Nebraska Backyard Chicken Laws: Permits, Limits & Setbacks by City and County
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Looking for chicken laws in Nebraska?
There is no statewide hen cap. Cities set the numbers. Omaha allows up to 10 hens. Lincoln allows up to 20 chickens on a lot of 1 acre or less with a small-animal/fowl permit (required at 3 or more). Bellevue allows up to 7 hens with a permit. Grand Island allows 3–8 hens on lots under 1 acre, and up to 24 hens per acre on lots of 1 acre or more. Roosters are not allowed in Omaha, Lincoln, Bellevue, or Grand Island. Kearney has no published in-city hen ordinance that allows a standard backyard flock.
Official Sources & Data Integrity
We reference Nebraska 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 Nebraska Department of Agriculture - National Poultry Improvement Plan
Note: Not specified means no specific requirement was identified in the applicable municipal sources reviewed. No published ordinance means no hen, rooster, permit, or setback rule was found in the city’s published code.
⚠️ Important: Nebraska ordinances may change without notice. Always verify the current rules with your local jurisdiction and any HOA before you build your coop.
Nebraska Ordinances by City & County
Adams County, NE
Hastings, NE
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 25 ft from another dwelling; 5 ft from a side lot line; 18 in from a rear lot line; no front yard
Juniata, NE
No published ordinance
Boone County, NE
Albion, NE
No published ordinance
Box Butte County, NE
Alliance, NE
No published ordinance
Brown County, NE
Ainsworth, NE
No published ordinance
Buffalo County, NE
Gibbon, NE
No published ordinance
Kearney, NE
Kearney, NE has a total ban on poultry within city limits
Burt County, NE
Tekamah, NE
No published ordinance
Butler County, NE
David City, NE
No published ordinance
Cass County, NE
Eagle, NE
No published ordinance
Louisville, NE
No published ordinance
Plattsmouth, NE
No published ordinance
Cedar County, NE
Hartington, NE
No published ordinance
Chase County, NE
Imperial, NE
No published ordinance
Cherry County, NE
Valentine, NE
No published ordinance
Cheyenne County, NE
Sidney, NE
No published ordinance
Colfax County, NE
Schuyler, NE
No published ordinance
Cuming County, NE
West Point, NE
No published ordinance
Custer County, NE
Broken Bow, NE
No published ordinance
Dakota County, NE
Dakota City, NE
No published ordinance
South Sioux City, NE
No published ordinance
Dawes County, NE
Chadron, NE
No published ordinance
Dawson County, NE
Cozad, NE
No published ordinance
Gothenburg, NE
No published ordinance
Lexington, NE
No published ordinance
Dodge County, NE
Fremont, NE
No published ordinance
Douglas County, NE
Bennington, NE
No published ordinance
Omaha, NE
Hen Limit: Up to 10 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: Not specified
Valley, NE
No published ordinance
Waterloo, NE
No published ordinance
Fillmore County, NE
Geneva, NE
No published ordinance
Gage County, NE
Beatrice, NE
No published ordinance
Hall County, NE
Grand Island, NE
Hen Limit: 3–8 hens on lots under 1 acre; up to 24 hens per acre on lots of 1 acre or more | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 20 ft from another residence; 5 ft from a property line
Wood River, NE
No published ordinance
Hamilton County, NE
Aurora, NE
No published ordinance
Holt County, NE
Atkinson, NE
No published ordinance
O'Neill, NE
No published ordinance
Howard County, NE
Saint Paul, NE
No published ordinance
Jefferson County, NE
Fairbury, NE
No published ordinance
Kearney County, NE
Minden, NE
No published ordinance
Keith County, NE
Ogallala, NE
No published ordinance
Kimball County, NE
Kimball, NE
No published ordinance
Lancaster County, NE
Bennet, NE
No published ordinance
Firth, NE
No published ordinance
Hickman, NE
No published ordinance
Lincoln, NE
Hen Limit: Up to 20 chickens on 1 acre or less (permit required at 3 or more) | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 5 ft from a property line; 50 ft from a neighboring residence
Roca, NE
No published ordinance
Waverly, NE
No published ordinance
Lincoln County, NE
North Platte, NE
No published ordinance
Madison County, NE
Madison, NE
No published ordinance
Norfolk, NE
Hen Limit: Up to 4 hens or ducks combined | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: Rear yard; enclosure required
Merrick County, NE
Central City, NE
No published ordinance
Morrill County, NE
Bridgeport, NE
No published ordinance
Nemaha County, NE
Auburn, NE
No published ordinance
Otoe County, NE
Nebraska City, NE
No published ordinance
Syracuse, NE
No published ordinance
Phelps County, NE
Holdrege, NE
No published ordinance
Pierce County, NE
Pierce, NE
No published ordinance
Platte County, NE
Columbus, NE
No published ordinance
Red Willow County, NE
McCook, NE
No published ordinance
Richardson County, NE
Falls City, NE
No published ordinance
Saline County, NE
Crete, NE
No published ordinance
Wilber, NE
No published ordinance
Sarpy County, NE
Bellevue, NE
Hen Limit: Up to 7 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: Not specified
Gretna, NE
Hen Limit: Up to 4 hens on 1 acre or less; up to 10 hens on more than 1 acre | Roosters: Not specified | Permit: Required | Setback: Not specified
La Vista, NE
La Vista, NE has a total ban on poultry within city limits
Papillion, NE
Papillion, NE has a total ban on poultry within city limits
Springfield, NE
No published ordinance
Saunders County, NE
Ashland, NE
No published ordinance
Wahoo, NE
No published ordinance
Yutan, NE
No published ordinance
Scotts Bluff County, NE
Gering, NE
No published ordinance
Mitchell, NE
No published ordinance
Scottsbluff, NE
No published ordinance
Seward County, NE
Milford, NE
No published ordinance
Seward, NE
No published ordinance
Stanton County, NE
Stanton, NE
No published ordinance
Valley County, NE
Ord, NE
No published ordinance
Washington County, NE
Arlington, NE
No published ordinance
Blair, NE
No published ordinance
Fort Calhoun, NE
No published ordinance
Wayne County, NE
Wayne, NE
No published ordinance
York County, NE
York, NE
No published ordinance
Selling Backyard Eggs in Nebraska
Small-scale direct sales of eggs from your own backyard flock are permitted in Nebraska with few barriers. If you sell eggs directly to consumers — such as at your home, a farm stand, or a farmers market — no state license, grading, or inspection is required for flocks of fewer than 3,000 hens.
Eggs must be clean, free of cracks, and refrigerated at 45°F or below. Cartons should be clearly labeled with your name and address (or “ungraded farm fresh eggs”) plus safe handling instructions such as “Keep refrigerated. Cook eggs thoroughly.” A simple label reading “Farm Fresh Eggs – Not Graded” is commonly used.
Nebraska Poultry Slaughter Rules
Nebraska follows federal exemptions under the Poultry Products Inspection Act. Small-scale personal slaughter on your own property is allowed without a state license, but sales trigger stricter rules. Maintain good sanitation to prevent nuisance complaints or violations.
Personal Use: You may slaughter and process any number of your own birds on your property for your household, non-paying guests, or employees. No permit or inspection is needed provided the meat stays within this group and is not sold or given away to the public. Label packages “Not for Sale” when appropriate.
Essential Guides for Backyard Chicken Success
Nebraska open landscapes offer little wind protection, so we recommend our low-profile DIY coop designs to reduce wind resistance and ensure longevity. For ongoing coop care, view our Ultimate Backyard Chicken Coop Management Guide.