Can I keep chickens in Fishers, IN?
Yes, with conditions — Fishers allows chickens only in certain zones or lot configurations. Coops must be at least 100 ft from neighboring lines/homes. (Fishers UDO Sec. 5.6.2 (Animal Uses, Keeping of Domestic Farm Animals) (Ord. 022425F, eff. 4/21/2025), verified June 2026)
The full rules
| Chickens allowed | Conditional (zone / lot rules) |
|---|---|
| Permit required | No |
| Coop setback | 100 ft |
| Minimum lot size | 217,800 sq ft |
| Coop rules | Confinement areas limited to 10% of the lot, not in a front yard; AG-district setback 200 ft from the property line, ER-district 100 ft. |
| Code section | Fishers UDO Sec. 5.6.2 (Animal Uses, Keeping of Domestic Farm Animals) (Ord. 022425F, eff. 4/21/2025) |
Fishers treats chickens as 'domestic farm animals' permitted only on properties of at least 5 acres in the AG, ER, and OS zoning districts, at a rate of 0.75 farm-animal-units/acre (ER) or 1 per acre (AG, OS). They are not permitted on standard residential lots. Quantity is governed by the per-acre formula rather than a flat hen cap, and confinement-area setbacks run 100-200 ft from property lines.
Common questions
Can I keep chickens in Fishers?
Yes, with conditions — Fishers allows chickens only in certain zones or situations (Fishers UDO Sec. 5.6.2 (Animal Uses, Keeping of Domestic Farm Animals) (Ord. 022425F, eff. 4/21/2025)).
How many chickens can I keep in Fishers?
It depends on your lot. Permitted only on 5+-acre AG/ER/OS-zoned land; quantity by farm-animal-units per acre (0.75 ER, 1.0 AG/OS), not a flat hen count. Prohibited on standard residential lots.. Rules vary by zoning district — check the full summary for your zone.
Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Fishers?
No — no permit is required for the base allowance in Fishers.
How far must a chicken coop be from the property line in Fishers?
100 feet minimum. Confinement areas limited to 10% of the lot, not in a front yard; AG-district setback 200 ft from the property line, ER-district 100 ft.
Is there a minimum lot size for chickens in Fishers?
Yes — 217,800 sq ft.
What law covers backyard chickens in Fishers?
Fishers UDO Sec. 5.6.2 (Animal Uses, Keeping of Domestic Farm Animals) (Ord. 022425F, eff. 4/21/2025). Read the official text at the source linked on this page.
The actual law
Fishers UDO Sec. 5.6.2 (Animal Uses, Keeping of Domestic Farm Animals) (Ord. 022425F, eff. 4/21/2025) — read the official code
“The keeping of farm animals such as chickens, ducks, goats, sheep, cows, or other animals as determined by the Director, may be permitted on a property of at least five (5) acres in the AG, ER and OS Zoning Districts.” source
“Confinement areas in the AG Zoning District shall be a minimum of 200 feet from the property line, confinement areas in the ER Zoning District shall be a minimum of 100 feet from the property line” source
Last verified June 13, 2026. Always confirm with your municipality — HOA rules can be stricter than city code. How we verify →
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