Indiana Backyard Chicken Laws: Permits by County and City
Last Updated:
How many chickens can I have in Indiana city limits?
There is no statewide hen cap. Each city or town sets its own number. Indianapolis allows up to 12 hens and one rooster. Bloomington allows up to 5 hens with an annual permit and no roosters. Evansville and South Bend allow up to 6 hens with a permit and no roosters. Lafayette allows up to 5 hens with a free permit. Fort Wayne does not have a simple published by-right hen rule. Greenwood and Elkhart restrict chickens as farm animals inside ordinary city lots. An HOA can still ban birds where the city allows them.
Indiana Major Cities Ordinances
Indianapolis, IN
Hen Limit: Up to 12 hens | Roosters: Allowed (1 per lot; enclosed dusk to dawn) | Permit: Not required | Setback: Accessory-structure setbacks
Fort Wayne, IN
Hen Limit: Not specified as a by-right residential cap in the adopted code we opened | Roosters: Not Allowed in the 2023 urban-chicken draft | Permit: Planning approval still required for farm animals unless an urban-chicken ordinance is in force | Setback: Not specified
Evansville, IN
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not Allowed | Permit: Required ($5 per premises) | Setback: 50 ft from a neighbor’s dwelling
South Bend, IN
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens (single-family only) | Roosters: Not Allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 15 ft from property lines; 20 ft from any dwelling
Lafayette, IN
Hen Limit: Up to 5 hens | Roosters: Not Allowed | Permit: Required (free) | Setback: 10 ft from property lines; 20 ft from another dwelling
Greenwood, IN
Hen Limit: Not allowed in ordinary residential districts (livestock/poultry limited to agricultural or suburban-fringe zoning)
Elkhart, IN
Elkhart, IN has a published ban on farm animals, including chickens, within city limits
Fishers, IN
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not required | Setback: Not specified
Carmel, IN
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not Allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: Not specified in the 2014 hen allowance we could confirm
Bloomington, IN
Hen Limit: Up to 5 hens | Roosters: Not Allowed | Permit: Required (annual, no fee) | Setback: 12 ft from property lines; 20 ft from another dwelling
Official Sources & Data Integrity
We reference Indiana 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 Indiana Small Flock & Exhibition Poultry page
When a city or county has no published ordinance available, we state “no publicly available ordinance data.” This does not mean chickens are banned — only that we could not locate a citable published rule. See our disclaimer below.
⚠️ Important: Indiana ordinances may change without notice. Always verify the current rules with your local jurisdiction and any HOA before you keep chickens.
Indiana Ordinances by City & County
Adams County, IN
Berne, IN
Berne, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Decatur, IN
Decatur, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Allen County, IN
Huntertown, IN
Huntertown, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Leo, IN
Leo, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
New Haven, IN
New Haven, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Bartholomew County, IN
Columbus, IN
Columbus, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Blackford County, IN
Hartford City, IN
Hartford City, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Boone County, IN
Lebanon, IN
Lebanon, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Whitestown, IN
Whitestown, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Zionsville, IN
Zionsville, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Brown County, IN
Nashville, IN
Nashville, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Morgantown, IN
Morgantown, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Carroll County, IN
Delphi, IN
Delphi, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Cass County, IN
Logansport, IN
Logansport, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Clark County, IN
Charlestown, IN
Charlestown, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Clarksville, IN
Clarksville, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Jeffersonville, IN
Jeffersonville, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Sellersburg, IN
Sellersburg, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Clay County, IN
Brazil, IN
Brazil, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Clinton County, IN
Frankfort, IN
Frankfort, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Daviess County, IN
Montgomery, IN
Montgomery, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Washington, IN
Washington, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Dearborn County, IN
Aurora, IN
Aurora, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Lawrenceburg, IN
Lawrenceburg, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
West Harrison, IN
West Harrison, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Decatur County, IN
Greensburg, IN
Greensburg, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
DeKalb County, IN
Auburn, IN
Auburn, IN has a published ban on poultry as farm animals within city limits
Garrett, IN
Garrett, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Delaware County, IN
Muncie, IN
Muncie, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Yorktown, IN
Yorktown, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Dubois County, IN
Huntingburg, IN
Huntingburg, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Jasper, IN
Jasper, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Elkhart County, IN
Bristol, IN
Bristol, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Goshen, IN
Goshen, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Middlebury, IN
Middlebury, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Nappanee, IN
Nappanee, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Fayette County, IN
Connersville, IN
Connersville, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Floyd County, IN
Floyds Knobs, IN
Floyds Knobs, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Georgetown, IN
Georgetown, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
New Albany, IN
New Albany, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Fountain County, IN
Attica, IN
Attica, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Franklin County, IN
Brookville, IN
Brookville, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Fulton County, IN
Rochester, IN
Rochester, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Gibson County, IN
Princeton, IN
Princeton, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Grant County, IN
Gas City, IN
Gas City, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Marion, IN
Marion, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Greene County, IN
Bloomfield, IN
Bloomfield, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Linton, IN
Linton, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Hamilton County, IN
Carmel and Fishers are listed under Major Cities.
