Backyard Chickens in Terre Haute, Indiana

Can you keep chickens in Terre Haute?

Thinking about raising hens in the Crossroads of America? Terre Haute legalized backyard chickens in 2019, letting residents in R-1 and R-2 neighborhoods keep up to eight licensed hens — no roosters — as long as coop placement, lot size, and licensing rules are followed.

Yes – with conditions

Yes. Terre Haute permits backyard chickens inside city limits. The Common Council passed General Ordinance No. 6, 2019 in December 2019, which added new chicken-keeping rules to Chapter 6, Article 4 of the Terre Haute City Code (§§ 6-69, 6-72.1, 6-75, and 6-82). A 'Chicken Flock' is legally defined as one or more chickens that contains no more than eight (8) hens and no roosters, is issued a license by the City of Terre Haute, and resides in an area zoned as Residential 1 or 2 (R1 or R2) or equivalent. Per the City Clerk's current licensing page, residential properties keeping chickens must be zoned R-1 or R-2, include an occupied house, and the chicken lot must be at least 4,800 square feet in size, with only one licensed flock allowed per address.

Read the ordinance ↗

The rules at a glance

Hens in city limits: Allowed
How many hens: 8
Roosters: No
Permit required: Yes
Permit cost: $50
Setback from property line: 5 ft.

Peggy knows Terre Haute

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

Terre Haute's coop and run standards (Terre Haute City Code § 6-82) require harborers of chicken flocks to:

raise chickens on a lot that exceeds 4,800 square feet, and the coop must have at least a 6-foot fence surrounding it.
have a coop at least five feet away from property lines and 20 feet away from neighboring homes, and keep a maximum of eight hens with no roosters permitted.
Provide a combined coop-and-run space of at least six square feet per chicken, keep the coop and run clean, dry, and odor-free, and provide shelter, ventilation, sun/shade, feed and clean water protected from predators and rodents.
Keep all chickens completely enclosed on the owner's property at all times, refrain from slaughtering any chicken within city limits, and screen the coop/run with a sight fence or shrubs if visible to adjoining lots.
Obtain a license issued by the City of Terre Haute — a two-year license is required, currently costing $50 per the City Clerk's office, and covering a single flock per address/individual.
Violations can result in fines up to $250/day for a first offense and up to $2,500/day for repeat offenses, plus possible license revocation and removal of the birds.

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Terre Haute

🌡️ Climate

USDA Hardiness Zone 6a/6b

Terre Haute sits in a humid continental climate with cold, often snowy winters and hot, humid summers. Coops should be insulated or have supplemental heat sources for winter, along with good summer ventilation and shade to handle Wabash Valley humidity.

🦝 Who's after your hens

RaccoonHawkFoxCoyoteOpossumSkunk

Backyard flocks in the Terre Haute area commonly face raccoons and opossums raiding coops at night, hawks during the day, and foxes, coyotes, and skunks that may target birds or eggs, especially near the Wabash River corridor and wooded lots. The city's required predator-proof coop/run construction and secure enclosure rules help mitigate these risks.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

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

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

Questions people ask about Terre Haute

▸How many chickens can I keep in Terre Haute?

Up to eight (8) hens per property. Roosters are not allowed, and only one chicken flock is permitted per address or individual.

▸Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Terre Haute?

Yes. You must obtain a Chicken Flock License from the City of Terre Haute Clerk's Office. The license is valid for two years and currently costs $50.

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

The coop must be located at least 20 feet from any building not owned or occupied by the harborer that is used for human habitation, and at least 5 feet from the property line of any adjoining lot.

▸What zoning do I need to keep chickens?

Your property must be zoned Residential 1 (R-1) or Residential 2 (R-2), or an equivalent classification, and must include an occupied house. Zoning classification (not the tax assessment class) can be confirmed via the city's GIS portal or the Engineering Department.

▸Is there a minimum lot size for keeping chickens?

Yes. The property must be at least 4,800 square feet to keep a chicken flock, and the coop/run area must be enclosed with at least a 6-foot fence.

City rules change, and this page is a summary rather than legal advice. Please confirm with Terre Haute or your HOA before you order – and call us on (559) 321-7271 if you'd like a hand. Last checked September 18, 2026.