Oregon Backyard Chicken Laws: Permits, Limits and Setbacks by City and County

Last Updated: September 4, 2026

Oregon Quick Overview

Statewide Hen Limit

No statewide limit; flock sizes are set locally by cities and counties. While most cities cap flocks at 3–6 birds, unincorporated areas often allow much larger numbers.

Roosters

No statewide ban. Cities often prohibit roosters; many unincorporated areas allow them.

Permits and Licensing

No statewide backyard chicken permit. Many cities and counties require local permits or registration.

Setbacks

Local zoning rules apply; typical setbacks range from 10 to 50 feet from property lines or neighboring dwellings.

State Agency

Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) – Animal Health and Identification Program / NPIP.

Official Sources & Data Integrity

We reference Oregon 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 Oregon ODA NPIP & Health Program

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: Oregon ordinances may change without notice. Always verify the current rules with your local jurisdiction and any HOA before starting a flock.

Oregon Ordinances by City & County

Baker County, OR

Baker City, OR

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

Benton County, OR

Corvallis, OR

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

Philomath, OR

Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 30 ft from a city street or sidewalk

Clackamas County, OR

Boring, OR

Hen Limit: Up to 6 fowl, or more if 100 ft from another dwelling | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Behind the dwelling and 5 ft from lot lines, or 100 ft from another dwelling

Canby, OR

Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: Not specified

Clackamas, OR

Damascus, OR

Estacada, OR

No published ordinance

Gladstone, OR

No published ordinance

Happy Valley, OR

Hen Limit: Up to 5 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 50 ft from any dwelling other than the owner’s

Lake Oswego, OR

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

Molalla, OR

No published ordinance

Oregon City, OR

No published ordinance

Sandy, OR

No published ordinance

West Linn, OR

Hen Limit: Up to 5 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not required | Setback: 20 ft from neighboring residences

Wilsonville, OR

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

Clatsop County, OR

Astoria, OR

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

Seaside, OR

Seaside, OR has a total ban on poultry within city limits

Warrenton, OR

Hen Limit: Up to 12 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 10 ft from property lines; 25 ft from any dwelling on an abutting property

Columbia County, OR

Clatskanie, OR

No published ordinance

Rainier, OR

No published ordinance

Saint Helens, OR

No published ordinance

Scappoose, OR

No published ordinance

Coos County, OR

Bandon, OR

No published ordinance

Coos Bay, OR

No published ordinance

Coquille, OR

No published ordinance

North Bend, OR

No published ordinance

Crook County, OR

Prineville, OR

No published ordinance

Curry County, OR

Brookings, OR

No published ordinance

Deschutes County, OR

Bend, OR

Hen Limit: Up to 4 hens on lots 5,000 sq ft or greater | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Not specified

La Pine, OR

No published ordinance

Redmond, OR

Hen Limit: 1 chicken, fowl, or rabbit per 500 sq ft | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Rear half of the property; 50 ft from any off-site residence

Sisters, OR

No published ordinance

Douglas County, OR

Myrtle Creek, OR

No published ordinance

Roseburg, OR

No published ordinance

Sutherlin, OR

No published ordinance

Winston, OR

No published ordinance

Hood River County, OR

Hood River, OR

No published ordinance

Jackson County, OR

Ashland, OR

Hen Limit: Up to 5 adult chickens on lots 5,000 sq ft or less; 1 adult per 1,000 sq ft on larger lots | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Not specified

Central Point, OR

No published ordinance

Eagle Point, OR

No published ordinance

Jacksonville, OR

No published ordinance

Medford, OR

Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 4 ft from abutting property lines

Rogue River, OR

No published ordinance

Talent, OR

No published ordinance

White City, OR

No published ordinance

Jefferson County, OR

Madras, OR

No published ordinance

Terrebonne, OR

No published ordinance

Josephine County, OR

Grants Pass, OR

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

Klamath County, OR

Klamath Falls, OR

No published ordinance

Lane County, OR

Cottage Grove, OR

No published ordinance

Creswell, OR

No published ordinance

Eugene, OR

Hen Limit: Up to 6 adult chickens on lots under 20,000 sq ft | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not required | Setback: 10 ft from property lines

Florence, OR

No published ordinance

Junction City, OR

No published ordinance

Springfield, OR

Hen Limit: Up to 4 adults on any lot; 5 on 10,000 sq ft; 6 or more at +1,000 sq ft each | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Not specified

Veneta, OR

No published ordinance

Lincoln County, OR

Lincoln City, OR

No published ordinance

Newport, OR

No published ordinance

Linn County, OR

Albany, OR

Hen Limit: Up to 2 on lots under 7,000 sq ft; +1 per additional 3,000 sq ft | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 10 ft from adjoining property lines; 20 ft from public right-of-way

Lebanon, OR

No published ordinance

Sweet Home, OR

No published ordinance

Malheur County, OR

Ontario, OR

No published ordinance

Marion County, OR

Aumsville, OR

No published ordinance

Aurora, OR

No published ordinance

Jefferson, OR

No published ordinance

Salem, OR

Hen Limit: Up to 12 poultry | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not required | Setback: Rear yard; 3 ft from other buildings on site; 25 ft from a residence on adjacent land

