Backyard chicken keeping is an exciting adventure. From fresh eggs right outside your door to friendly pets for the family, you’re eager to get started. But just as you’re about to purchase your flock, you run into government hurdles.
In Indiana, you must follow rules on flock size, coop requirements, and permits that often come with fees. Navigating these regulations can feel overwhelming.
We don’t want that excitement to fade, so we’ve compiled a clear list of requirements for every city and county. This way, you’ll know exactly what to expect and can focus on enjoying fresh eggs and raising your flock.
Is It Legal to Have Chickens in Your Backyard in Indiana?
This varies widely depending on where you live. Some cities, like Indianapolis, permit them, while others, like Fort Wayne, strictly prohibit them. Because it depends so much on locality, you must consult with your local planning, zoning, or animal control department to determine what they allow.
To make it easier for you, we’ve compiled a list of several cities and towns, as well as counties in Indiana, and the appropriate contact information. Keep reading below to find out what your area allows.
Do You Need A Permit For Chickens in Indiana?
Yes, many areas, such as Evansville and Gary, Indiana, require permits to keep chickens. Keep reading below to see what your area’s permit requirements are.
How Many Chickens Can I Have in Indiana?
This largely depends on where you live. On average, most areas tend to allow between 2 and 8 chickens. To find out exactly how many chickens you can have in your area, check out your city or county requirements below.
You can browse our chicken coops by number of chickens to find the one that provides enough space for the flock size permitted in your area to ensure compliance with local regulations.
Can I Let My Chickens Free-Range in My Backyard?
No, nearly all cities in Indiana require chickens to be kept in some sort of coop or enclosure. They also often enforce sizing and square footage requirements, which are below.
Our coops come in a range of sizes, styles, and colors to help you comply with local regulations. Check them out below to find the one that matches your requirements.
Can I Have A Rooster In My Backyard in Indiana?
No, roosters are strictly prohibited in nearly all cities unless you have an agriculturally zoned property with enough space to be considered a farm.
Can I Sell My Chicken Eggs in Indiana?
It depends, as some areas do not allow for chickens to be kept for anything other than personal use, meaning you couldn’t sell your eggs. However, some areas may allow you to sell your eggs, provided your property is appropriately zoned and you’ve obtained the required permits.
Please check with the Indiana Department of Agriculture or Board of Animal Health to ensure compliance.
Chicken Laws For Cities in Indiana
Below are several cities in Indiana, along with the appropriate contact information for regulation and permitting. Keep reading to learn exactly what your city or town’s backyard chicken laws are, including specific details regarding the number of chickens, coop size, placement, and more.
Does Anderson, Indiana, Allow Backyard Chickens?
No, keeping chickens is strictly prohibited in all zoning districts in the city. If you’d like to express your opposition to the current zoning regulations, contact the Planning Commission.
Does Bloomington, Indiana, Allow Backyard Chickens?
Yes, but you must obtain a permit from the Animal Care and Control Department. The permit is good for one year and must be renewed annually.
To receive approval on your permit, you must meet the following requirements:
- Have no more than five chickens
- Not keep roosters
- Must be kept in a secure chicken coop
- The chicken coop provides a combined square footage of 12 sq. ft. per chicken
- The coop must be located 20 feet from any building not owned or occupied by you that’s used for human habitation
- Coop must be 12 feet from the property line of any neighboring lot
Contact the Planning & Transportation or Animal Care and Control Department to ensure approval of your permit application.
Does Carmel, Indiana, Allow Backyard Chickens?
You can keep chickens in Carmel, Indiana, but only under the following conditions:
- Up to 6 hens may be kept
- No roosters
- Must be kept in a chicken coop
Your coop must follow zoning regulations for placement and sizing, so consult with the Planning & Zoning Department to ensure compliance with all applicable requirements.
Does Columbus, Indiana, Allow Backyard Chickens?
Yes, you can keep a chicken flock of between 2 and 4 hens and no roosters in Columbus. They must be kept in accordance with the following standards:
- Must be kept in a coop that provides each chicken with at least 4 square feet
- Chicken coop and attached run can not be larger than 32 square feet
- Coop must be located 20 feet from property lines
- The coop or enclosure may not be in the front or side yard of your property
It’s essential to ensure that your flock meets these requirements. Contact the Planning Department for more information regarding keeping a chicken flock in your backyard in the city.
Does Crown Point, Indiana, Allow Backyard Chickens?
It appears that regulations for backyard chickens in Crown Point, Indiana, are not very friendly for homeowners. To determine if you can keep chickens on your property, or to push for more friendly chicken laws, contact the Building & Planning Department.
