Backyard Chickens in Salt Lake City, Utah

Can you keep chickens in Salt Lake City?

Thinking about keeping hens in the Salt Lake Valley? Salt Lake City welcomes backyard chicken keepers with a clear, permit-based ordinance: up to 15 hens (no roosters) per residential lot, a secure and appropriately sized coop set back from your neighbors, and a simple annual permit through Salt Lake County Animal Services. Here's everything Peggy's Happy Chickens found in the official city code to help you get started on the right foot (and wing).

Yes – with conditions

Yes — Salt Lake City expressly permits backyard hens. Under §8.08.065 (Keeping Chickens) of the Salt Lake City Code, fifteen (15) hen chickens (and no roosters) may be kept on a lot or parcel of land in a residential district for the sole purpose of producing eggs, so long as the principal use of the lot is a one-, two-, or multi-family dwelling. Roosters are not permitted in residential districts. A permit from the office of animal services (administered by Salt Lake County Animal Services) is required before keeping any chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, pigeons, or similar domestic fowl in the city (§8.08.010).

Read the ordinance ↗

The rules at a glance

Hens in city limits: Allowed
How many hens: 15
Roosters: No
Permit required: Yes
Permit cost: $75
Setback from property line: 25 ft.

Peggy knows Salt Lake City

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

Chickens must be confined to a secure outdoor enclosed area that includes a covered, ventilated, predator-resistant coop (§8.08.065(B)):

Coop floor area must be at least 2 square feet per chicken if birds have an outside run, or 6 square feet per chicken if they are not allowed to roam outside the coop.
The coop must be located in the rear yard, at least 25 feet from any dwelling on an adjacent lot.
No chicken may roam outside the coop/enclosed area, and fowl generally may not be kept within 50 feet of any house used for human habitation except as allowed under §8.08.065 (§8.08.080).
Feed must be stored/dispensed in rodent-proof and predator-proof containers.
Coops and runways must be whitewashed or disinfected at least three times a year (March, July, October), droppings cleaned from under roosts at least every two weeks, and the coop and surroundings kept clean and sanitary at all times (§8.08.070).
The permit is valid for one year and must be renewed annually; permittees must acknowledge and agree in writing to comply with these rules.

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Salt Lake City

🌡️ Climate

USDA Hardiness Zone 7a (parts of the city range from 6a to 7b)

Salt Lake City has a semi-arid, high-desert climate with hot, dry summers (often in the 90s°F) and cold, snowy winters where lows can dip into the teens and single digits. Coop design should include good ventilation for summer heat plus insulation, a draft-free roost, and freeze-proof waterers for winter.

🦝 Who's after your hens

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Salt Lake City's proximity to the Wasatch foothills and urban waterways means backyard flocks can attract raccoons, skunks, and red foxes at night, along with coyotes in neighborhoods near open space or the foothills. Red-tailed hawks and other raptors are common daytime threats, especially for free-ranging birds, so a fully covered, predator-resistant coop and run — as required by city code — is essential.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Plymouth Rock, Wyandotte, Orpington, Australorp, Rhode Island Red, Easter Egger — cold-hardy, dual-purpose breeds that tolerate both hot summers and freezing winters well.

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

Questions people ask about Salt Lake City

▸How many chickens can I keep in Salt Lake City?

Up to 15 hen chickens may be kept on a residential lot, per §8.08.065 of the Salt Lake City Code. No roosters are allowed in residential districts.

▸Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Salt Lake City?

Yes. A permit from the office of animal services (administered by Salt Lake County Animal Services) is required before keeping chickens, and it costs $75 regardless of the number of birds, per the city's official chicken-keeping page.

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

The coop must be located in the rear yard at least 25 feet from any dwelling on an adjacent lot, per §8.08.065(B)(2).

▸Can I keep a rooster in Salt Lake City?

No. City code specifically authorizes hen chickens 'and no roosters' for residential lots under §8.08.065.

▸What size does my chicken coop need to be?

The coop must provide at least 2 square feet of floor area per chicken if the birds have access to an outdoor run, or 6 square feet per chicken if they are kept in the coop full-time, per §8.08.065(B)(1).

City rules change, and this page is a summary rather than legal advice. Please confirm with Salt Lake City or your HOA before you order – and call us on (559) 321-7271 if you'd like a hand. Last checked August 31, 2026.