Can I keep chickens in Stamford, CT?
Yes — Stamford allows backyard chickens with no permit required. Coops must be at least 50 ft from neighboring lines/homes. (Ch. 111, §§ 111-2 through 111-3 (Ord. No. 1213, 2016; amended 2021), verified June 2026)
The full rules
| Chickens allowed | Yes |
|---|---|
| Maximum hens | No numeric cap |
| Permit required | No |
| Coop setback | 50 ft |
| Coop rules | All poultry must be penned and not allowed to run at large or onto public property or premises other than those of the owner. Enclosures must be at least 50 ft from any dwelling or apartment house and maintained in sanitary condition. Director of Health may order rooster removal upon complaint of annoying crowing. |
| Code section | Ch. 111, §§ 111-2 through 111-3 (Ord. No. 1213, 2016; amended 2021) |
Stamford allows chickens with no stated maximum. No permit required. Poultry must be penned. Enclosures must be at least 50 ft from any dwelling or apartment house. Roosters are allowed but the Director of Health may order removal upon complaint of annoying crowing. Text confirmed from primary source via Chrome browser.
Common questions
Can I keep chickens in Stamford?
Yes — chickens are allowed in Stamford (Ch. 111, §§ 111-2 through 111-3 (Ord. No. 1213, 2016; amended 2021)).
How many chickens can I keep in Stamford?
Stamford sets no numeric cap on hens.
Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Stamford?
No — no permit is required for the base allowance in Stamford.
How far must a chicken coop be from the property line in Stamford?
50 feet minimum. All poultry must be penned and not allowed to run at large or onto public property or premises other than those of the owner. Enclosures must be at least 50 ft from any dwelling or apartment house and maintained in sanitary condition. Director of Health may order rooster removal upon complaint of annoying crowing.
What law covers backyard chickens in Stamford?
Ch. 111, §§ 111-2 through 111-3 (Ord. No. 1213, 2016; amended 2021). Read the official text at the source linked on this page.
The actual law
Ch. 111, §§ 111-2 through 111-3 (Ord. No. 1213, 2016; amended 2021) — read the official code
“§ 111-2. Poultry. A. All poultry kept within the city must be penned and not allowed to run at large or onto public property or premises other than those belonging to or occupied by the owner/keeper of such poultry. B. No person shall keep any rooster in such location that the crowing thereof shall be annoying to any person occupying premises in the vicinity. § 111-3. A. No person shall own/keep any live poultry or livestock in any building or pen which is less than fifty (50) feet from any dwelling or apartment house in the city.” source
Last verified June 15, 2026. Always confirm with your municipality — HOA rules can be stricter than city code. How we verify →
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