Keeping Chickens in Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky

We’ve compiled a list of major cities and their chicken keeping laws in Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, and Kentucky. Laws are always subject to change, so be sure to visit your city’s website or zoning office to obtain the most up to date information. And, even if you don’t live within city limits, you may be subject to county laws. If you don’t see your city or county of residence listed, contact your appropriate office to verify if there are laws that apply to keeping chickens.

Indiana

There are still several cities in Indiana that prohibit keeping backyard chickens, but those that do allow them are generous with their flock allowances. Permits are required for most cities that do allow chickens.

Bloomington - up to 5 hens; no roosters; permit required
Carmel - up to 6 hens; no roosters; permit required
Evansville - up to 6 hens; no roosters; permit required
Fort Wayne - no chickens allowed
Gary - no official limit; permit required
Hammond - no chickens allowed
Indianapolis - up to 12 hens and 1 rooster; permit may be required
Noblesville - no chickens allowed
South Bend - up to 6 hens; no roosters; permit required

Iowa

Iowa has diverse laws when it comes to keeping chickens. In fact, in Waterloo, residents are required to obtain their neighbor’s consent before getting chickens. Most cities also require permits to own chickens.

Ames - no official limit; permit required
Ankeny - no chickens allowed
Cedar Rapids - up to 6 hens; no roosters; permit required
Council Bluffs - no official limit; permit required
Davenport - up to 6 hens; no roosters; permit required
Des Moines - up to 30 chickens depending on lot size; permit required
Iowa City - up to 4 hens; no roosters; permit required
Sioux City - up to 4 hens; no roosters; permit required
Waterloo - up to 8 hens depending on lot size; no roosters; must obtain neighbor consent before getting chickens
West Des Moines - no chickens allowed

Man crouching down next to an Eglu Cube large chicken coop.

The Eglu Cube chicken coop makes chicken keeping straightforward and fun, perfect for both newbies and advanced hen keepers.

Kansas

Kansas is a chicken-friendly state with a wide range of laws regarding how many chickens you can keep. Some cities allow roosters, and most of the cities on our list require permits to have chickens.

Kansas City - up to 6 hens; no roosters; permit required
Lawrence - up to 20 hens depending on lot size; no roosters
Lenexa - 5 hens per acre, with 1 acre lot being the minimum size; no roosters
Manhattan - no official limit
Olathe - up to 4 hens; no roosters; permit required
Overland Park - limits based on lot size; no roosters on properties smaller than 3 acres; permit required
Salina - up to 15 chickens; permit required
Shawnee - up to 10 hens; no roosters; permit required
Topeka - no official limit; permit required
Wichita - up to 12 chickens; roosters are allowed on lots larger than 10,000sqft; no permit required for 3 chickens or less; permit required for flocks over 3 chickens

Kentucky

Kentucky allows chickens in most cities, but most require permits. On our list, the only city that doesn’t currently allow chickens is Owensboro.

Bowling Green - up to 5 hens; no roosters; permit required
Covington - 8 or more, depending on lot size; no roosters; permit required
Elizabethtown - no official limits
Hopkinsville - no official limit; permit required
Jeffersontown - up 5 hens on lots half an acre or less; additional hens may be obtained on larger lots with permission from the city
Lexington - no official limit
Louisville - up to 6 hens; no roosters; permit required
Nicholasville - no official limit; permit required
Owensboro - no chickens allowed

Omlet and your flock

With sanitary chicken coops in alignment with state recommendations, we’ve got the setups you need to have a thriving backyard flock in compliance with your city. Our mobile chicken coops and walk in chicken runs make it easy to create your hen’s home within the parameters set forth in your area.