Backyard Chickens in Little Rock, Arkansas

Can you keep chickens in Little Rock?

Little Rock allows backyard hens with a light-touch, space-based ordinance rather than a strict numeric limit — but coop placement (distance from your home and your neighbor's) and odor control are taken seriously, and roosters live in a legal gray area that's worth double-checking with Animal Services before you bring one home.

Yes – with conditions

Yes. Unlike many cities that have banned backyard chickens, it's perfectly legal to possess chickens and other fowl within the city of Little Rock, under Chapter 6 (Animals) of the Little Rock Code of Ordinances, primarily Chapter 6, Section 6-44. The only real stipulations are that coop-space must provide at least three square feet per chicken over four months of age, and the coop must be at least five feet from your own home and 25 feet from the nearest neighbor's residence. The ordinance also requires that odors not be offensive within 300 feet, but chickens (and fowl generally, since roosters are not singled out) simply need 3 square feet per bird over 4 months old. As of the last confirmed review, the city had not amended this ordinance and did not know if or when it would, so the space-based approach (rather than a hard numeric cap) still appears to be the operative rule.

In 2016, Animal Services staff proposed a 12-bird household cap, size-limits on turkeys/ducks/peacocks, and a 1,000-foot rooster setback, but this reform was never adopted, so it does not change current requirements.

Read the ordinance ↗

The rules at a glance

Hens in city limits: Allowed
How many hens: No Set Limit
Roosters: conditional
Permit required: No
Permit cost: Not specified
Setback from property line: 25 ft.

Peggy knows Little Rock

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

Space: Coop restrictions require three (3) square feet per bird over four (4) months of age.
Setbacks: The coop must be at least five feet from your own home and 25 feet from the nearest neighbor's residence.
Odor/Nuisance: Smell from the coop must not be offensive within 300 feet of a residence.
No numeric cap: The ordinance states no maximum number of chickens, though a 2016 proposal to cap flocks at 12 birds with tiered pen-size rules (100 sq ft for the first bird, +25 sq ft per additional bird) was discussed but never enacted.
Roosters: The code does not single out roosters separately from hens, and city staff's own 2016 reform memo openly discussed keeping roosters legal (just farther from neighbors), which implies they are not outright banned by the written code. However, residents have reported being told by the Animal Control Department that roosters are not allowed within city limits, so treat rooster-keeping as enforcement-dependent and confirm directly with Little Rock Animal Services before getting one.
Verify current details: Contact Little Rock Animal Services for current flock limits and any recent ordinance updates before building a coop.

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Little Rock

🌡️ Climate

USDA Hardiness Zone 7b/8a – Humid Subtropical

Little Rock has hot, humid summers with highs regularly in the low-to-mid 90s°F and mild-to-cool winters with occasional freezes. High humidity year-round means coop ventilation is more important than insulation for most of the year.

🦝 Who's after your hens

RaccoonHawkFoxOpossumSnakeCoyote

Little Rock's mix of urban, suburban, and wooded riparian areas along the Arkansas River supports raccoons, red-tailed hawks, gray/red foxes, opossums, rat snakes, and coyotes — all of which will target eggs, chicks, or unsecured adult birds. Predator-proof coops should use hardware cloth (not chicken wire), secure locking latches, and a covered run.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Rhode Island Red, Australorp, Easter Egger, Plymouth Rock, Leghorn

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

Questions people ask about Little Rock

▸How many hens can I keep in Little Rock?

The ordinance does not set a specific maximum number of hens — instead it requires at least three square feet of coop space per bird over four months old, so your lot size and coop size effectively determine your flock size.

▸Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Little Rock?

Based on the available ordinance information, no permit has historically been required for backyard hens in Little Rock, unlike some neighboring cities such as North Little Rock.

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

Coops must be at least 25 feet from the nearest neighboring residence and at least 5 feet from your own home.

▸Are roosters legal in Little Rock?

It's unclear-cut. The written ordinance doesn't single out roosters separately from hens, and a 2016 city proposal even discussed keeping roosters legal at a greater distance from neighbors. However, some residents report being told directly by Animal Control that roosters aren't allowed, so confirm with Little Rock Animal Services before keeping one.

▸Has Little Rock's chicken ordinance changed recently?

The city discussed reforms in 2016 — including a 12-bird cap, tiered pen-size rules, and species-specific limits for ducks, turkeys, and peacocks — but as of the last confirmed reporting, these changes had not been adopted.

City rules change, and this page is a summary rather than legal advice. Please confirm with Little Rock or your HOA before you order – and call us on (559) 321-7271 if you'd like a hand. Last checked September 3, 2026.