Can I keep chickens in Mesa, AZ?
Yes — Mesa allows backyard chickens, up to 10 hens with no permit required. Coops must be at least 40 ft from neighboring lines/homes. (Mesa City Code 8-6-21 (Fowl, rodent, and livestock restrictions), verified September 2026)
The full rules
| Chickens allowed | Yes |
|---|---|
| Maximum hens | 10 |
| Roosters | Allowed with conditions |
| Permit required | No |
| Coop setback | 40 ft |
| Coop rules | Up to 10 fowl and rodents combined on the first half-acre or less; each additional 10 requires another half-acre; unlimited above 2.5 acres. Enclosures at least 40 feet, and any building used to coop the animals at least 75 feet, from a neighbor's pre-existing residence. Animals kept in suitable enclosures and not at large. Section 8-6-21 does not ban roosters; noise is handled under the nuisance provisions. |
| Code section | Mesa City Code 8-6-21 (Fowl, rodent, and livestock restrictions) |
Mesa allows up to 10 fowl (or fowl and rodents combined) on the first half-acre or less, with another 10 per additional half-acre and no limit above 2.5 acres (City Code 8-6-21). Enclosures must be 40 feet, and any coop building 75 feet, from a neighbor's pre-existing residence. No permit is required. The section does not prohibit roosters; crowing that disturbs neighbors is treated as a nuisance.
Common questions
Can I keep chickens in Mesa?
Yes — chickens are allowed in Mesa (Mesa City Code 8-6-21 (Fowl, rodent, and livestock restrictions)).
How many chickens can I keep in Mesa?
Up to 10 hens. Tiered by lot size: 10 up to 21,780 sq ft; 20 up to 43,560 sq ft; 30 up to 65,340 sq ft; 40 up to 87,120 sq ft; 50 up to 108,900 sq ft.
Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Mesa?
No — no permit is required for the base allowance in Mesa.
Are roosters allowed in Mesa?
Yes, with conditions — see Mesa's rules (Mesa City Code 8-6-21 (Fowl, rodent, and livestock restrictions)).
How far must a chicken coop be from the property line in Mesa?
40 feet minimum. Up to 10 fowl and rodents combined on the first half-acre or less; each additional 10 requires another half-acre; unlimited above 2.5 acres. Enclosures at least 40 feet, and any building used to coop the animals at least 75 feet, from a neighbor's pre-existing residence. Animals kept in suitable enclosures and not at large. Section 8-6-21 does not ban roosters; noise is handled under the nuisance provisions.
What law covers backyard chickens in Mesa?
Mesa City Code 8-6-21 (Fowl, rodent, and livestock restrictions). Read the official text at the source linked on this page.
The actual law
Mesa City Code 8-6-21 (Fowl, rodent, and livestock restrictions) — read the official code
“Up to 10 chickens on the first one-half acre or less provided any enclosure is at least 40 feet from any neighboring residence, any coop is at least 75 feet from any other residence, it is kept sanitary and they are not allowed to run loose or create a noise disturbance. A rooster is also allowed as long as it does not violate any of the above regulations.” source
“8-6-21(A) ... no more than a total of ten (10) rodents or fowl or a combination of rodents and fowl shall be kept upon the first one-half (½) acre or less; for each additional ten (10) head of rodents or fowl, an additional one-half (½) acre of land is required. For areas larger than two and one-half (2½) acres, the number of such rodents and fowl shall not be limited.” source
“(G) It shall be a violation of this article to keep any animal regulated by this chapter in an enclosure within a distance of less than forty feet (40') from another person's lawfully erected permanent residence... (H) ... cooped, stabled, or confined in any building within seventy-five feet (75') from another person's lawfully erected permanent residence” source
Last verified September 6, 2026. Always confirm with your municipality — HOA rules can be stricter than city code. How we verify →
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