Can I keep chickens in Lawrence, KS?
Yes — Lawrence allows backyard chickens, up to 20 hens with no permit required. Roosters are prohibited, and coops must be at least 5 ft from neighboring lines/homes. (Code of the City of Lawrence Ch. III, Art. 5, Secs. 3-501 & 3-502 (Ord. 8378), verified June 2026)
The full rules
| Chickens allowed | Yes |
|---|---|
| Maximum hens | 20 |
| Roosters | Prohibited |
| Permit required | No |
| Coop setback | 5 ft |
| Minimum lot size | 500 sq ft |
| Coop rules | Permitted fowl = ducks and female chickens only (no roosters). Max 1 fowl per 500 sq ft of lot, rounded down, never exceeding 20. Coop required: 3 sq ft/bird with fenced run (10 sq ft/bird without); coop no closer than 5 ft to any neighboring property line. |
| Code section | Code of the City of Lawrence Ch. III, Art. 5, Secs. 3-501 & 3-502 (Ord. 8378) |
Lawrence allows ducks and female chickens (no roosters) with no permit. The maximum is one bird per 500 sq ft of lot, rounded down, capped at 20 total. A coop with laying boxes and roosts is required and must be at least 5 ft from any neighboring property line.
Common questions
Can I keep chickens in Lawrence?
Yes — chickens are allowed in Lawrence (Code of the City of Lawrence Ch. III, Art. 5, Secs. 3-501 & 3-502 (Ord. 8378)).
How many chickens can I keep in Lawrence?
Up to 20 hens. 1 hen per 500 sq ft of lot area, max 20.
Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Lawrence?
No — no permit is required for the base allowance in Lawrence.
Are roosters allowed in Lawrence?
No — roosters are prohibited in Lawrence.
How far must a chicken coop be from the property line in Lawrence?
5 feet minimum. Permitted fowl = ducks and female chickens only (no roosters). Max 1 fowl per 500 sq ft of lot, rounded down, never exceeding 20. Coop required: 3 sq ft/bird with fenced run (10 sq ft/bird without); coop no closer than 5 ft to any neighboring property line.
Is there a minimum lot size for chickens in Lawrence?
Yes — 500 sq ft.
What law covers backyard chickens in Lawrence?
Code of the City of Lawrence Ch. III, Art. 5, Secs. 3-501 & 3-502 (Ord. 8378). Read the official text at the source linked on this page.
The actual law
Code of the City of Lawrence Ch. III, Art. 5, Secs. 3-501 & 3-502 (Ord. 8378) — read the official code
“The maximum total number of permitted fowl allowed to be owned or kept on an individual lot is one animal per 500 square feet of lot size, rounded down, but in no event will the total number of permitted fowl on any lot exceed 20.” source
“'Permitted fowl' shall mean ducks and female chickens. ... It shall be unlawful to own or keep fowl, other than permitted fowl, within the City.” source
“In no event will any coop be located closer than five feet from any neighboring property line.” 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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