Backyard Chickens in Shreveport, Louisiana

Can you keep chickens in Shreveport?

Thinking about raising hens in Shreveport? The Red River City welcomes backyard chicken keepers with a clear, permit-based ordinance: up to six hens per lot, no roosters, and specific coop and setback standards designed to keep the peace with your neighbors.

Yes – with conditions

Yes, backyard chickens are legal in Shreveport. Under Article V of Chapter 14 of the Code of Ordinances (§ 14-60), hens may be kept in one-family residential districts subject to specific rules.

The ordinance states: "Only female chickens (hereinafter 'hens') are allowed. Up to six (6) hens per lot are allowed. There is no restriction on domestic chicken breeds. However, fowl and poultry other than chickens are not allowed" (§ 14-60(b)). Roosters are therefore prohibited citywide. Hens must be kept strictly for personal, noncommercial use — selling eggs, breeding for sale, or slaughtering chickens is prohibited (§ 14-60(c)). An annual keeping permit ($25) plus a separate building permit for the henhouse/pen are required (§ 14-61).

Read the ordinance ↗

The rules at a glance

Hens in city limits: Allowed
How many hens: 6
Roosters: No
Permit required: Yes
Permit cost: $25
Setback from property line: 10 ft.

Peggy knows Shreveport

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

Per § 14-60(d) of the Shreveport Code of Ordinances:

Hens must be kept in a fenced enclosure at all times; the enclosure must be either covered, or at least 42 inches high with hens wing-clipped to prevent escape.
Hens must also be provided a covered, predator-resistant henhouse and secured inside it during non-daylight hours.
Minimum space: 3 square feet per hen in the henhouse and 6 square feet per bird in the fenced enclosure.
Enclosures/henhouses must be properly ventilated, clean, dry, odor-free, and not disturb neighboring lots with noise, odor, or other adverse impacts.
Structures must resist access by rodents, wild birds, dogs, cats, and other predators; henhouses must be enclosed on all sides with a roof and lockable doors, and any vents/windows covered with predator-resistant wire of less than 1-inch openings.
Neither the henhouse nor the fenced enclosure may be located less than 10 feet from any abutting property line, and they are not permitted in front yards.
Chicken feed must be stored indoors or in weather-resistant, animal-proof containers, with uneaten food removed daily; manure must be composted in a well-aerated pile or otherwise removed, and the area kept free of trash and droppings.
Private neighborhood covenants that prohibit keeping fowl remain enforceable even where the city ordinance allows chickens (§ 14-62).

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Shreveport

🌡️ Climate

USDA Hardiness Zone 8b (Humid Subtropical)

Shreveport sits in USDA Hardiness Zone 8b, with hot, humid summers and mild winters. Coop owners should prioritize shade, cross-ventilation, and cool, dry bedding to help flocks handle long stretches of summer heat and humidity, while occasional winter cold snaps are usually mild enough that minimal extra insulation is needed.

🦝 Who's after your hens

RaccoonHawkFoxCoyoteSnakeOpossum

Backyard flocks in Shreveport commonly face raccoons, opossums, and snakes raiding coops at night, along with hawks during the day and foxes or coyotes on the city's wooded edges. The city's own henhouse rules require predator-resistant construction — solid walls, secure lockable doors, and fine wire mesh over vents and windows — precisely to guard against these threats.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Easter Egger, Rhode Island Red, Australorp, Buff Orpington, Barred Plymouth Rock (all tolerate Shreveport's hot, humid summers well)

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

Questions people ask about Shreveport

▸How many hens can I keep in Shreveport?

Up to six hens per lot are allowed, and there is no restriction on chicken breed. Roosters and any fowl other than chickens are not permitted.

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

Yes. An annual permit to keep chickens is required, along with a separate building permit for constructing the henhouse and pen. The annual chicken permit fee is $25.

▸Can I keep a rooster in Shreveport?

No. The ordinance specifies that only female chickens (hens) are allowed within city limits.

▸How far must my coop be from my property line?

Neither the henhouse nor the fenced enclosure may be located less than 10 feet from any abutting property line, and they cannot be placed in front yards.

▸Can I sell eggs from my backyard chickens?

No. Hens must be kept strictly for personal, noncommercial use — selling eggs, breeding chickens commercially, or slaughtering chickens is prohibited under the ordinance.

City rules change, and this page is a summary rather than legal advice. Please confirm with Shreveport or your HOA before you order – and call us on (559) 321-7271 if you'd like a hand. Last checked September 16, 2026.