Arkansas Backyard Chicken Laws: Permits by County and City

Overview of Arkansas Chicken Laws

How Many Chickens Can You Have in Arkansas City Limits?

There is no statewide hen limit. Cities and zoning districts set the number. Fort Smith allows up to 20 ducks and hens on lots from about one-half acre to five acres, in a fenced rear yard. Fayetteville scales hens to lot size and uses a city permit. Springdale generally limits backyard flocks to agricultural zoning and bars them in platted subdivisions. Smaller towns often use a 4–10 hen cap. County land outside a city is usually more open.

Are Roosters Allowed in Arkansas Residential Areas?

Often no in the larger cities. Fort Smith bans roosters. Fayetteville and Springdale do the same in ordinary residential districts. Unincorporated agricultural land is usually more open. An HOA or deed covenant can still ban birds where the city allows them.

Arkansas Major Cities Ordinances

Little Rock, AR

Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not required | Setback: Not specified

Springdale, AR

Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not required | Setback: Not specified

Fayetteville, AR

Hen Limit: 4 fowl on any lot; 1 more per 1,250 sq ft over 5,000 sq ft, up to 20 | Roosters: Not Allowed | Permit: Not required | Setback: 25 ft from a neighboring residence; side or rear yard

Rogers, AR

Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not required | Setback: Not specified

Fort Smith, AR

Hen Limit: Up to 20 hens or ducks on lots 21,780 sq ft to 5 acres | Roosters: Not Allowed | Permit: Not required | Setback: 25 ft from an adjacent residential structure; fenced rear yard

Conway, AR

Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not required | Setback: Not specified

Hot Springs, AR

Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not required | Setback: Not specified

Jonesboro, AR

Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not required | Setback: Not specified

North Little Rock, AR

Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not required | Setback: Not specified

Benton, AR

Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not required | Setback: Not specified

Official Sources & Data Integrity

We reference Arkansas municipal bylaws and ordinances from verified platforms like ecode360.com, municode.com, and local government websites at the time of publication. You can review state-level rules via the Arkansas Department of Agriculture — Poultry

Note: Not specified means the city code does not set that number. No publicly available ordinance data means no hen, rooster, permit, or setback rule was found in the city’s published code.

⚠️ Important: Arkansas ordinances may change without notice. Always verify the current rules with your local jurisdiction before even building your coop.

Arkansas Ordinances by City & County

Arkansas County, AR

Stuttgart, AR

Stuttgart, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Ashley County, AR

Crossett, AR

Crossett, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Baxter County, AR

Mountain Home, AR

Mountain Home, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Benton County, AR

Bella Vista, AR

Bella Vista, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Bentonville, AR

Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens per single-family dwelling | Roosters: Not Allowed | Permit: Not required | Setback: 25 ft from neighboring dwellings; rear or side yard

Cave Springs, AR

Cave Springs, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Centerton, AR

Centerton, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Gentry, AR

Gentry, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Gravette, AR

Hen Limit: 4 hens on lots 5,000 sq ft or less; 1 more per 1,250 sq ft up to 10 | Roosters: Not Allowed | Permit: Not required | Setback: Not specified

Lowell, AR

Lowell, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Pea Ridge, AR

Pea Ridge, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Siloam Springs, AR

Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not required | Setback: 100 ft from any residence other than the owner’s

Boone County, AR

Harrison, AR

Harrison, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Bradley County, AR

Warren, AR

Warren, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Carroll County, AR

Berryville, AR

Berryville, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Eureka Springs, AR

Eureka Springs, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Green Forest, AR

Green Forest, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Clark County, AR

Arkadelphia, AR

Arkadelphia, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Cleburne County, AR

Heber Springs, AR

Heber Springs, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Columbia County, AR

Magnolia, AR

Magnolia, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Conway County, AR

Morrilton, AR

Morrilton, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Craighead County, AR

Bono, AR

Bono, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Brookland, AR

Brookland, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Crawford County, AR

Alma, AR

Alma, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Van Buren, AR

Van Buren, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Crittenden County, AR

Marion, AR

Marion, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

West Memphis, AR

West Memphis, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Cross County, AR

Wynne, AR

Wynne, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Drew County, AR

Monticello, AR

Monticello, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Faulkner County, AR

Greenbrier, AR

Greenbrier, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Vilonia, AR

Vilonia, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Franklin County, AR

Ozark, AR

Ozark, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Garland County, AR

Hot Springs Village, AR

Hot Springs Village, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Grant County, AR

