Regulations
With over 90 municipalities in St. Louis County alone, each having their own regulations and procedures governing residential chicken flocks, it can be overwhelming to find out if you can have them and to go through the process to acquire a permit (if needed). If you would rather put your time and energy into caring for your chickens-not dealing with red tape-we can help make this process easy for you.
If you belong to a neighborhood association, check indentures. If they vary from city ordinance, the more restrictive is to be followed.
Don’t see your municipality listed? We’ll find out your regulations for you. Please contact us for help.
Missouri
Allowed, no limits. As an unincorporated census-designated place in St. Louis County, Affton follows the county ordinances regarding chickens.
Allowed on 1+ acre, with permit if within 150 feet of a building not on your property.
Allowed on 2+ acres.
Allowed, no limits. As an unincorporated census-designated place in Jefferson County, Barnhart follows the county ordinances regarding chickens.
Allowed. No limits. St. Louis County ordinance applies.
Allowed. No limits.
Allowed. No limit.
Not allowed.
Up to 7 allowed with annual permit ($25).
Not allowed.
Up to six hens allowed with permit ($50).
Not allowed
Not allowed.
Up to six allowed with permit.
Up to six hens with permit. More allowed on larger lots.
Up to 6 hens allowed (depending on backyard size) with permit ($10).
Allowed, no limits. As an unincorporated census-designated place in St. Louis County, Castle Point follows the county ordinances regarding chickens.
Allowed, no limits. As an unincorporated census-designated place in Jefferson County, Cedar Hill follows the county ordinances regarding chickens.
Allowed only if zoned agricultural.
Allowed on 2+ acres.
Allowed on 3+ acres.
Up to 10 hens allowed with permit ($50, good for 3 years). Additional regulations addressing coop location, craftsmanship, and visibility, as well as maintenance can be found here:
https://ecode360.com/27564464
Allowed, no limits. As an unincorporated census-designated place in St. Louis County, Concord follows the county ordinances regarding chickens.
Not allowed.
Up to four hens allowed.
Up to five hens allowed with permit. $10 fee
Up to 8 hens allowed on lots .17+ acres. One additional hen allowed for each 2500 additional square feet, up to 12 hens.
Up to three chickens allowed (as part of the 3 pet limit).
Allowed
Allowed on lots of 3+ acres zoned R1-A.
Up to four hens allowed. St. Charles County ordinances apply.
Up to six hens allowed with permit.
Allowed on 4+ acres. Limit of one per 1/5 acre.
Up to four hens allowed with permit ($10).
Not allowed in city limits, but people have approached the board to change the ordinance.
Six hens allowed on .23+ acres.
Allowed. No limits for R-1 and R-2 zones. Limit of 6 fowl in R-3 and R-4 Districts. See here for details.
Up to six hens allowed on lots less than 10,000 square feet, with permit ($3/hen). One additional hen allowed per additional 10,000 square feet.
Up to four hens allowed with permit on 1/2+ acre lots.
Not allowed in city limits.
Up to four hens allowed with permit.
Allowed
Allowed, no limits.
Up to five hens allowed with permit.
Allowed, no limits. As an unincorporated census-designated place in St. Louis County, Glasgow Village follows the county ordinances regarding chickens.
Allowed with permit.
Up to four hens allowed with permit.
Not allowed.
Not Allowed.
Up to four hens allowed. St. Charles County ordinances apply.
Not allowed in city limits.
Allowed with permit. (Significant Restrictions)
Allowed with permit on 1+ acre lots, must be 200 ft from adjacent dwellings.
Allowed, no limits. As an unincorporated census-designated place in Jefferson County, House Springs follows the county ordinances regarding chickens.
Not allowed
Allowed, no limits. As an unincorporated census-designated place in Jefferson County, Imperial follows the Jefferson County ordinances regarding chickens.
Allowed, no limits.
Not allowed
Allowed, no limits.
Allowed, no limits.
Allowed. No limits.
Up to four allowed.
Not allowed in Lake St. Louis Community Association.
Allowed, no limits. As an unincorporated census-designated place in St. Louis County, Lemay follows the county ordinances regarding chickens.
Allowed on 2+ acres.
Up to six hens allowed with permit.
Allowed only if zoned Agricultural.
Up to 4 hens allowed on residential properties.
Up to four hens allowed. St. Charles County ordinances apply.
Allowed, no limits. As an unincorporated census-designated place in St. Louis County, Mehlville follows the county ordinances regarding chickens.
Not Allowed.
Not Allowed.
Allowed
Not Allowed.
Allowed, no limits. As an unincorporated census-designated place in St. Louis County, Oakville follows the county ordinances regarding chickens.
Allowed, no limits. As an unincorporated census-designated place in St. Louis County, Old Jamestown follows the county ordinances regarding chickens.
Allowed
Up to four hens allowed. St. Charles County ordinances apply.
8 hens allowed on 5500+ sq. ft. of unimproved land.
Allowed only in areas zoned non-urban (NU).
Not Allowed.
Allowed
Up to five hens allowed with permit ($25).
Up to eight hens allowed with permit ($15).
Up to 6 hens allowed with permit (3 years, $30 inspection). Coop regulations apply. See ordinance here.
Allowed, no limits. As an unincorporated census-designated place in St. Louis County, Sappington follows the county ordinances regarding chickens.
Up to five hens allowed with permit ($30).
Allowed, no limits. As an unincorporated census-designated place in St. Louis County, Spanish Lake follows the county ordinances regarding chickens.
Not currently allowed, but a legal challenge to the ordinance is in process.
Allowed. 8-12 hens, depending on lot size.
Up to four hens allowed as part of a four pet total. See ordinance here
Not allowed in city limits.
Allowed, no limits. As an unincorporated census-designated place in St. Louis County, St. George follows the county ordinances regarding chickens.
Up to eight hens allowed under 2017 Chicken Ordinance
Allowed. No limits.
Allowed, no limits.
Not allowed
Allowed. No limits.
Not Allowed.
Not Allowed.
Not Allowed.
Up to seven hens allowed with permit ($50) and quarterly inspections ($25/ea.)
Allowed with permit ($10).
Not Allowed.
Not currently allowed, but they are revisiting the ordinance due to the volume of requests for backyard chickens.
Up to 15 allowed with permit.
Allowed, no limits.
Allowed
Not Allowed.
Not Allowed.
Up to eight hens allowed on 5,500 square feet unimproved land with permit ($30).
Allowed in AG district only.
Not Allowed.
Allowed
Not Allowed.
Allowed on non-urban (NU) and R-1 zoned lots that are 5+ acres. Accommodations possible for smaller lots.
Not Allowed.
Allowed
Illinois
Up to 5 hens allowed with permit ($25).
Not Allowed
Allowed with permit ($50, limited to 75 permits total). Limit of 6 hens.
Allowed on limited basis during a 2 year trial period starting in 2018. Permits are $50 the first year and $25/year after.
Allowed
Not Allowed
Not allowed in city limits
3 hens allowed, included in total pet limit.
Up to 5 allowed with permit ($300).
Up to six with permit ($25)
Not Allowed
Allowed if zoned Agricultural (unlimited) or Rural Residential (6 hens per acre, limit of 12)
Not allowed.
Four hens allowed with annual permit ($10)
Allowed only in agricultural zone
Not Allowed
Not allowed.