Silverton, OR

No published ordinance

Stayton, OR

No published ordinance

Turner, OR

No published ordinance

Woodburn, OR

No published ordinance

Multnomah County, OR

Fairview, OR

Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Not specified

Gresham, OR

Hen Limit: Up to 3 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: Rear yard; coop 25 ft from another residence and 10 ft from property lines

Portland, OR

Hen Limit: Up to 4 small fowl; up to 6 on lots 10,000 sq ft or greater | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not required | Setback: Not specified

Troutdale, OR

Hen Limit: Up to 6 chickens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: Rear yard; coop 15 ft from dwellings on another lot; run 3 ft from property lines

Polk County, OR

Dallas, OR

No published ordinance

Independence, OR

No published ordinance

Monmouth, OR

Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: Not specified

Tillamook County, OR

Tillamook, OR

No published ordinance

Umatilla County, OR

Hermiston, OR

No published ordinance

Milton Freewater, OR

No published ordinance

Pendleton, OR

No published ordinance

Umatilla, OR

No published ordinance

Union County, OR

La Grande, OR

No published ordinance

Wasco County, OR

The Dalles, OR

No published ordinance

Washington County, OR

Beaverton, OR

Hen Limit: Up to 4 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not required | Setback: 20 ft from a neighboring dwelling

Cornelius, OR

No published ordinance

Forest Grove, OR

No published ordinance

Hillsboro, OR

Hen Limit: Up to 3 hens on 7,000–10,000 sq ft; up to 6 on 10,000 sq ft–1 acre; up to 9 over 1 acre | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 10 ft from property lines

North Plains, OR

No published ordinance

Sherwood, OR

Hen Limit: Up to 3 hens on 7,000+ sq ft; up to 5 hens on 10,000+ sq ft | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 10 ft from property lines; 25 ft from an abutting dwelling

Tualatin, OR

Hen Limit: Up to 4 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: Rear yard; 10 ft from property lines; 25 ft from abutting residences

Yamhill County, OR

McMinnville, OR

Hen Limit: Up to 2 fowl on 5,000 sq ft; +1 per additional 1,000 sq ft | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Not in the front yard; 70 ft from the front line; 15 ft from side lines; 10 ft from the rear line

Newberg, OR

No published ordinance

Sheridan, OR

No published ordinance

Oregon Unincorporated Communities

Unincorporated Clackamas County, OR

Communities: Oak Grove, Jennings Lodge, Oatfield, Sunnyside, Mount Hood Village

Unincorporated Jackson County, OR

Communities: Ruch, Trail, Prospect, Sams Valley

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

Unincorporated Klamath County, OR

Communities: Altamont, Keno, Falcon Heights, Sprague River, Beaver Marsh

Hen Limit: Up to 24 small animals per acre | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Not specified

Unincorporated Lane County, OR

Communities: Santa Clara, River Road, Alvadore, Cheshire, Crow, Jasper

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

Unincorporated Marion County, OR

Communities: Hayesville, Four Corners, Labish Village

Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens in urban-UGB residential zones; up to 3 hens in the Woodburn and Silverton UGBs | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Rear yard; 3 ft from buildings on site; 25 ft from a neighboring residence

Unincorporated Polk County, OR

Communities: Rickreall, Eola

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

Unincorporated Washington County, OR

Communities: Aloha, Bethany, Cedar Mill, Rockcreek, Oak Hills, Garden Home, Raleigh Hills, West Slope

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

Selling Backyard Eggs in Oregon

Sell only eggs from your own hens, and only to the person who will eat them (home, farm stand, or farmers market). That farm-direct sale does not need an ODA Egg Handler’s License.

Keep eggs at 45°F or below from gathering through sale. Candle them and do not sell cracks or leakers.

Label each carton: producer name and address, “Ungraded,” pack date, number of eggs, and this handling line: keep eggs refrigerated, cook until yolks are firm, and cook foods containing eggs thoroughly. Also include THIS PRODUCT IS NOT PREPARED IN AN INSPECTED FOOD ESTABLISHMENT and NOT FOR RESALE.

A license is required if you sell to a store, cafe, bakery, or other reseller, or if you sell eggs you did not produce.

Oregon Poultry Slaughter Rules

Oregon law provides a unique "Farm Direct" exemption that allows small-scale producers to slaughter birds without a state license, provided they follow strict volume and sales-location limits. These rules are governed by the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) and the Poultry Product Inspection Act.

Personal Use: Under the "Custom-Exempt" rule, you may slaughter poultry you have raised for your own household consumption without any state inspection or licensing. This meat cannot be sold or given away to anyone outside your immediate household.

Essential Guides for Backyard Chicken Success

Montana flocks need a tight, raised house that sheds snow and keeps weasels out. Use the site’s 4 × 12 ft walk-in plan—hardware cloth, buried apron, and a sloped roof—then size the run to your city’s hen cap. Build the weekend coop

After the birds arrive, pick cold-hardy breeds, keep bedding dry so ammonia does not build in a shut-up winter coop, and lock them in before dusk. Raise and manage the flock