Ordinance Section 3.12(B)(1) sets detailed standards for "Poultry and other fowl":

Flock size: Single- and two-family lots under 1 acre may keep up to 6 birds; lots of 1 acre or more may keep 6 birds per acre, up to a citywide-per-lot maximum of 20.
No roosters, no outdoor slaughter, personal consumption only, no commercial sales.
Housing: Birds must be kept in a fully enclosed shelter and a fully fenced (sides and top) run, located in the rear yard at all times.
Setbacks (6 or fewer birds): Shelter/run must be at least 20 ft from any adjacent residence or business structure and no closer than 10 ft to any lot line.
Setbacks (more than 6 birds): Shelter/run must be at least 35 ft from any adjacent residence or business structure and at least 20 ft from any lot line.
Shelter size: No less than 1 sq ft and no more than 4 sq ft per bird, capped at 240 sq ft total, with a maximum height of 6 ft.
Run size: Maximum 64 sq ft total for 6 or fewer birds; for more than 6 birds, up to 10 sq ft per bird.
Maintenance: Coops and runs must be tended daily; accumulation of waste (feed, manure, litter) is prohibited, and all waste must be disposed of so as not to create a nuisance.
A permit from the Zoning Administrator is required before keeping birds, and neighboring property owners must be notified as part of that process.

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Kentwood

🌡️ Climate

Humid Continental (Köppen Dfa/Dfb) – USDA Hardiness Zone 6a

Kentwood, Michigan (Kent County) sits in a humid continental climate with warm, humid summers and cold, snowy winters typical of West Michigan. Lake-effect snow from nearby Lake Michigan can bring heavy accumulations, so coops should have steeply pitched roofs to shed snow, solid insulation, and draft-free but ventilated housing to prevent frostbite on combs and wattles during sub-freezing stretches.

🦝 Who's after your hens

RaccoonHawkFoxCoyoteOpossumSkunkWeasel

West Michigan backyards back onto wooded areas, greenways, and drainage corridors that support raccoons, red foxes, coyotes, opossums, skunks, weasels, and birds of prey such as red-tailed hawks. Kentwood's ordinance-mandated fully enclosed, fully fenced (sides and top) run helps address this pressure, since aerial predators and climbing/digging predators are both common in the area. Secure latches, buried hardware cloth, and a covered run are strongly recommended.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Cold-hardy, dual-purpose breeds do best in Kentwood's climate, including Plymouth Rock, Rhode Island Red, Wyandotte, Orpington, Australorp, and Chantecler (a Canadian breed bred specifically for harsh winters).

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

Questions people ask about Kentwood

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

Yes. Kentwood Zoning Ordinance Section 3.12(B) requires a permit from the Zoning Administrator before keeping chickens, and adjacent property owners must be notified as part of the approval process.

▸How many chickens can I keep in Kentwood?

On lots under 1 acre, up to 6 chickens are allowed. On lots of 1 acre or more, you may keep 6 birds per acre, up to a maximum of 20 birds per property.

▸Are roosters allowed in Kentwood?

No. The ordinance explicitly prohibits roosters, along with outdoor slaughter and any commercial sale of birds or eggs.

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

For flocks of 6 or fewer birds, the shelter and run must be set back at least 10 feet from any lot line and at least 20 feet from any adjacent residence or business structure. For flocks larger than 6 birds, the setbacks increase to 20 feet from lot lines and 35 feet from adjacent residences or business structures.

▸What size can my coop and run be?

Shelter space must be between 1 and 4 square feet per bird, up to a maximum of 240 square feet and 6 feet in height. Runs are capped at 64 square feet total for 6 or fewer birds, or up to 10 square feet per bird for larger flocks.

City rules change, and this page is a summary rather than legal advice. Please confirm with Kentwood or your HOA before you order – and call us on (559) 321-7271 if you'd like a hand. Last checked September 7, 2026.