Cicero, IN
Cicero, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Fortville, IN
Fortville, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Noblesville, IN
Noblesville, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Sheridan, IN
Sheridan, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Westfield, IN
Westfield, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Hancock County, IN
Greenfield, IN
Greenfield, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
McCordsville, IN
McCordsville, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
New Palestine, IN
New Palestine, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Harrison County, IN
Corydon, IN
Corydon, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Hendricks County, IN
Avon, IN
Avon, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Brownsburg, IN
Brownsburg, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Danville, IN
Danville, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Pittsboro, IN
Pittsboro, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Plainfield, IN
Plainfield, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Henry County, IN
Middletown, IN
Middletown, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
New Castle, IN
New Castle, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Howard County, IN
Greentown, IN
Greentown, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Kokomo, IN
Kokomo, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Huntington County, IN
Huntington, IN
Huntington, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Roanoke, IN
Roanoke, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Jackson County, IN
Seymour, IN
Seymour, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Jasper County, IN
DeMotte, IN
DeMotte, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Rensselaer, IN
Rensselaer, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Wheatfield, IN
Wheatfield, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Jay County, IN
Portland, IN
Portland, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Jefferson County, IN
Madison, IN
Madison, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Jennings County, IN
North Vernon, IN
North Vernon, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Johnson County, IN
Greenwood is listed under Major Cities.
Bargersville, IN
Bargersville, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Edinburgh, IN
Edinburgh, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Franklin, IN
Franklin, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Trafalgar, IN
Trafalgar, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Whiteland, IN
Whiteland, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Knox County, IN
Vincennes, IN
Vincennes, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Kosciusko County, IN
Syracuse, IN
Syracuse, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Warsaw, IN
Warsaw, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
LaGrange County, IN
Lagrange, IN
Lagrange, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Shipshewana, IN
Shipshewana, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Topeka, IN
Topeka, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Wolcottville, IN
Wolcottville, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Lake County, IN
Cedar Lake, IN
Cedar Lake, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Crown Point, IN
Crown Point, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Dyer, IN
Dyer, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
East Chicago, IN
East Chicago, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Gary, IN
Gary, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Griffith, IN
Griffith, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Hammond, IN
Hammond, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Highland, IN
Highland, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Hobart, IN
Hobart, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Lake Station, IN
Lake Station, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Lowell, IN
Lowell, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Merrillville, IN
Merrillville, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Munster, IN
Munster, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Saint John, IN
Saint John, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Schererville, IN
Schererville, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Whiting, IN
Whiting, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
LaPorte County, IN
La Porte, IN
La Porte, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Michigan City, IN
Michigan City, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Westville, IN
Westville, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Lawrence County, IN
Bedford, IN
Bedford, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Mitchell, IN
Mitchell, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Madison County, IN
Alexandria, IN
Alexandria, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Anderson, IN
Anderson, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Elwood, IN
Elwood, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Pendleton, IN
Pendleton, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Marion County, IN
Indianapolis is listed under Major Cities.
Beech Grove, IN
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not Allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 10 ft from side lines; rear yard only
Camby, IN
Camby, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Marshall County, IN
Bremen, IN
Bremen, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Plymouth, IN
Plymouth, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Martin County, IN
Loogootee, IN
Loogootee, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Miami County, IN
Peru, IN
Peru, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Monroe County, IN
Bloomington is listed under Major Cities.
Ellettsville, IN
Ellettsville, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Montgomery County, IN
Crawfordsville, IN
Crawfordsville, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Morgan County, IN
Martinsville, IN
Martinsville, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Mooresville, IN
Mooresville, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Noble County, IN
Albion, IN
Albion, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Kendallville, IN
Kendallville, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Ligonier, IN
Ligonier, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Orange County, IN
Paoli, IN
Paoli, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Owen County, IN
Spencer, IN
Spencer, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Parke County, IN
Rockville, IN
Rockville, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Perry County, IN
Tell City, IN
Tell City, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Pike County, IN
Petersburg, IN
Petersburg, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Porter County, IN
Chesterton, IN
Chesterton, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Hebron, IN
Hebron, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Portage, IN
Portage, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Valparaiso, IN
Valparaiso, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Posey County, IN
Mount Vernon, IN
Mount Vernon, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Pulaski County, IN
Winamac, IN
Winamac, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Putnam County, IN
Cloverdale, IN
Cloverdale, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Coatesville, IN
Coatesville, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Greencastle, IN
Greencastle, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Randolph County, IN
Winchester, IN
Winchester, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Ripley County, IN
Batesville, IN
Batesville, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Sunman, IN
Sunman, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Rush County, IN
Rushville, IN
Rushville, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Scott County, IN
Austin, IN
Austin, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Scottsburg, IN
Scottsburg, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Shelby County, IN
Shelbyville, IN
Shelbyville, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
St. Joseph County, IN
South Bend is listed under Major Cities.
