Backyard Chickens in Roy, Utah

Can you keep chickens in Roy?

Thinking about keeping backyard chickens in Roy, Utah? The City allows hens on qualifying single-family lots, with flock size tied to your lot size, but roosters are off the table and a permit is a must. Here's what Roy's ordinance actually requires.

Yes – with conditions

Yes. Roy City's Zoning Ordinance (Title 10, Chapter 11, § 10-11-10 – "Supplementary Regulations Allowing for the Keeping of Chickens (Hens) and Rabbits in the Single-Family Residential Zones") permits hens on qualifying single-family lots in the R-1-6, R-1-7, R-1-8, R-1-10 and R-1-15 zones. As amended by Ordinance No. 24-13 (adopted November 19, 2024), the minimum qualifying lot size was lowered from 8,000 to 6,000 square feet, and the number of birds allowed now scales with lot size. Roosters and "crowing hens" are expressly excluded from the allowance. A City chicken-keeping permit is required and must be renewed annually. In March 2026 the Planning Commission also forwarded a recommendation to extend this same allowance to single-family homes located within R-2 through R-5 multi-family zones, so residents there should confirm current status with the Community Development Department.

Read the ordinance ↗

The rules at a glance

Hens in city limits: Allowed
How many hens: 6
Roosters: No
Permit required: Yes
Permit cost: $15
Setback from property line: 25 ft.

Peggy knows Roy

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

Under § 10-11-10, the number of chickens (or rabbits, or any combination not exceeding the listed number, excluding dependent young) allowed scales with parcel size:

6,000 – 15,000 sq ft: 6 chickens
15,001 – 30,000 sq ft: 12 chickens
30,001 – 50,000 sq ft: 18 chickens
50,001+ sq ft: 25 chickens

Roosters and crowing hens are not permitted anywhere in the single-family zones. Enclosures (runs) must be attached to the coop and are capped at 200 square feet (raised from 150 sq ft by the 2024 amendment) to stay under the threshold requiring a separate building permit. Per City guidance, coops and runs must be located in the rear yard only – no enclosures are permitted in front or side yards. A City "Keeping Permit" for chickens is required and must be renewed annually (current fee: $15.00, per the Roy City Consolidated Fee Schedule). Reported (secondary-source) setback figures for Roy place structures roughly 6 ft from property lines/the owner's own dwelling and about 25 ft from a neighboring dwelling – property owners should confirm exact setback figures with Community Development since the 2024 ordinance amendment did not republish the full setback table. Keeping chickens without the required permit can result in citations/fines and removal of the animals.

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Roy

🌡️ Climate

USDA Hardiness Zone 7a; semi-arid high-desert climate (Köppen BSk)

Roy sits along Utah's Wasatch Front and experiences hot, dry summers (regularly in the 90s°F) and cold winters with regular snow and temperatures that can drop into the teens or single digits. Coops should be insulated or at least wind-proofed for winter and well-ventilated with shade access for summer heat.

🦝 Who's after your hens

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Roy's mix of suburban neighborhoods and nearby open/agricultural land along the Weber County wetlands and Great Salt Lake shoreline means backyard flocks face pressure from red-tailed hawks and other raptors, foxes and coyotes coming in from surrounding farmland, and nocturnal raiders like raccoons and skunks. Fully enclosed, hardware-cloth-covered runs (not just chicken wire) and secure nighttime coop locking are strongly recommended.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Plymouth Rock, Wyandotte, Orpington, Rhode Island Red, Australorp, Ameraucana (cold-hardy, dual-purpose breeds that tolerate Utah's temperature swings well)

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

Questions people ask about Roy

▸How many chickens can I keep in Roy City?

It depends on your lot size: 6 chickens on 6,000–15,000 sq ft, 12 on 15,001–30,000 sq ft, 18 on 30,001–50,000 sq ft, and up to 25 on lots over 50,001 sq ft (Roy City Code § 10-11-10).

▸Are roosters allowed in Roy?

No. The ordinance specifically excludes roosters and crowing hens from the allowance in all single-family residential zones.

▸Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Roy?

Yes. Roy requires an annual chicken-keeping permit, currently priced at $15.00 per the City's Consolidated Fee Schedule, and it must be renewed every year.

▸What is the minimum lot size to keep chickens?

As of the November 2024 ordinance update, the minimum lot size was lowered to 6,000 square feet (previously 8,000 square feet) in the R-1-6, R-1-7, R-1-8, R-1-10 and R-1-15 zones.

▸Where can I locate my coop and run?

Coops and runs must be located in the rear yard only – front or side yard enclosures are not permitted – and the attached run may not exceed 200 square feet without triggering separate building-permit requirements.

City rules change, and this page is a summary rather than legal advice. Please confirm with Roy or your HOA before you order – and call us on (559) 321-7271 if you'd like a hand. Last checked September 30, 2026.