Backyard Chickens in Kokomo, Indiana

Can you keep chickens in Kokomo?

Thinking about keeping chickens in Kokomo, Indiana? Unfortunately, current city rules make this difficult: Kokomo's zoning code does not authorize backyard chicken-keeping in any standard residential district, and the practice is only even theoretically possible on land zoned Agriculture or Agricultural/Rural Residential through a Special Exception. Read on for exactly what the ordinance says and why.

Not straightforward

No — in the vast majority of Kokomo, backyard chickens are not a permitted use. The Kokomo Zoning Ordinance does not list "poultry," "chickens," "hens," or "fowl" anywhere as a permitted use or special exception in any of the city's residential districts (R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, M1, M2, M3, or MP) or in any commercial district. The only place "raising of farm animals" appears at all is as a Special Exception Use in the AG (Agriculture) and AR (Agricultural/Rural Residential) Districts (Zoning Ordinance §3.1 and §3.3) — districts generally reserved for existing farmland or large-lot agricultural-residential parcels, not typical city house lots. Because chicken-keeping is not listed as a permitted use or special exception in the standard urban residential districts, it is treated as a "Non-Permitted" use under Zoning Ordinance §2.6 (Unlisted Land Uses). Separately, Kokomo's Chapter 90 (Animals) ordinance regulates dogs, cats, and animals running "at large," but it contains no provision authorizing residential poultry-keeping.

In short: unless a specific residential lot happens to carry an AG or AR zoning designation, keeping chickens (hens or roosters) is not lawful in Kokomo without first obtaining a rezoning and then a Special Exception approval from the Board of Zoning Appeals for "raising of farm animals."

Read the ordinance ↗

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 Kokomo

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

Because chicken-keeping is not a permitted residential use, the Zoning Ordinance does not set out any coop size, setback, or enclosure standards for hens on ordinary residential lots. The only path to legally keep poultry within Kokomo's planning jurisdiction is on a parcel zoned AG (Agriculture) or AR (Agricultural/Rural Residential), where "raising of farm animals" may be approved only as a Special Exception by the Board of Zoning Appeals (Zoning Ordinance §9.8). The BZA has discretion to impose conditions on setbacks, screening, odor, and noise as part of any such approval, but no universal standard exists in the code.

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Kokomo

🌡️ Climate

USDA Hardiness Zone 6a; Köppen humid continental (Dfa)

Kokomo sits in north-central Indiana and experiences a full humid continental climate with hot, humid summers (highs in the mid-80s°F) and cold winters (average January lows around 19°F, with subzero snaps possible). Because backyard chickens are not currently a legal use in Kokomo's residential districts, this data is provided for general regional reference only in case rules change or a keeper is on qualifying AG/AR land.

🦝 Who's after your hens

RaccoonHawkFoxCoyoteOpossum

North-central Indiana's mix of farmland, waterways (e.g., Wildcat Creek), and suburban tree cover supports populations of raccoons, red-tailed hawks, foxes, coyotes, and opossums, all of which are common backyard-flock predators regionally.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Cold-hardy dual-purpose breeds such as Rhode Island Red, Plymouth Rock, Wyandotte, Orpington, and Chantecler would suit Kokomo's cold winters and humid summers if keeping were legally permitted.

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

Questions people ask about Kokomo

▸Can I keep a few backyard hens at my house in Kokomo?

Almost certainly not. Kokomo's Zoning Ordinance does not list poultry-keeping as a permitted use in any of its residential districts (R1–R5, M1–M3, MP), so under §2.6 of the ordinance it is treated as a non-permitted use on those lots.

▸Is there any way to legally keep chickens in Kokomo?

The only path is if your property is zoned AG (Agriculture) or AR (Agricultural/Rural Residential) and you obtain a Special Exception from the Board of Zoning Appeals for "raising of farm animals" (Zoning Ordinance §3.1, §3.3, §9.8).

▸Are roosters treated differently from hens in Kokomo?

No — the ordinance does not distinguish between hens and roosters. Both fall under the general "raising of farm animals" category, which is restricted to AG/AR-zoned land via Special Exception.

▸Does Kokomo's animal control ordinance (Chapter 90) allow chickens?

No. Chapter 90 (Animals) of the Kokomo Code of Ordinances addresses dogs, cats, vicious/wild animals, and animals running at large — it does not create any allowance for keeping backyard poultry.

▸What if my neighborhood used to allow chickens or I've seen chickens nearby?

Any chickens observed within standard residential zoning would not be operating under an explicit ordinance allowance found in the current code; enforcement is generally complaint-driven, but the underlying zoning does not authorize the use.

City rules change, and this page is a summary rather than legal advice. Please confirm with Kokomo or your HOA before you order – and call us on (559) 321-7271 if you'd like a hand. Last checked September 25, 2026.