Granger, IN
Granger, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Mishawaka, IN
Mishawaka, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
New Carlisle, IN
New Carlisle, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Osceola, IN
Osceola, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Walkerton, IN
Walkerton, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Starke County, IN
Knox, IN
Knox, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Steuben County, IN
Angola, IN
Angola, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Fremont, IN
Fremont, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Sullivan County, IN
Sullivan, IN
Sullivan, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Tippecanoe County, IN
Lafayette is listed under Major Cities.
West Lafayette, IN
West Lafayette, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Tipton County, IN
Tipton, IN
Tipton, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Vermillion County, IN
Clinton, IN
Clinton, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Vigo County, IN
Terre Haute, IN
Terre Haute, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
West Terre Haute, IN
West Terre Haute, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Wabash County, IN
North Manchester, IN
North Manchester, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Wabash, IN
Wabash, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Warrick County, IN
Boonville, IN
Boonville, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Chandler, IN
Chandler, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Newburgh, IN
Newburgh, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Washington County, IN
Pekin, IN
Pekin, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Salem, IN
Salem, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Wayne County, IN
Centerville, IN
Centerville, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Richmond, IN
Richmond, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Wells County, IN
Bluffton, IN
Bluffton, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Ossian, IN
Ossian, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
White County, IN
Monticello, IN
Monticello, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Whitley County, IN
Churubusco, IN
Churubusco, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Columbia City, IN
Columbia City, IN has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.
Unincorporated Areas & Rural Counties
Outside city or town limits, Indiana poultry rules come from the county zoning ordinance, not a statewide hen cap. Many rural districts treat a small flock as an accessory agricultural use. The Indiana Right to Farm statute (Ind. Code § 32-30-6-9) can protect an established farm from a later nuisance claim. It does not cancel a city ordinance if the lot is already inside city limits.
What usually changes outside town: no posted hen number, roosters more often allowed on larger parcels, and no city chicken permit. A township or county still can require an improvement-location permit for the coop and can enforce sanitation or running-at-large rules.
Places that are not a separate city hen code: Camby and Granger are census-designated communities. Floyds Knobs is not an incorporated hen jurisdiction of its own. Those lots follow the county or the nearest city extra-territorial zoning, not a standalone “6-hen” ordinance.
Zoning, Permits, Coops, and HOAs
Indiana cities write the hen rule. Counties write the rule outside town. A coop is an accessory building, so yard placement follows the local zoning setback even when the animal chapter never names a hen number. Indianapolis does not require a bird permit. Bloomington, South Bend, Evansville, and Lafayette do.
A recorded covenant can ban birds where the city allows them. That is common in Hamilton, Hendricks, and Johnson County subdivisions. Search the deed and plat before you build. Confirm any zoning or building permit with the city or county office.
Selling Backyard Eggs in Indiana
Shell eggs sold to the public fall under the Indiana State Egg Board and Ind. Code § 16-42-11. Home-based vendor rules (Ind. Code § 16-42-5.3-11) still send chicken-egg sellers to Egg Board registration. A small flock sold only from the door or farm is often license-light, but the carton is not.
Direct sales: Farm, roadside stand, or pickup to the end buyer. Wholesale to a store usually needs a dealer path.
Label: Producer name and address. Ungraded eggs should say ungraded. Keep eggs refrigerated.
City overlay: South Bend and some other cities bar on-site commercial egg sales even when state egg rules would allow a farm-gate sale.
Indiana Poultry Slaughter Rules
Meat meant for sale generally must be processed in a BOAH- or USDA-inspected plant. Personal birds are different.
- Household use: Under Ind. Code § 15-17-5-11 and BOAH guidance, you may slaughter poultry you raised for your household, non-paying guests, or employees. That meat is not for sale.
- Custom exempt: A custom plant can process your birds. The package is marked not for sale and returns only to your household.
- Resale: On-farm sale of poultry meat needs a limited permit and a federal-style producer exemption (commonly 1,000 or 20,000 birds a year). Most backyard lots do not qualify.
- City overlay: A residential zoning or nuisance rule can still block visible slaughter even when state inspection law would allow household processing.
Essential Guides for Backyard Chicken Success
Indiana winters demand a robust shelter; follow our insulated DIY chicken coop guide to ensure your birds have a warm, dry place to retreat when the snow hits. For ongoing care, view our Ultimate Backyard Chicken Coop Management Guide.