Backyard chickens in Scottsdale, Arizona

Yes—backyard hens are allowed in Scottsdale. The city regulates the keeping of domestic fowl under a nuisance-based standard rather than a strict numeric cap. No person shall knowingly keep or harbor any animal or fowl which by frequent or habitual howling, yelping, barking, crowing or the making of other noises shall annoy or disturb a neighborhood or any two (2) or more persons, one (1) of which may be a police officer or an animal control officer. This nuisance standard is codified at Scottsdale Code of Ordinances § 4-17, which state legislative summaries describe as follows: In Scottsdale, fowl is allowed unless it is a frequent or habitual nuisance that disturbs a neighborhood or any two or more persons (Scottsdale Code of Ordinances § 4-17).

Because the ordinance is nuisance-based rather than numeric, the city's own code reference does not set a hard maximum hen count for ordinary residential lots, and the city does not regulate the number of horses or other farm animals allowed on single-family and two-family residential properties as long as they are for personal use of the homeowner and there is a city-approved, habitable single-family home on the property. That said, several chicken-law directories that track municipal poultry rules commonly advise residents to plan for a small flock (often cited as 5–6 hens) and to avoid roosters, since Scottsdale city code permits up to five chickens on a residential lot. Roosters are not allowed according to at least one such directory. Other guides similarly report backyard fowl are permitted unless they create a habitual nuisance with a practical Roosters: Not allowed if they disturb two or more persons standard.

Because the underlying code section is nuisance-based rather than a bright-line numeric limit, some analysts note that Fowl: Allowed unless they become a frequent or habitual nuisance that disturbs a neighborhood or any two or more persons. Roosters: No specific ban, but rooster crowing would likely trigger nuisance complaints — meaning roosters aren't explicitly outlawed by name, but a crowing rooster is very likely to trip the nuisance provision. No poultry-specific permit is required for ordinary residential flocks; permitting only comes into play for commercial farms, stables, or ranches, which require a conditional use permit under the zoning code.

Scottsdale sits in the Sonoran Desert with extremely hot, dry summers (regularly 105–115°F) and mild winters. Chicken keepers need heavy emphasis on shade, ventilation, and constant fresh water in coop design, plus predator-proofing since desert wildlife is active year-round. Winter cold snaps are brief and mild, so cold-hardiness is a minor concern compared to heat stress.

Scottsdale backs up to the McDowell Sonoran Preserve and other desert open space, so coops face pressure from red-tailed hawks and other raptors overhead, plus ground predators like coyotes, gray foxes, bobcats, and rattlesnakes or bull snakes that can take eggs or chicks. Fully enclosed, hardware-cloth-covered runs (not just chicken wire) with a secure top are essential.