Backyard Chickens in Pleasant View, Utah

Can you keep chickens in Pleasant View?

Nestled beneath Ben Lomond Peak along Weber County's scenic bench, Pleasant View lets many residents keep backyard hens as part of its small-town, semi-rural character — as long as you check which zone your property is in first. From RE-20 half-acre homesteads to smaller in-town lots, Peggy's Happy Chickens will help you find the right coop setup for Pleasant View's rules and mountain-valley climate.

Yes – with conditions

Yes — Pleasant View allows residents to keep hens as an accessory use to a single-family residence, but the rules depend heavily on which zone your property sits in. The RE-20 (§18.10.010(F)), A-2 (§18.16.010) and A-5 (§18.18.020(D)(2)) zones expressly permit "the keeping of animals and fowl for family food production as an incidental and accessory use to the residential use of the lot." By contrast, the RE-15 zone (§18.09.020(C)) allows agriculture "provided that no animals or fowl may be kept except household pets," which effectively bars backyard chickens in that zone.

Where fowl-keeping is allowed, the numeric limit comes from the City's "Family Food Production" definition (§18.04.270), which sets a base allowance of up to 50 chickens (along with other animals/fowl) on a qualifying lot, with additional animals allowed for each half-acre above the zone's minimum lot size — but no more than 3 total animals/fowl at any one time on lots smaller than one-half acre.

Roosters are not allowed. Pleasant View City Ordinance 2024-5 (adopted January 23, 2024) amended §6.04.090 of the Animal Regulations Ordinance to state that "Pleasant View City prohibits the keeping/ownership of roosters and crowing hens within the city limits," and owners found keeping a rooster or a crowing hen will be required to re-home the animal.

Read the ordinance ↗

The rules at a glance

Hens in city limits: Allowed
How many hens: 50
Roosters: No
Permit required: No
Setback from property line: 25 ft.

Peggy knows Pleasant View

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

Zone matters: Chickens are a permitted accessory use in the RE-20, A-2 and A-5 zones (§18.10.010(F), §18.16.010, §18.18.020(D)(2)). The RE-15 zone permits only household pets, not chickens (§18.09.020(C)); R-1 and R-5 zones do not list fowl-keeping as a permitted use at all.
Flock size: Under the "Family Food Production" definition (§18.04.270) a qualifying lot may keep up to 50 chickens (base number), with an additional allowance per half-acre above the zone's minimum lot size for a single-family lot. However, lots smaller than one-half acre are capped at no more than 3 total animals/fowl at any one time.
Setbacks (§18.42.150): No animals or fowl may be kept closer than 40 ft from the owner's own dwelling or 75 ft from any dwelling on an adjacent lot. Any coop, pen, or enclosure for fowl must be at least 100 ft from a public street and at least 25 ft from any lot line.
Zone-specific setbacks: In the RE-20, A-2 and A-5 zones, any corral, stable or building for keeping animals/fowl must be at least 100 ft from a public street and at least 25 ft from any side or rear lot line.
No roosters or crowing hens: Per Ordinance 2024-5 (amending §6.04.090), keeping or owning a rooster or a crowing hen is prohibited citywide, and violators must re-home the animal.
Accessory use only: Fowl-keeping must remain incidental and accessory to the residential use of the lot; it cannot be the primary use of the property.

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Pleasant View

🌡️ Climate

USDA Hardiness Zone 6b-7a (Northern Utah / Wasatch Front high desert)

Pleasant View sits at the base of Ben Lomond Peak in Weber County, giving it cold, snowy winters (occasionally below 0°F) and hot, dry summers with low humidity. Coops should be insulated and draft-free for winter while providing good ventilation and shade for summer heat, and a heated waterer is recommended in winter.

🦝 Who's after your hens

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Pleasant View backs up to the foothills of Ben Lomond, so backyard flocks face real pressure from coyotes and foxes coming down from the bench, as well as red-tailed hawks and owls overhead. Raccoons and skunks are common nighttime nuisance predators in the valley's residential neighborhoods. A fully enclosed, hardware-cloth-covered run and a secure, predator-proof coop door are strongly recommended.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Cold-hardy, dual-purpose breeds do best here: Plymouth Rock, Rhode Island Red, Wyandotte, Buff Orpington, Australorp, and Chantecler.

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

Questions people ask about Pleasant View

▸Can I keep chickens on any residential lot in Pleasant View?

It depends on your zone. RE-20, A-2 and A-5 zoned properties allow chickens as an accessory residential use, but the RE-15 zone permits only household pets — not chickens or other fowl. Check your property's zoning designation with the City before building a coop.

▸Are roosters allowed in Pleasant View?

No. Ordinance 2024-5 amended the City's Animal Regulations to explicitly prohibit keeping or owning roosters and crowing hens anywhere within city limits. Owners found with a rooster or crowing hen will be required to re-home the bird.

▸How many hens can I have?

Under the City's 'Family Food Production' rule, qualifying lots can keep up to 50 chickens as a base allowance, with more allowed per half-acre above the zone's minimum lot size. But if your lot is smaller than one-half acre, the total number of animals/fowl allowed at once drops to just 3.

▸How far does my coop need to be from my neighbor's house?

City code requires that fowl not be kept closer than 75 feet from any dwelling on an adjacent lot, and not closer than 40 feet from your own home. Coops must also be at least 100 feet from a public street and 25 feet from any lot line.

▸Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Pleasant View?

The zoning code lists fowl-keeping for family food production as a permitted (not conditional) accessory use in the zones that allow it, and no specific chicken permit process is set out in Title 18. Always confirm current requirements with the Pleasant View City office before starting a flock.

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