Backyard Chickens in Prescott Valley, Arizona

Can you keep chickens in Prescott Valley?

Thinking about keeping backyard chickens in Prescott Valley, Arizona? Good news: the Town's ordinance is one of the more permissive in the state. Under Town Code §6-02-030, residents may keep up to 10 chickens (no roosters) on any residential lot without a permit or license, as long as the coop meets a simple 1-foot setback and basic sanitary-enclosure rules.

Yes – with conditions

Yes. Prescott Valley Town Code §6-02-030(B) "Chickens and Domestic Rabbits" expressly allows chickens (and domestic rabbits) to be kept on all residential lots in the Town, up to a maximum of 10 of each per lot. This provision was added by Ordinance No. 2023-919 (amended 04/13/23). Roosters (adult male chickens) are specifically prohibited under §6-02-030(B)(4). No permit or license is required to keep chickens or to build a standard coop, though a building permit is required if the coop is equipped with electrical, mechanical, or plumbing fixtures (§6-02-030(B)(1)(a)).

Read the ordinance ↗

The rules at a glance

Hens in city limits: Allowed
How many hens: 10
Roosters: No
Permit required: No
Permit cost: Not specified
Setback from property line: 1 ft.

Peggy knows Prescott Valley

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

Lot eligibility: Chickens and domestic rabbits are allowed on all residential lots, combined maximum of 10 chickens and 10 rabbits per lot (§6-02-030(B)).
No roosters: Adult male chickens (roosters) are not allowed anywhere in Town limits (§6-02-030(B)(4)).
No permits/licenses: No permit or license is needed to keep chickens or to build a coop, UNLESS the coop has electrical, mechanical, or plumbing fixtures, in which case a building permit is required (§6-02-030(B)(1)).
Setback: Coops must be set back at least 1 foot from property or easement lines — whichever line is furthest from adjacent structures (§6-02-030(B)(3)).
Accessory building rule: If a coop is ever used for anything other than housing chickens, it is reclassified as an Accessory Building under §13-02-010(B)(3) and becomes subject to the Town's Accessory Buildings, Structures and Uses standards (§13-21-080).
Containment/at-large: Chickens may not roam at-large; owners must keep them in a pen or similar enclosure that is well maintained in a healthy, safe, and sanitary manner (§6-02-030(C)-(D)).
Nuisance rule: Keeping any fowl that disturbs the peace, comfort, or health of a reasonable person is a nuisance; the Town gives 3 days' notice to correct before enforcement (§6-03-010(C)).
Penalties: A first violation of the chicken/rabbit rules (§6-02-030) is a civil offense (fine up to $500); repeat or injury-causing violations can become a class 2 misdemeanor (§6-05-010).

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Prescott Valley

🌡️ Climate

High-desert / Cold semi-arid (Köppen BSk), USDA Hardiness Zone ~7a

Prescott Valley sits at roughly 5,000-5,100 feet elevation in central Arizona's high desert, giving it a much cooler, more four-season climate than the low-desert cities of Phoenix or Tucson. Summers are hot and dry with highs near 90°F, while winters are cold, with lows regularly dropping into the 20s°F and occasional snow. Chicken keepers here need to plan for both summer heat management (shade, ventilation, water) and winter cold protection (insulated, draft-free coops), unlike warmer low-desert regions.

🦝 Who's after your hens

CoyoteHawkFoxRaccoonSnakeBobcatSkunk

Prescott Valley's high-desert and semi-rural surroundings are home to coyotes, red-tailed hawks and other raptors, gray foxes, bobcats, skunks, raccoons, and rattlesnakes — all of which can threaten unsecured flocks. A fully enclosed run with a secure top (to block aerial predators like hawks) and buried or reinforced hardware-cloth fencing (to stop digging coyotes, foxes, and snakes) is strongly recommended.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Wyandotte, Buff Orpington, Rhode Island Red, Australorp, Easter Egger

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

Questions people ask about Prescott Valley

▸How many chickens can I keep in Prescott Valley?

Up to 10 chickens are allowed per residential lot under Town Code §6-02-030(B). This limit applies separately from (but alongside) an equal 10-animal limit for domestic rabbits.

▸Are roosters allowed in Prescott Valley?

No. Town Code §6-02-030(B)(4) expressly prohibits roosters (adult male chickens) within Town limits.

▸Do I need a permit or license to keep chickens?

No permit or license is required to keep chickens or build a standard coop. A building permit is only required if the coop includes electrical, mechanical, or plumbing fixtures (§6-02-030(B)(1)).

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

Coops must be set back at least 1 foot from the property or easement line, whichever is furthest from adjacent structures (§6-02-030(B)(3)).

▸Can my neighbor complain about my chickens?

Yes. Under §6-03-010(C), keeping fowl that disturbs the peace, comfort, or health of a reasonable person is a nuisance. If a verified complaint is received, the Town gives the owner 3 days' notice to correct the issue before enforcement.

City rules change, and this page is a summary rather than legal advice. Please confirm with Prescott Valley or your HOA before you order – and call us on (559) 321-7271 if you'd like a hand. Last checked September 23, 2026.