Sheridan, AR

Sheridan, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Greene County, AR

Paragould, AR

Paragould, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Hempstead County, AR

Hope, AR

Hope, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Hot Spring County, AR

Malvern, AR

Malvern, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Howard County, AR

Nashville, AR

Nashville, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Independence County, AR

Batesville, AR

Batesville, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Jackson County, AR

Newport, AR

Newport, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Jefferson County, AR

Pine Bluff, AR

Pine Bluff, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

White Hall, AR

White Hall, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Johnson County, AR

Clarksville, AR

Clarksville, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Lawrence County, AR

Walnut Ridge, AR

Walnut Ridge, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Lincoln County, AR

Star City, AR

Star City, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Little River County, AR

Ashdown, AR

Ashdown, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Logan County, AR

Booneville, AR

Booneville, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Lonoke County, AR

Austin, AR

Austin, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Cabot, AR

Cabot, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Lonoke, AR

Lonoke, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Ward, AR

Ward, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Madison County, AR

Huntsville, AR

Huntsville, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Marion County, AR

Yellville, AR

Yellville, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Miller County, AR

Texarkana, AR

Texarkana, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Mississippi County, AR

Blytheville, AR

Blytheville, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Osceola, AR

Osceola, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Ouachita County, AR

Camden, AR

Camden, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Phillips County, AR

West Helena, AR

West Helena, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Poinsett County, AR

Trumann, AR

Trumann, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Polk County, AR

Mena, AR

Mena, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Pope County, AR

Atkins, AR

Atkins, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Dover, AR

Dover, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Russellville, AR

Russellville, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Pulaski County, AR

Jacksonville, AR

Jacksonville, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Maumelle, AR

Maumelle, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Sherwood, AR

Sherwood, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Randolph County, AR

Pocahontas, AR

Pocahontas, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Saline County, AR

Alexander, AR

Alexander, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Bryant, AR

Bryant, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Mabelvale, AR

Mabelvale, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Scott County, AR

Waldron, AR

Waldron, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Sebastian County, AR

Greenwood, AR

Greenwood, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Sevier County, AR

De Queen, AR

De Queen, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

St. Francis County, AR

Forrest City, AR

Forrest City, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Stone County, AR

Mountain View, AR

Mountain View, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Union County, AR

El Dorado, AR

El Dorado, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Van Buren County, AR

Clinton, AR

Clinton, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Washington County, AR

Elkins, AR

Elkins, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Farmington, AR

Farmington, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Prairie Grove, AR

Prairie Grove, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

West Fork, AR

West Fork, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

White County, AR

Beebe, AR

Beebe, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Judsonia, AR

Judsonia, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Searcy, AR

Searcy, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Yell County, AR

Dardanelle, AR

Dardanelle, AR has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Unincorporated Areas & Rural Counties

Arkansas leaves hen counts to cities and counties. Outside city limits, poultry is usually a zoning question, not a statewide cap. Agricultural districts are often open: no posted hen number, roosters more often allowed, and no county flock license for a home flock.

A suburban or PUD district in the same county can be as tight as Fayetteville or Fort Smith. Extra-territorial planning belts can pull a rural parcel under city setbacks.

Zoning, Permits, Coops, and HOAs

There is no statewide backyard poultry license. A recorded covenant can ban birds where the city allows them. Search the deed and plat before you build. Confirm any building permit for a permanent coop with planning or code enforcement.

Selling Backyard Eggs in Arkansas

Small flocks can sell shell eggs direct to the end consumer. Keep the sale personal-use unless you meet Arkansas Department of Agriculture egg-handler rules. Farm-gate and farmers-market cartons fit that path. Wholesale to a store does not.

Label the carton with the producer name and address. Hold eggs clean and cold. A city hen permit is not an egg license. Fayetteville’s urban-ag rules can still limit on-site sales even when state egg rules allow a farm-gate carton.

Arkansas Poultry Slaughter Rules

Birds you raise and process for your household, nonpaying guests, and employees follow the household exemption under federal poultry inspection rules. Do not sell that meat.

Meat for sale must go through an inspected plant or a federal small-producer exemption (1,000 or 20,000 birds a year) with limits on where you can sell. Fayetteville and Bentonville bar outdoor slaughter. Other cities can do the same. Ask the local animal or health office before you process a bird on the lot.

Essential Guides for Backyard Chicken Success

Since Arkansas zoning often focuses on drainage, our elevated coop plans ensure your run stays dry during heavy spring rains while meeting local permit rules. For ongoing care, view our Ultimate Backyard Chicken Coop Management Guide.