Backyard Chickens in Layton, Utah

Can you keep chickens in Layton?

Nestled between the Wasatch Mountains and the Great Salt Lake, Layton, Utah lets residents on qualifying lots keep a backyard flock of egg-laying hens. City rules tie the size of your flock to your lot size, require a one-time permit in most residential zones, and keep roosters out of town — so a little planning goes a long way before your chicks arrive.

Yes – with conditions

Yes. In Layton, properties with at least 8,000 square feet and that are in a single-family zone or an agricultural zone (R-1-6, R-1-8, R-1-10, R-S, and A Zones) are permitted to have chickens and/or ducks. The total number of chickens or ducks permitted for each property is based on the lot size and can be found in the Residential Chicken & Duck Handout or in the 19.06.080 of the Layton City Municipal Code. A one-time permit is required for properties within the R-1-6, R-1-8, R-1-10, and R-S zones. Roosters are prohibited in these residential zoning districts roosters are prohibited in the R-1-6, R-1-8, R-1-10, and R-S zoning districts, and properties in the R-S zone with one acre or more do not require a permit.

Read the ordinance ↗

The rules at a glance

Hens in city limits: Allowed
How many hens: No Set Limit
Roosters: No
Permit required: Yes
Setback from property line: 5 ft.

Peggy knows Layton

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

Flock size scales with lot size rather than a single fixed cap. For lots measuring 8,000 square feet, residents may keep one chicken for every 1,600 square feet, while for lots of 14,000 square feet the allowance is one chicken per 1,400 square feet, with the ratio continuing to improve on larger lots (per the city's Chicken & Duck Handout, referenced in Municipal Code §19.06.080).

Coop & Run Requirements: Chickens and/or ducks are required to be kept inside a coop/pen/or run, at all times. Per the city's official coop standards: coops/runs must not exceed 7' in height, must be restricted to the rear or backyard, and must be enclosed with a fence in addition to the pen/coop. For properties with less than 20,000 square feet, the coop's pen/run should be at most 120 square feet and situated at least five feet away from all property lines. Properties over 20,000 square feet may have a larger pen/run exceeding 120 square feet, but it should be located at least ten feet from all property lines.

Permits: A one-time permit is required for properties within the R-1-6, R-1-8, R-1-10, and R-S zones, applied for online through the city's Chicken & Duck Permit Application. Properties in the R-S zone with one acre or more do not require a permit.

Roosters & Slaughter: Roosters are not permitted in residential areas, ensuring noise levels are kept to a minimum, except in designated agricultural zones. Slaughtering of chickens on residential lots is likewise not permitted outside agricultural zoning.

Other Farm Animals: Animals normally associated with being kept outdoors and/or normally associated with agricultural areas such as horses, cows, goats, sheep, pigs, rabbits, chickens, ducks, geese or other farm animals, shall not be allowed as household pets — chickens/ducks are permitted only as a special use under the residential chicken/duck provisions, separate from general household pet rules.

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Layton

🌡️ Climate

Semi-arid steppe / high mountain valley (Köppen BSk), USDA Hardiness Zone 6b-7a

Layton sits along the Wasatch Front at roughly 4,400+ feet elevation, giving it a semi-arid climate with cold, snowy winters (regularly dipping into the teens °F) and hot, dry summers (often 90s °F). Coops need solid insulation, wind-blocking, and heated waterers for winter, plus good ventilation and shade for summer heat.

🦝 Who's after your hens

RaccoonHawkFoxCoyoteSkunk

Layton backs up to the foothills of the Wasatch Range, so red foxes and coyotes are regular visitors in outlying neighborhoods, while raccoons and skunks are common nighttime raiders of unsecured coops throughout the city. Red-tailed hawks and other raptors are frequent daytime threats to free-ranging birds along the Great Salt Lake flyway, making a fully enclosed, roofed run especially important.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Wyandotte, Rhode Island Red, Plymouth Rock, Australorp

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

Questions people ask about Layton

▸Do I need a minimum lot size to keep chickens in Layton?

Yes. Properties with at least 8,000 square feet and that are in a single-family zone or an agricultural zone (R-1-6, R-1-8, R-1-10, R-S, and A Zones) are permitted to have chickens and/or ducks.

▸How many chickens am I allowed to keep?

There isn't a single flat number — the cap scales with your lot size. For lots measuring 8,000 square feet, residents may keep one chicken for every 1,600 square feet, while for lots of 14,000 square feet the allowance is one chicken per 1,400 square feet, with the allowance continuing to increase on larger lots per Municipal Code §19.06.080.

▸Are roosters allowed?

No. Roosters are prohibited in the R-1-6, R-1-8, R-1-10, and R-S zoning districts, meaning roosters are effectively banned in Layton's standard residential neighborhoods.

▸Do I need a permit, and how do I apply?

A one-time permit is required for properties within the R-1-6, R-1-8, R-1-10, and R-S zones, applied for online via the city's Chicken & Duck Permit Application. Properties in the R-S zone with one acre or more do not require a permit.

▸How far must my coop be from property lines?

For properties with less than 20,000 square feet, the coop's pen/run should be at most 120 square feet and situated at least five feet away from all property lines. Properties over 20,000 square feet may have a larger pen/run exceeding 120 square feet, but it should be located at least ten feet from all property lines.

City rules change, and this page is a summary rather than legal advice. Please confirm with Layton or your HOA before you order – and call us on (559) 321-7271 if you'd like a hand. Last checked September 29, 2026.