Backyard Chickens in Kingman, Arizona

Can you keep chickens in Kingman?

Thinking about keeping hens in Kingman, Arizona? The city's animal-keeping ordinance allows backyard chickens on residential lots, with the number you can keep scaling up with your lot size — from 6 hens on a typical in-town lot up to 36 on larger parcels. Roosters, however, are off the table citywide once they reach four months old. Here's what Peggy's Happy Chickens found in Kingman's official municipal code.

Yes – with conditions

Yes, backyard chickens are legal in Kingman, Arizona. Under the City's current animal-keeping ordinance (Ord. 1988, effective 12/2/2025), codified at Kingman Municipal Code § 3-45, "Number of animals per lot size", domestic fowl (including chickens) are classified as "small livestock" and are permitted on residential lots, subject to a sliding scale based on lot size.

On lots under 10,000 sq. ft. (the most common residential lot size), up to 6 domestic fowl are allowed. The allowance increases with lot size — 10 fowl on 10,000–14,999 sq. ft. lots, 15 on 15,000–19,999 sq. ft., 20 on 20,000–29,999 sq. ft., 30 on 30,000–39,999 sq. ft., and up to a maximum of 36 domestic fowl on lots 40,000 sq. ft. and larger.

Roosters are treated differently than under the City's prior rule: § 3-45(c)(2) now states that "Male chickens (roosters) over the age of four months shall not be permitted within the city," regardless of lot size. This supersedes the City's older policy (still referenced on some City FAQ pages) that allowed roosters on lots of 40,000 sq. ft. or more.

Read the ordinance ↗

The rules at a glance

Hens in city limits: Allowed
How many hens: 6
Roosters: No
Permit required: No
Permit cost: Not specified
Setback from property line: 20 ft.

Peggy knows Kingman

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

Lot-size tiers (§ 3-45(a)(1), Table 3-45.A): Domestic fowl allowed: 6 (lots under 10,000 sq. ft.), 10 (10,000–14,999 sq. ft.), 15 (15,000–19,999 sq. ft.), 20 (20,000–29,999 sq. ft.), 30 (30,000–39,999 sq. ft.), and 36 (40,000 sq. ft. and larger). Counts are cumulative across all fowl kept on the lot.
Location: Fowl and their shelters must be kept in the rear yard and contained to prevent roaming at large (§ 3-45(a)(2), § 3-41).
Setback: Small-livestock shelters (which include fowl coops) must be at least 20 ft. from any property line abutting another residential lot or parcel (§ 3-45(c)(4), Table 3-45.C).
Coop size/height: Minimum 4 sq. ft. of indoor shelter space per bird, plus a minimum 10 sq. ft. of permeable containment/run area per bird; shelter height is capped at 6 ft. and may not exceed the property's fence-line height on lots under 1 acre (Table 3-45.C).
Containment: Winged animals must have wings clipped or be kept in a covered enclosure at all times, and must be secured in a shelter from sunset to sunrise (§ 3-45(c)(1), (c)(3)).
Roosters: Male chickens over 4 months old are prohibited citywide (§ 3-45(c)(2)).
Sanitation: Shelters/containment areas must be kept clean and sanitary, free of matter that attracts flies/rodents or causes odor detectable off the property; waste must be double-bagged when disposed of, though composting for garden/lawn use on-site is allowed (§ 3-45(a)(4)).
Feed & water: Feed must be in containers or on an impervious platform at least 20 ft. from any neighboring dwelling, stored in predator/rodent-resistant containers; water sources need overflow drainage and must also be 20 ft. from a neighboring dwelling (§ 3-45(a)(5)-(6)).
Nuisance/noise: Fowl may not be kept in a manner that disturbs the peace, comfort, or health of others in the city (§ 3-44).
No permit is specified in the ordinance for keeping domestic fowl at or under these lot-size limits.

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Kingman

🌡️ Climate

High desert (Köppen BWk/BSk transition), USDA Hardiness Zone 8b

Kingman sits in Arizona's high desert (Mohave County) at roughly 3,300 ft. elevation, giving it hot, dry summers with highs regularly exceeding 100°F and cooler winters that can dip near or below freezing at night. Annual rainfall is low (around 8 inches), so coops need good shade, ventilation, and reliable water access in summer, plus wind/cold protection in winter.

🦝 Who's after your hens

HawkCoyoteFoxSnakeBobcatSkunk

Kingman's desert and scrubland surroundings host a range of chicken predators, including hawks and other raptors, coyotes, foxes, bobcats, snakes (which target eggs and chicks), and skunks. Secure, fully covered runs and hardware-cloth enclosures are strongly recommended given the area's active wildlife.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Heat-tolerant, hardy breeds do best in Kingman's high-desert climate: Leghorns, Easter Eggers, Plymouth Rocks, Australorps, Rhode Island Reds, and Egyptian Fayoumis. Breeds with smaller combs/wattles and lighter feathering generally handle the intense summer heat better, while still tolerating occasional winter cold snaps.

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

Questions people ask about Kingman

▸How many chickens can I keep in Kingman?

It depends on your lot size. Under Kingman Municipal Code § 3-45, lots under 10,000 sq. ft. may keep up to 6 domestic fowl, increasing on a sliding scale (10, 15, 20, 30) up to a maximum of 36 fowl on lots of 40,000 sq. ft. or more.

▸Are roosters allowed in Kingman?

No. Kingman's ordinance specifically states that male chickens (roosters) over four months of age are not permitted anywhere within the city, regardless of lot size (§ 3-45(c)(2)).

▸How far from the property line does my coop need to be?

Small livestock shelters, including chicken coops, must be set back at least 20 feet from any property line abutting another residential lot or parcel (§ 3-45(c)(4)).

▸Do I need a permit to keep backyard chickens in Kingman?

The City's ordinance does not establish a specific permit requirement for keeping domestic fowl within the lot-size limits set out in § 3-45; the rules instead focus on lot-size caps, setbacks, containment, and sanitation.

▸What size does my coop need to be?

Kingman's code requires at least 4 sq. ft. of indoor shelter space per bird and 10 sq. ft. of run/containment area per bird, with a shelter height cap of 6 feet (not to exceed the property's fence-line height) on lots under 1 acre (Table 3-45.C).

City rules change, and this page is a summary rather than legal advice. Please confirm with Kingman or your HOA before you order – and call us on (559) 321-7271 if you'd like a hand. Last checked September 24, 2026.