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

Utah State Rules and Biosecurity

Utah has no statewide backyard chicken limits or bans. The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food oversees egg handling, poultry processing, disease control, food safety, and small-producer exemptions. Health certificates may be required for imported birds. All flock size, permit, and setback rules are set locally by cities and counties.

Zoning, Building Permits and HOA Notes

Coops are accessory structures and must comply with local zoning rules on size, placement, and setbacks. Some cities require building permits for larger coops or permanent structures. Homeowners associations can restrict or ban chickens even where city or county ordinances allow them. Nuisance, sanitation, and noise rules apply statewide.

Verify: Check your city or county website, contact the zoning office, and review HOA covenants before building a coop.

Utah Predator Challenges

Utah flocks face predators such as hawks, foxes, raccoons, coyotes, snakes, and neighborhood dogs. Secure coops and covered runs are essential.

• Top risks: Hawks, foxes, raccoons, coyotes.
• Protection tips: Use hardware cloth, bury fencing at least 12 inches deep, lock coops at night, and cover runs to deter hawks.

Permits and Local Requirements

Utah does not require a statewide backyard chicken permit. Many cities require local animal permits, zoning approvals, or building permits for coops. Rural counties often have no permit requirements for small flocks, but nuisance and sanitation rules still apply.

Selling Backyard Eggs in Utah

Utah is friendly toward small-scale egg producers. Small producers (fewer than 3,000 layers) are exempt from most regulations for direct sales. Eggs must follow UDAF labeling and handling rules.

• Direct Sales Only: Allowed without permit for small scale to consumers.
• Labeling: Include producer name, address, "Ungraded," safe handling instructions.
• Storage: Refrigerate properly; avoid selling addled/moldy eggs.
• Larger Sales: May require UDAF registration/inspection if wholesale or high volume.

Utah Ordinances by City & County

Common rules — always confirm with local code enforcement, as detail laws vary by zoning district and can change. Rural and unincorporated areas are generally more permissive, often with no hen limits and roosters allowed on acreage.

Box Elder County

• Brigham City: Up to 5 hens typical | Roosters restricted | Permit required | Minimum lot size 6,000 sq ft.
• Tremonton: Up to 6 hens | Roosters prohibited | Rear yard only | Proper coop sanitation required.

Cache County

• Hyrum: Up to 6 hens | Roosters prohibited | Permit required | Coops must be 20 ft from dwellings.
• Logan: Up to 6 hens typical | Roosters restricted | Permit may be required | Rear yard; check zoning for lot-size rules.
• North Logan: Permissive in rural zones | Small flocks allowed | Roosters on acreage | Nuisance rules apply.
• Smithfield: Up to 6 hens | Roosters prohibited | Residential permit | Standard setbacks apply.

Carbon County

• Price: Up to 6 hens | Roosters restricted | Permit required | Rear yard placement only.

Davis County

• Bountiful: Up to 6 hens | Roosters banned | Permit may be required | Rear yard placement.
• Centerville: Up to 6 hens | Roosters prohibited | Residential permit required | Coop setbacks 20 ft.
• Clearfield: Up to 6 hens | Roosters banned | Zoning approval required | Secure enclosure mandated.
• Clinton: Up to 6 hens | Roosters restricted | Permit required | Rear yard only.
• Farmington: Up to 6 hens | Roosters prohibited | Permit required | Check specific zoning for lot minimums.
• Kaysville: Up to 6 hens | Roosters prohibited | Zoning approval | Setbacks 20–30 ft.
• Layton: Up to 6 hens | Roosters banned | Permit required | Rear yard only; min lot size often applies.
• North Salt Lake: Up to 5 hens | Roosters prohibited | Permit required | Rear yard setbacks apply.
• Syracuse: Up to 6 hens | Roosters banned | Permit required | Coop 20 ft from property lines.
• West Point: Up to 6 hens | Roosters prohibited | Land use permit | Enclosed run required.
• Woods Cross: Up to 6 hens | Roosters restricted | Permit required | Rear yard only.

Iron County

• Cedar City: Up to 6 hens typical | Roosters restricted | Permit required in urban zones | Rural permissive.
• Enoch: Permissive rural zones | Roosters allowed on acreage | Residential limits apply.

