Backyard Chickens in Springfield, Missouri

Can you keep chickens in Springfield?

Thinking about backyard hens in the Queen City of the Ozarks? Springfield, Missouri allows up to six hens per property — no roosters, no permit needed — as long as your coop meets the city's setback and sanitation rules. Here's everything Peggy's Happy Chickens found in the actual city code.

Yes – with conditions

Yes. The City of Springfield allows residents to keep backyard hens. Under Code of Ordinances, Chapter 18, Sec. 18-24, residents may keep no more than six (6) hens per tract of land, regardless of how many homes or apartments are on that tract.

No roosters are permitted at residences inside city limits, and commercial breeding or fertilizer production is prohibited. Chickens may not roam free — they must be confined to an enclosure or fenced area at all times and secured in a henhouse or chicken tractor during non-daylight hours.

Read the ordinance ↗

The rules at a glance

Hens in city limits: Allowed
How many hens: 6
Roosters: No
Permit required: No
Permit cost: Not specified
Setback from property line: 25 ft.

Peggy knows Springfield

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

Setbacks: Enclosures must be located no closer than 3 feet from property lines and at least 25 feet from another residence or business.
Placement: Enclosures must be located to the rear of the dwelling/main structure, and may be required to be in the rear yard per the zoning code.
Construction: Enclosures must provide adequate ventilation, sun, and shade, and must be impermeable to rodents, wild birds, and predators (including dogs and cats).
Sanitation: Enclosures must be kept clean, dry, odor-free, neat, and sanitary at all times; odors from chickens or chicken manure may not be detectable at the property boundary.
Manure: Manure must be stored in a fully enclosed, roofed/lidded structure, with no more than 3 cubic feet stored at a time; all other manure not composted or used as fertilizer must be removed.
Feed/water: Chickens must have access to feed and clean water at all times, though feed/water may be made unavailable during certain hours to reduce pest attraction.
Predator/pest control: Owners must take necessary action to reduce attraction of predators and rodents and prevent infestation of insects/parasites; infested chickens may be removed by an animal control officer.
Noise: All chicken-keeping uses must comply with the noise standards in Sec. 6-1500 of the city zoning ordinance.
Enforcement: Enforcement of the chicken ordinance is complaint-based, and each day a violation continues is treated as a separate offense.

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Springfield

🌡️ Climate

USDA Hardiness Zone 6b/7a — Humid Continental/Subtropical transition

Springfield sees hot, humid summers (often 90°F+) and cold winters with regular freezes and occasional ice storms. Coops should include good cross-ventilation and shade for summer heat, plus a draft-free, insulated or wind-blocked area for winter cold.

🦝 Who's after your hens

RaccoonHawkFoxCoyoteOpossum

Springfield-area flocks face pressure from raccoons and opossums (nighttime coop break-ins), red-tailed hawks (daytime free-range risk), and foxes and coyotes on properties near greenbelts, parks, or the city's edge. The city's own ordinance places responsibility on the owner to take necessary action to reduce the attraction of predators and rodents, so secure, buried-wire, predator-proof coops are essential.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Plymouth Rock, Rhode Island Red, Wyandotte, Orpington, Australorp — all cold-hardy, heat-tolerant dual-purpose breeds well suited to Missouri's seasonal swings.

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

Questions people ask about Springfield

▸How many chickens can I keep in Springfield, MO?

Up to six hens are allowed per tract of land, no matter how many homes or apartments sit on that tract.

▸Are roosters allowed in Springfield?

No. Roosters are not allowed at residences inside Springfield city limits.

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

The city's chicken ordinance (Sec. 18-24) does not establish a permitting process for small backyard flocks of six or fewer hens; owners simply must follow the enclosure, sanitation, and setback rules.

▸How far from my property line or neighbor's house does my coop need to be?

Enclosures must be at least 3 feet from property lines and at least 25 feet from another residence or business.

▸Can my chickens free-range in my yard?

No — chickens must be kept in an enclosure or fenced area at all times and secured in a henhouse or chicken tractor during non-daylight hours.

City rules change, and this page is a summary rather than legal advice. Please confirm with Springfield or your HOA before you order – and call us on (559) 321-7271 if you'd like a hand. Last checked September 6, 2026.