Does Elkhart, Indiana, Allow Backyard Chickens?
No, chickens are not currently allowed within Elkhart’s city limits. Contact the Planning & Development department to learn more about their regulations or to advocate for change.
Does Evansville, Indiana, Allow Backyard Chickens?
Yes, provided that a permit is submitted certifying that the following regulations are met:
- No more than six chickens may be kept
- Roosters aren’t permitted
- Must be kept in a coop
- Must be located in R1 zoning districts on properties with single-family dwellings
- Chickens must be in a coop with an attached run located in your backyard only
- The coop and run must be 10 feet from any residential structure
- A minimum of 4 square feet in the coop and 6 square feet in the run is required per chicken
- Coop and run cannot exceed 150 square feet in area or 10 feet tall
Contact the Planning & Design department to obtain approval for the permit application.
Does Fishers, Indiana, Allow Backyard Chickens?
In Fisher, your property must be 5 acres or more to keep backyard chickens, which makes it difficult for most homeowners to have them. If you’d like to see the regulations become more friendly, contact the Planning & Zoning Department.
Does Fort Wayne, Indiana, Allow Backyard Chickens?
No, backyard chickens are not permitted within city limits—contact Planning Services to advocate for this to change.
Does Gary, Indiana, Allow Backyard Chickens?
Yes, with the proper permit, backyard chickens are allowed. The permit dictates that you must comply with the following regulations:
- No more than four chickens may be kept
- Chickens are located at least 200 feet from any neighboring dwelling
- Chickens must be kept in a proper coop or enclosure
For more details on applicable regulations or to obtain approval for your permit, reach out to the Planning Department.
Does Goshen, Indiana, Allow Backyard Chickens?
Yes, but they only issue a limited number of permits, 50 to be exact, on a first-come, first-served basis. These permits have a registration fee of $25 that must be paid every two years.
When keeping chickens in Goshen, Indiana, you must meet the following requirements:
- Have no more than six hens on your property
- Keep no roosters
- Only keep them for personal use; selling eggs is prohibited
- Chickens must be kept in a coop with an attached run
- Coop must be 15 feet from property lines and 20 feet from neighboring structures
To inquire about permitting, contact the Planning & Zoning Department.
Does Greenwood, Indiana, Allow Backyard Chickens?
In Greenwood, Indiana, chickens are only permitted in agricultural or suburban fringe-zoned areas. Contact the Planning Department to determine if you can keep chickens on your property.
Does Hammond, Indiana, Allow Backyard Chickens?
No, they are not permitted to be kept in residential areas within the city.
Does Indianapolis, Indiana, Allow Backyard Chickens?
In Marion County, which has a shared government with the city of Indianapolis, backyard chickens are permitted under the following conditions:
- Kept in single-family residential (RS) or urban development zoning districts
- The maximum number of hens is 6
- Hens may only be kept in a fenced-in rear yard
- Chickens must be kept in a coop that’s no larger than 120 square feet or 10 feet tall
- Minimum of 6 square feet of run space provided per chicken
- Roosters are prohibited
- Chicken coops must be setback 3 feet from any building on your property and 25 feet from any residence on a neighboring property
Contact the Department of Metropolitan Development to ensure compliance with all applicable regulations.
Does Jeffersonville, Indiana, Allow Backyard Chickens?
It is unclear. It appears they are permitted, but can be subject to removal if anyone complains, so it may be challenging to keep them. There also seems to be strict setbacks. For clarification on what is allowed, contact the Planning & Zoning Department.
Does Kokomo, Indiana, Allow Backyard Chickens?
According to the Planning Commission, backyard chickens are not regulated as long as they are not permitted to run at large. However, keeping them in a proper coop is still essential so they don’t leave your property and ensure everything is kept clean and quiet so neighbors don’t complain.
Does Lafayette, Indiana, Allow Backyard Chickens?
It appears that Lafayette has recently changed their laws to allow backyard chickens. However, it also seems that this law could go away if there are enough complaints by 2026. For more details, contact the Planning & Zoning department.
Does Lawrence, Indiana, Allow Backyard Chickens?
Yes, they are permitted, but with specific conditions:
- Property must be at least ¼ acre
- A permit must be obtained
- May only be kept for personal use
- Maximum of 6 hens permitted
- No roosters
- Must be kept in a coop or other enclosure
- Coop must be 15 feet from any adjacent neighbor’s property line
The Department of Public Works of the City of Lawrence can provide an annual permit for backyard chicken keeping. You should also certify compliance with zoning regulations with the Zoning Department.
Does Merrillville, Indiana, Allow Backyard Chickens?