Salt Lake County

• Bluffdale: Up to 6 hens on small lots | Roosters on large agricultural lots | Permit required | Setbacks apply.
• Cottonwood Heights: Up to 6 hens | Roosters banned | Permit/inspection required | 25 ft from structures.
• Draper: Up to 6–25 hens (lot-size based) | Roosters prohibited | Permit required | Significant setbacks for large flocks.
• Herriman: Up to 6 hens | Roosters banned | Permit required | Coop must be in rear yard.
• Holladay: Up to 6 hens | Roosters prohibited | Permit required | Coop 20 ft from neighbors.
• Midvale: Up to 6 hens | Roosters banned | Permit required | Rear yard only.
• Millcreek: Up to 6 hens | Roosters banned | Permit required | Rear yard only.
• Murray: Up to 6 hens | Roosters prohibited | Permit required | Secure coop and run required.
• Riverton: Up to 6 hens | Roosters banned | Permit required | Setbacks from adjacent dwellings apply.
• Salt Lake City: Up to 15 hens | Roosters prohibited | Permit required ($75) | Coop 25 ft from adjacent dwellings; rear yard.
• Sandy: Up to 6 hens | Roosters banned | Permit required | Setbacks apply; rear yard.
• South Jordan: Up to 6 hens | Roosters prohibited | Permit required | Coop 20 ft from property lines.
• South Salt Lake: Up to 6 hens | Roosters banned | Permit required | Rear yard placement only.
• Taylorsville: Up to 6 hens | Roosters prohibited | Permit required | Coop 20 ft from dwellings.
• West Jordan: Up to 5 hens + 5 chicks | Roosters prohibited | Permit required | Coop 20 ft from adjacent structures; rear yard.
• West Valley City: Up to 6 hens | Roosters banned | Permit required | Rear yard only.

Sanpete County

• Ephraim: Permissive | Small flocks allowed | Roosters on acreage | Nuisance laws apply.
• Manti: Permissive rural | No strict limit | Roosters on acreage | Minimal restrictions.

Summit County

• Park City: Up to 4 hens | Roosters prohibited | Permit required | Strict aesthetic and setback rules.

Tooele County

• Grantsville: Permissive rural zones | Up to 6 hens in residential | Roosters restricted | Lot size rules apply.
• Tooele City: Up to 6 hens | Roosters banned | Permit required | Rear yard only.

Utah County

• American Fork: Up to 6 hens | Roosters prohibited | Permit required | Rear yard only.
• Eagle Mountain: Up to 6 hens | Roosters prohibited | Permit required | Residential zones only.
• Highland: Up to 6 hens | Roosters banned | Permit required | Minimum lot size requirements.
• Lehi: Up to 6 hens | Roosters prohibited | Permit required | Rear yard; setbacks apply.
• Lindon: Up to 8 hens (lot-size based) | Roosters restricted | Permit required | Rear yard only.
• Orem: Up to 12 hens (lot-size based) | Roosters banned | Permit may be required | Min lot 5,000 sq ft.
• Payson: Up to 6 hens | Roosters prohibited | Permit required | Secure fencing mandated.
• Pleasant Grove: Up to 6 hens | Roosters banned | Permit required | Coop structure required.
• Provo: Lot-size based (2 hens on ≥6,000 sq ft lots; up to 6 hens on ≥10,000 sq ft) | Roosters prohibited | Permit required | Coop 15 ft from property lines / 6 ft from dwelling.
• Saratoga Springs: Up to 6 hens | Roosters banned | Permit required | Rear yard; 20 ft setbacks.
• Spanish Fork: Up to 6 hens | Roosters prohibited | Permit required | Standard residential rules.
• Springville: Lot-size based (e.g., 12 per 10,000 sq ft over certain thresholds) | Roosters restricted | Permit may be required | Verify recent updates.
• Vineyard: Up to 6 hens | Roosters prohibited | Permit required | Coop design standards apply.

Wasatch County

• Heber City: Up to 6 hens | Roosters prohibited | Permit required | Residential lot size 8,000 sq ft min.

Washington County

• Hurricane: Up to 6 hens | Roosters banned | Permit required | Rear yard placement.
• Ivins: Up to 6 hens | Roosters prohibited | Permit required | Secure enclosure required.
• St. George: Up to 6–16 hens (lot-size based) | Roosters prohibited | Permit required | Coop 20 ft from dwellings.
• Washington: Up to 6 hens typical | Roosters banned | Zoning approval | Rear yard.

Weber County

• Ogden: Up to 6 hens | Roosters prohibited | Permit + inspection required | Min 2,000 sq ft open area; coop 25 ft from adjacent homes, 5 ft from lines.
• Roy: Up to 6 hens | Roosters banned | Permit required | Rear yard only.
• South Ogden: Up to 6 hens | Roosters prohibited | Permit required | Setbacks from dwellings apply.
• Washington Terrace: Up to 6 hens | Roosters banned | Permit required | New ordinance (2025/2026).

Rural and Smaller Counties Laws Overview

Rural Utah is flock-friendly with minimal restrictions. Examples:

• Cache County (general rural): Permissive; no strict limits in unincorporated areas; roosters allowed on acreage.
• Iron County (rural): Flexible; hens/roosters common on larger properties.
• Sanpete County (rural): Semi-rural permissive; minimal rules outside cities.
• Other rural counties (e.g., Duchesne, Emery, Sevier): Often no hen limits or permits; focus on nuisance prevention.