Can I keep chickens in Boulder, CO?
Yes — Boulder allows backyard chickens with no permit required. (Boulder Revised Code Title 6, Ch. 1 (Animals) — no chicken-specific limit; exotic-animal ban (6-1-4) does not include poultry; Title 9 Land Use Code Ch. 6 (Use Standards) has no poultry/livestock use-type provisions, verified September 2026)
The full rules
| Chickens allowed | Yes |
|---|---|
| Permit required | No |
| Coop rules | No numeric hen/rooster limit is codified. General animal-welfare duties apply: fowl must always have access to clean water, and standard nuisance/sanitation rules apply to all animal-keeping. |
| Code section | Boulder Revised Code Title 6, Ch. 1 (Animals) — no chicken-specific limit; exotic-animal ban (6-1-4) does not include poultry; Title 9 Land Use Code Ch. 6 (Use Standards) has no poultry/livestock use-type provisions |
Boulder does not cap chicken numbers, require a permit, or set a coop setback. The Animal Code treats keeping 'livestock or poultry' as a recognized, lawful category distinct from ordinary pets — it requires fowl to always have clean water — rather than banning it, and neither the exotic-animal list nor the Land Use Code's zoning use standards mention poultry at all. Keeping is governed only by general nuisance and sanitation rules.
Common questions
Can I keep chickens in Boulder?
Yes — chickens are allowed in Boulder (Boulder Revised Code Title 6, Ch. 1 (Animals) — no chicken-specific limit; exotic-animal ban (6-1-4) does not include poultry; Title 9 Land Use Code Ch. 6 (Use Standards) has no poultry/livestock use-type provisions).
How many chickens can I keep in Boulder?
It depends on your lot. No numeric cap, permit, or setback found in the Animal Code or Land Use Code; general nuisance/care standards apply instead..
Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Boulder?
No — no permit is required for the base allowance in Boulder.
What law covers backyard chickens in Boulder?
Boulder Revised Code Title 6, Ch. 1 (Animals) — no chicken-specific limit; exotic-animal ban (6-1-4) does not include poultry; Title 9 Land Use Code Ch. 6 (Use Standards) has no poultry/livestock use-type provisions. Read the official text at the source linked on this page.
The actual law
Boulder Revised Code Title 6, Ch. 1 (Animals) — no chicken-specific limit; exotic-animal ban (6-1-4) does not include poultry; Title 9 Land Use Code Ch. 6 (Use Standards) has no poultry/livestock use-type provisions — read the official code
“The code does not list animals that can be kept but rather it lists animals that cannot be kept. Chickens are not listed in the code as prohibited.” source
“Fowl shall at all times be provided receptacles kept constantly filled with clean water.” source
“In the case of pet or other domestic animals other than livestock or poultry, access to a barn, doghouse, or other enclosed structure...” source
“Fowl shall at all times be provided receptacles kept constantly filled with clean water. Snow or ice is not an adequate water source.” source
Last verified September 27, 2026. Always confirm with your municipality — HOA rules can be stricter than city code. How we verify →
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