It appears that they are not permitted, but the specifics are unclear. Contact the Planning & Building Department to learn more about their backyard chicken laws.
Does Mishawaka, Indiana, Allow Backyard Chickens?
It appears that they are not permitted on properties with less than 5 acres, which makes it difficult for most to keep backyard chickens. To learn more about the city’s requirements or to advocate for change, contact the Planning & Community Development department.
Does Muncie, Indiana, Allow Backyard Chickens?
Muncie, Indiana, currently does not allow chickens in R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, 6-5, or R-6 zoning districts. If you would like to see this change, contact the Community Development Department.
Does New Albany, Indiana, Allow Backyard Chickens?
You may only keep female chickens and are not permitted to run at large, but additional details for keeping them are unclear. To learn more, contact the Planning & Zoning Department.
Does Noblesville, Indiana, Allow Backyard Chickens?
Noblesville does not permit chickens on properties that are not zoned agriculturally. Many residents are petitioning for this to change. If you’d like to support their efforts, contact the Planning Department.
Does Plainfield, Indiana, Allow Backyard Chickens?
You must have at least 2 acres of land to keep backyard chickens in Plainfield, Indiana. This can make it difficult for those on residential properties to keep them. If you’d like to see if you can keep chickens in your backyard, contact the Planning & Zoning Department.
Does Portage, Indiana, Allow Backyard Chickens?
Yes, backyard chickens are permitted in Portage, Indiana, if the following requirements and restrictions are followed:
- No more than five chickens are kept
- No roosters are kept
- Chickens must be kept in a coop with an attached run that provides at least 10 square feet of space per chicken
- Chickens may only be kept in the rear yard
You should also comply with zoning regulations regarding coop placement. Contact the Planning & Community Development Department to ensure compliance with all applicable laws.
Does Richmond, Indiana, Allow Backyard Chickens?
Yes, backyard chickens are permitted in R1, R2, R3, UR, and M1 zoning districts, provided that:
- No more than three chickens are kept
- No roosters are kept
- The lot is at least ⅕ acre
- Must be kept in a chicken coop located in the backyard only and subject to your zoning district’s setback requirements
To ensure all setback requirements are met, contact the Planning & Zoning Department.
Does South Bend, Indiana, Allow Backyard Chickens?
The city of South Bend does allow backyard chickens, with a permit, if:
- No more than six chickens are kept
- Chickens are kept in a coop
- The coop provides at least 2 square feet per chicken
- The chicken coop is 15 feet from any property line
- Coop is 20 feet from any residential dwelling
- Roosters are not permitted
You can obtain the required permits or learn more details from the Planning Department.
Does Terre Haute, Indiana, Allow Backyard Chickens?
Yes, the city does allow backyard chickens, provided that:
- Only a maximum of 8 chickens is permitted
- No roosters are allowed
Additional requirements regarding chicken coop placement, setbacks, and more likely apply. Consult with the Planning Division to ensure compliance.
Does Valparaiso, Indiana, Allow Backyard Chickens?
Yes, chickens can be kept in the city of Valparaiso, Indiana, provided that:
- No more than four chickens are kept
- There are no roosters
- Chickens must be kept in a coop
- The coop must provide at least 10 square feet per chicken
- Chicken coops cannot be larger than 75 square feet or 10 feet tall
- The coop must be 10 feet from all property lines
Contact the Planning Department to ensure all requirements are met.
Does West Lafayette, Indiana, Allow Backyard Chickens?
While there is no code prohibiting chickens, sanitary and nuisance concerns could threaten your ability to keep them. Contact the Land Use & Zoning Department to determine the best way to keep chickens without running into potential violations.
Does Westfield, Indiana, Allow Backyard Chickens?
Chickens are only permitted in rural residential zones on lots of at least 5 acres, which prevents most residents from keeping backyard flocks.
Laws for Keeping Backyard Chickens in Indiana By County
While backyard chicken-keeping laws are most commonly left to local city and town officials, in unincorporated areas, these laws are determined by counties. Below are all the counties in Indiana, as well as the appropriate contact to determine if backyard chickens are allowed and what the requirements are for keeping them.
Find Indiana-Compliant Chicken Coops With Ease
In Indiana, a proper chicken coop is essential, since most cities and counties enforce detailed rules on size, runs, setbacks, and cleanliness. Finding a coop that matches your style and also complies with local laws can feel overwhelming.
At The Hen House Collection, we simplify the process with custom-built coops designed to meet regulations while reflecting your preferences. Choose the size, style, colors, and features you like, then request a quote to get started.
If you prefer something ready-made, explore our in-stock inventory. With a wide range of sizes and styles, it is easy to find the right fit for your backyard flock.
