Backyard Chickens in Urbandale, Iowa

Can you keep chickens in Urbandale?

Thinking about keeping a couple of hens in Urbandale, Iowa? The city permits a small backyard flock — up to two hens — but only with an annual permit, a completed chicken-keeping class, and a predator-proof henhouse set well back from your neighbors. Here's exactly what Urbandale's ordinance requires before you bring home your birds.

Yes – with conditions

Yes, Urbandale allows backyard chickens, but under a fairly restrictive permit system codified at § 160.68 "Urban Chickens" of the Urbandale Municipal Code (adopted by Ordinance 2022-17). Residents may keep a maximum of two (2) female chickens on an owner-occupied, single-family detached property in a residential zoning district, but only after obtaining an annual permit from the Code Enforcement Officer. Roosters are strictly prohibited, and chickens may not be kept on rental, multi-family, or vacant/uninhabited property.

Read the ordinance ↗

The rules at a glance

Hens in city limits: Allowed
How many hens: 2
Roosters: No
Permit required: Yes
Permit cost: $30
Setback from property line: 10 ft.

Peggy knows Urbandale

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

Urbandale's ordinance (§ 160.68) imposes detailed henhouse and pen requirements:

Location: Henhouses and chicken pens must be located in the rear yard only, at least 10 feet from the property line and at least 25 feet from any adjacent residential principal structure.
Size: A minimum of 4 square feet of henhouse space per bird is required.
Construction: The henhouse must be fully enclosed with a roof and lockable doors, built of uniform materials (no scrap, waste board, or sheet metal), and windows/vents must be covered with predator- and bird-proof wire of 1-inch openings or smaller.
Confinement: Chickens must be kept in an enclosure or fenced area at all times and secured in the henhouse during non-daylight hours; free-ranging is not permitted.
Sanitation: Enclosures must stay clean, dry, odor-free, and sanitary; no more than 3 cubic feet of manure may be stored on-site, and it must be kept in a fully enclosed, roofed/lidded structure.
Odor/Noise: Odors and noise from the chickens may not be perceptible/disturbing beyond the property boundary.
Permit requirements: The applicant must own and occupy the single-family home, complete an approved chicken-keeping class, and pay the permit fee. The permit is annual, non-transferable to renters, and can be denied, suspended, or revoked for violations. If denied or revoked, the owner cannot reapply for one year.
Prohibited: Roosters, indoor keeping (chickens must be in an approved henhouse, not the dwelling), slaughtering outside licensed poultry facilities, breeding/commercial use, and keeping chickens on vacant property.

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Urbandale

🌡️ Climate

USDA Hardiness Zone 5b

Urbandale sits in the Des Moines metro area, which falls in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b, part of Iowa's humid continental climate with hot summers and cold winters. Average lows dip into the teens in January while summer highs reach the mid-80s°F, so coops need solid insulation and ventilation to handle both freezing winters and humid summer heat.

🦝 Who's after your hens

RaccoonHawkFoxCoyoteOpossum

Suburban Des Moines-metro yards like those in Urbandale commonly see raccoons, red-tailed hawks, red foxes, coyotes, and opossums, all of which can threaten small backyard flocks, especially at dusk and overnight — which is exactly why the city's ordinance requires predator-proof, secured henhouses with fine wire mesh over any openings.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Cold-hardy, dual-purpose breeds do best in Urbandale's zone 5b winters: Rhode Island Red, Plymouth Rock, Wyandotte, Buff Orpington, and Australorp are all known for winter hardiness and calm temperaments suited to small backyard flocks.

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

Questions people ask about Urbandale

▸How many chickens can I keep in Urbandale?

Urbandale's ordinance caps backyard flocks at a maximum of two (2) female chickens per permitted property (§ 160.68(B)).

▸Are roosters allowed in Urbandale?

No. Urbandale's code explicitly states that no person shall keep a rooster (§ 160.68(J)(5)).

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

Yes. An annual permit from the Code Enforcement Officer is required before raising, harboring, or keeping chickens, and the applicant must also complete an approved chicken-keeping class and be the owner-occupant of a single-family home.

▸How far must my henhouse be from property lines and neighboring homes?

Henhouses and chicken pens must be located in the rear yard only, at least 10 feet from the property line and at least 25 feet from any adjacent residential principal structure.

▸Can renters keep chickens in Urbandale?

No. The permit requirements specify that the property must contain only one single-family dwelling that is owned and occupied by the permittee, so renters and multi-family properties are not eligible.

City rules change, and this page is a summary rather than legal advice. Please confirm with Urbandale or your HOA before you order – and call us on (559) 321-7271 if you'd like a hand. Last checked September 1, 2026.