Backyard Chickens in Lee's Summit, Missouri

Can you keep chickens in Lee's Summit?

Backyard hens are welcome in Lee's Summit! The city's detailed chicken ordinance (Chapter 5, Article VII) lets residents keep up to six hens (eight on larger lots) without a permit, as long as coops meet setback, sanitation, and construction standards. Here's everything Peggy's Happy Chickens found in the official code.

Yes – with conditions

Yes. Lee's Summit permits residential chicken-keeping under Chapter 5, Article VII ("Chickens") of its Code of Ordinances. The maximum number of chickens allowed is six (6) per tract of land regardless of how many dwelling units are on the track except that a maximum number of chickens allowed is eight (8) per tract on residential parcels greater than one-half (½) acre. Only female chickens are allowed, though there is no restriction on the chicken species. No permit or license application appears within Article VII itself, and secondary sources confirm residents do not require a special permit to keep chickens, as long as they conform to the outlined ordinances.

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: 40 ft.

Peggy knows Lee's Summit

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

Flock size: Six (6) chickens per tract of land, or eight (8) on residential parcels larger than one-half acre.
Sex/roosters: Only female chickens are allowed (roosters are prohibited).
Setbacks: Henhouses, chicken tractors and chicken pens must be located at least ten (10) feet from the property line and at least forty (40) feet from any adjacent residential dwelling, church, school, or place of business. This setback requirement does not apply when the chicken(s) kept are four hundred (400) feet or more from the residence of any other inhabitant.
Confinement: Chickens must be kept in an enclosure or fenced area at all times; during daylight hours they may roam a securely fenced yard under supervision, but must be secured within a henhouse or chicken tractor during non-daylight hours.
Structure specs: The interior roosting area of any henhouse or chicken tractor must be at least two (2) feet in height, and the exterior height (including risers/pedestals) may not exceed ten (10) feet. A chicken pen must consist of sturdy wire fencing. Floors must be moisture-impervious and well maintained (sealed with paint or an inherently impervious material).
Placement: No henhouse, chicken tractor, or chicken pen may be placed in any area of the property considered 'frontage' under the Unified Development Ordinance.
Sanitation: Owners must provide for storage/removal of manure; stored manure must be covered in a fully enclosed structure with a roof or lid, no more than three (3) cubic feet may be stored, and any manure not composted/used as fertilizer must be removed. The henhouse, tractor, and surrounding area must be kept free of trash and accumulated droppings, and uneaten feed removed promptly.
Enclosure condition: Enclosures must be kept clean, dry, odor-free, neat and sanitary, with adequate ventilation, sun and shade, and must be impermeable to rodents, wild birds, and predators including dogs and cats.
Enforcement: It is unlawful for any person, owner, renter, or leaseholder to keep chickens or allow chickens to be kept in violation of this article; violations are punishable as a municipal ordinance violation under Section 1-13.

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Lee's Summit

🌡️ Climate

USDA Hardiness Zone 6b/7a - Humid Continental

Lee's Summit, Missouri experiences hot, humid summers and cold, sometimes snowy winters typical of the Kansas City metro area. Coops should provide good ventilation to combat summer heat/humidity as well as insulation and wind protection for winter, with attention to predator-proofing year-round.

🦝 Who's after your hens

RaccoonHawkFoxCoyoteOpossumSkunk

Suburban Lee's Summit properties back onto greenways, parks, and creek corridors that support raccoons, red-tailed hawks, foxes, coyotes, opossums, and skunks. The city's ordinance mandate that enclosures be impermeable to rodents, wild birds, and predators reflects this real local pressure, so secure hardware-cloth coops and covered runs are strongly recommended.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

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

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

Questions people ask about Lee's Summit

▸How many chickens can I keep in Lee's Summit?

Up to six hens per tract of land, or up to eight hens on residential parcels larger than one-half acre, per the city's chicken ordinance.

▸Are roosters allowed in Lee's Summit?

No. The ordinance states that only female chickens are allowed, effectively banning roosters within city limits.

▸Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Lee's Summit?

The city's chicken ordinance does not include a permitting process, and local guides confirm that no special permit is required as long as all ordinance requirements (setbacks, sanitation, enclosure standards) are met.

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

Henhouses, chicken tractors, and pens must sit at least 10 feet from the property line and at least 40 feet from any adjacent residential dwelling, church, school, or business — unless the coop is 400+ feet from any other inhabitant's residence, in which case those specific setback subparts don't apply.

▸Can my chickens free-range in my yard?

During daylight hours chickens may be let out of their pen into a securely fenced yard if supervised, but they must be locked inside the henhouse or chicken tractor overnight (non-daylight hours).

City rules change, and this page is a summary rather than legal advice. Please confirm with Lee's Summit or your HOA before you order – and call us on (559) 321-7271 if you'd like a hand. Last checked September 19, 2026.