Backyard Chickens in Springdale, Arkansas

Can you keep chickens in Springdale?

Thinking about backyard hens in the Poultry Capital of the World? Ironically, Springdale, Arkansas is one of the most restrictive cities in the region when it comes to keeping your own flock. Before you build a coop, it's essential to understand exactly where city ordinances do — and overwhelmingly do not — allow chickens.

Not straightforward

Springdale's animal-control ordinance (Code of Ordinances, Ch. 14 — Animals) restricts poultry keeping so tightly that, for the vast majority of homeowners, backyard hens are effectively not an option. According to the ordinance text as quoted by the city and reported by residents, "No fowl shall be permitted in a platted subdivision, even if the platted subdivision is zoned A-1." Since almost every residential neighborhood in Springdale sits on platted subdivision land, this provision bars chicken-keeping there regardless of the underlying zoning designation.

The city attorney for Springdale has confirmed that no farm animals, including chickens, are allowed within these platted residential areas. A 2014 report likewise found that Springdale does not allow any kind of farm animal (such as chickens), placing it at one extreme of Northwest Arkansas ordinances. Chickens are only permitted on unplatted land carrying agricultural (A-1) zoning, and even there, fowl may not run at large within city limits.

Roosters are not permitted anywhere fowl-keeping is otherwise allowed — none of the major Northwest Arkansas towns allow roosters because of noise ordinances, and Springdale is specifically named as a city that bans roosters in residential areas.

Read the ordinance ↗

The rules at a glance

Hens in city limits: Restricted
How many hens: Not Allowed
Roosters: No
Permit required: Not specified
Setback from property line: Not specified

Peggy knows Springdale

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

Because fowl-keeping is confined to unplatted agricultural (A-1) zoned parcels, coop rules in practice only apply to that small slice of land within city limits. On qualifying A-1 land: chickens may be kept but are not permitted to run at large within the city limits, and chickens are not permitted in platted subdivisions, irrespective of the zoning classification — meaning even land that carries an A-1 designation loses its poultry privileges once it is part of a recorded (platted) subdivision. Detailed rules can be found in the municipal code, but roosters are typically not allowed in platted subdivisions regardless of the zoning, and in practice roosters are excluded from fowl-keeping citywide. Residents on qualifying land are advised to confirm current setback, enclosure, and permit specifics directly with Springdale's City Clerk/Planning office before building a coop, since specific areas require adherence to zoning regulations and may require a permit.

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Springdale

🌡️ Climate

Humid Subtropical (USDA Hardiness Zone 7a/7b)

Springdale sits in the Ozark region of Northwest Arkansas, with hot, humid summers (frequently in the 90s°F) and generally mild but occasionally frigid winters that can dip into the teens or lower. Flocks benefit from shaded, ventilated coops in summer and wind-blocked, insulated housing in winter, along with reliable water heaters to prevent freezing during cold snaps.

🦝 Who's after your hens

RaccoonHawkFoxCoyoteOpossumSnakeBobcat

Northwest Arkansas's mix of woodland, creeks, and farmland supports a wide range of chicken predators. Aerial threats like hawks and owls patrol open yards, while raccoons, opossums, and snakes are frequent nighttime coop intruders. Coyotes, foxes, and bobcats roam wooded edges near neighborhoods, making secure, buried-wire fencing and locking coop doors essential for any flock kept on qualifying agricultural land.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Rhode Island Red, Plymouth Rock, Australorp, Wyandotte, Buff Orpington

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

Questions people ask about Springdale

▸Are backyard chickens allowed in Springdale, Arkansas?

Only in a limited sense. Chickens are allowed to be kept within the agricultural (A-1) zoning areas of Springdale, but No fowl shall be permitted in a platted subdivision, even if the platted subdivision is zoned A-1. Since nearly all residential neighborhoods in Springdale are platted subdivisions, backyard chickens are not permitted for most homeowners.

▸Can I keep roosters in Springdale?

Generally, no. None of the major towns in Northwest Arkansas allow for roosters (male chickens) because of noise ordinances, and Springdale specifically bans roosters in residential areas due to crowing complaints.

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

Residents should consult with Springdale's municipal code, as specific areas require adherence to zoning regulations and may require a permit. Because chicken-keeping is restricted to unplatted A-1 agricultural land, anyone considering it should contact the City Clerk directly to confirm current permit requirements for that specific parcel.

▸What if I live in a subdivision zoned agricultural (A-1)?

Zoning alone isn't enough. Chickens are not permitted in platted subdivisions, regardless of the zoning classification, so an A-1 zoning label does not override the platted-subdivision restriction.

▸Has anyone tried to change Springdale's chicken rules?

Yes. In the last several years different people have approached the city council to ask for the ordinance to be changed to allow backyard hens in areas zoned residential, noting that surrounding Northwest Arkansas cities have already loosened their rules, but as of the available reporting, Springdale will not change its stance.

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