Backyard Chickens in Wildwood, Missouri

Can you keep chickens in Wildwood?

Thinking about raising backyard chickens in Wildwood, Missouri? Because Wildwood treats chicken-keeping as a zoning/land-use matter rather than a simple permit, whether you can legally keep hens depends heavily on your property's zoning district and lot size — not a citywide hen limit. Read on for what Wildwood's Zoning Ordinance actually requires before you build that coop.

Yes – with conditions

Wildwood, Missouri does not have a stand-alone "backyard chicken" ordinance with a simple hen-count limit like many nearby municipalities. Instead, the keeping of chickens is regulated indirectly through the City's Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 415) as part of the "Farming" land use.

The Zoning Code defines a "DOMESTIC ANIMAL" (§ 415.030(C)) as "any domesticated animal, such as cattle, horses, llamas, goats, sheep, fowl or hogs, which is authorized as part of a permitted farming or related agricultural activity within the subject zoning district designation where the property is located." "Farming, including the cultivation and sale of any plant crops and domestic animals" is listed as a permitted use only in the "NU" Non-Urban Residence District (§ 415.090(B)(6)) and the "R-1" One-Acre Residence District (§ 415.110(B)(4)).

Farming (and therefore chicken/fowl keeping) is not listed as a permitted, conditional, or accessory use in the higher-density "R-1A," "R-2," "R-3," "R-4," or "R-6A" Residence Districts, which cover most standard suburban subdivisions in Wildwood. In those districts, keeping chickens is effectively not authorized.

Where farming is a permitted use (NU or R-1), it is not on the district's specific minimum-lot-area chart, so it falls under the district's catch-all provision: "All other permitted or conditional land uses in this district shall be situated or conducted on tracts of land at least five (5) acres in area" (§ 415.090(G)(1)(a)f. and § 415.110(G)(1)(a)f.). In practical terms, this means a resident generally needs a lot of at least five (5) acres zoned NU or R-1 to lawfully keep chickens as a farming use.

Separately, the City's Animal Regulations chapter (Ch. 205) references "fowl" only in the context of the no-feeding-of-wildlife ordinance (§ 205.015), confirming that keeping of fowl is treated as a zoning/land-use matter rather than a general animal-control permit matter.

Read the ordinance ↗

The rules at a glance

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

Peggy knows Wildwood

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

The Zoning Ordinance does not contain a chicken-coop-specific setback or size standard (unlike its treatment of "private stables," which must be at least 100 feet from any property line under § 415.090(G)(4)(j) and § 415.110(G)(4)(i) in the NU and R-1 Districts). For a coop or other accessory structure housing fowl, the City's general accessory-structure rules would apply, including standard side/rear yard setbacks for the applicable district (e.g., 30 feet side/rear in "NU," 15 feet side/30 feet rear in "R-1") and the accessory-building size caps in §§ 415.090(D)(2) and 415.110(D)(5). Any coop or barn is considered an "accessory structure" and would require a building permit under § 415.540. Because farming (and fowl-keeping) is only a permitted use on qualifying NU or R-1 zoned properties of roughly 5+ acres, residents on smaller or more densely zoned lots should confirm with the City's Department of Planning before acquiring chickens, as enforcement would treat unauthorized fowl-keeping as a zoning-code violation rather than a simple animal-permit issue.

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Wildwood

🌡️ Climate

Humid Continental (Köppen Cfa) — USDA Hardiness Zone 6b/7a

Wildwood, located in western St. Louis County, experiences hot, humid summers (often 85–95°F with high humidity) and cold winters that can dip into the teens or single digits. Chicken keepers should plan for good summer ventilation and shade in coops, plus winter wind-blocking and insulation, along with frost-free water access in colder months.

🦝 Who's after your hens

RaccoonHawkFoxCoyoteOpossumSnake

Wildwood's mix of wooded lots, creeks, and rural-suburban terrain in western St. Louis County supports healthy populations of raccoons, red-tailed hawks, coyotes, foxes, opossums, and rat snakes — all of which are known backyard-flock predators in the region. Secure, fully-enclosed coops and runs with buried hardware cloth are strongly recommended given the area's semi-rural predator pressure.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Plymouth Rock, Rhode Island Red, Wyandotte, Australorp, and Orpington — all cold-hardy, dual-purpose breeds that tolerate Missouri's humid summers and cold winters well.

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

Questions people ask about Wildwood

▸Can I keep chickens on a typical suburban lot in Wildwood?

Likely not. Wildwood's Zoning Ordinance only permits "Farming" (which covers keeping of domestic fowl) in the "NU" Non-Urban Residence and "R-1" One-Acre Residence Districts, and generally requires at least 5 acres for that use. Standard subdivision zoning (R-1A, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-6A) does not list farming or fowl-keeping as an allowed use.

▸Is there a maximum number of hens allowed in Wildwood?

No specific numeric hen limit is written into the code. Instead, whether chickens are allowed at all depends on zoning district and minimum lot size, generally around 5 acres in a qualifying NU or R-1 zoned parcel.

▸Are roosters allowed in Wildwood?

The code does not separately address roosters versus hens — both fall under the general "fowl"/"domestic animal" category. Where farming use is permitted (qualifying NU or R-1 lots), roosters would appear to be allowed under the same conditions as hens, though nuisance/noise complaints could still be pursued under other City nuisance provisions.

▸Do I need a permit specifically to keep chickens in Wildwood?

There is no chicken-specific permit. However, any coop or barn built to house fowl is an accessory structure requiring a standard building permit, and the underlying land use (farming) must be zoning-compliant.

▸What setback does a chicken coop need from the property line?

No chicken-coop-specific setback exists in the code. General accessory-structure setbacks for the applicable residence district would apply, and the stricter 100-foot setback used for private stables (horses) may be instructive but is not explicitly required for poultry structures.

City rules change, and this page is a summary rather than legal advice. Please confirm with Wildwood or your HOA before you order – and call us on (559) 321-7271 if you'd like a hand. Last checked September 17, 2026.