Can I keep chickens in Meridian, ID?
Yes, with conditions — Meridian allows chickens only in certain zones or lot configurations. (Meridian City Code 6-2-1 (definition of Livestock); UDC Table 11-2A-2 (Allowed Uses, Residential Districts), verified June 2026)
The full rules
| Chickens allowed | Conditional (zone / lot rules) |
|---|---|
| Permit required | No |
| Coop rules | Stable refuse must be removed from the city's sanitary limits at least weekly; livestock must not emit disturbing noise; fences must be adequate to keep livestock confined. |
| Code section | Meridian City Code 6-2-1 (definition of Livestock); UDC Table 11-2A-2 (Allowed Uses, Residential Districts) |
Under Meridian's current code, chicken hens and roosters are defined as 'livestock' (6-2-1), and the animal-control chapter imposes only nuisance-style rules (weekly refuse removal, no disturbing noise, stock-tight fencing) with no hen count, permit, or setback. The Unified Development Code residential allowed-use table (11-2A-2) lists no agriculture/livestock/poultry use, so keeping chickens is governed by general residential standards rather than a specific permitted use. Whether hens may be kept on a given lot is therefore zoning-dependent.
Common questions
Can I keep chickens in Meridian?
Yes, with conditions — Meridian allows chickens only in certain zones or situations (Meridian City Code 6-2-1 (definition of Livestock); UDC Table 11-2A-2 (Allowed Uses, Residential Districts)).
How many chickens can I keep in Meridian?
It depends on your lot. Chicken hens and roosters defined as 'livestock'; only nuisance rules apply (no count/permit/setback in code). UDC residential use table (11-2A-2) lists no livestock/poultry use; keeping governed by general residential standards.. Rules vary by zoning district — check the full summary for your zone.
Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Meridian?
No — no permit is required for the base allowance in Meridian.
What law covers backyard chickens in Meridian?
Meridian City Code 6-2-1 (definition of Livestock); UDC Table 11-2A-2 (Allowed Uses, Residential Districts). Read the official text at the source linked on this page.
The actual law
Meridian City Code 6-2-1 (definition of Livestock); UDC Table 11-2A-2 (Allowed Uses, Residential Districts) — read the official code
“Livestock shall include, but is not limited to horses, donkeys, mules, cattle, llamas, alpacas, swine, sheep, goats, rabbits, poultry, and/or domesticated birds, including chicken hens and roosters.” source
“It is hereby required that such refuse be removed from the legal sanitary limits of the city at least once each week.” source
Last verified June 14, 2026. Always confirm with your municipality — HOA rules can be stricter than city code. How we verify →
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