Can I keep chickens in Lansing, MI?
Yes — Lansing allows backyard chickens, up to 5 hens with no permit required. Roosters are prohibited, and coops must be at least 10 ft from neighboring lines/homes. (Lansing Zoning Code Sec. 1250.02.04(d) (Keeping of animals - Livestock), Title 6 Ch. 1250 (Ord. No. 1331, Sec. 1, adopted 5-5-2025), verified August 2026)
The full rules
| Chickens allowed | Yes |
|---|---|
| Maximum hens | 5 |
| Roosters | Prohibited |
| Permit required | No |
| Coop setback | 10 ft |
| Coop rules | Up to five hens on a one- or two-family residential property. No roosters, ducks, peacocks, turkeys, or emus. Hens must be kept in an enclosure built to confine them to the owner property and to keep rodents from being harbored underneath or within its walls. A covered or fenced enclosure must be at least 10 feet from any adjacent property line and at least 40 feet from any residential structure on an adjacent property, unless that owner consents in writing to the Zoning Administrator. Feed must be rodent-protected. |
| Code section | Lansing Zoning Code Sec. 1250.02.04(d) (Keeping of animals - Livestock), Title 6 Ch. 1250 (Ord. No. 1331, Sec. 1, adopted 5-5-2025) |
Lansing allows up to five hens on a one- or two-family residential property with no permit. Roosters, ducks, peacocks, turkeys, and emus are all prohibited. The coop must sit at least 10 feet from any adjacent property line and 40 feet from a neighbor residential structure unless that neighbor consents in writing.
Common questions
Can I keep chickens in Lansing?
Yes — chickens are allowed in Lansing (Lansing Zoning Code Sec. 1250.02.04(d) (Keeping of animals - Livestock), Title 6 Ch. 1250 (Ord. No. 1331, Sec. 1, adopted 5-5-2025)).
How many chickens can I keep in Lansing?
Up to 5 hens.
Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Lansing?
No — no permit is required for the base allowance in Lansing.
Are roosters allowed in Lansing?
No — roosters are prohibited in Lansing.
How far must a chicken coop be from the property line in Lansing?
10 feet minimum. Up to five hens on a one- or two-family residential property. No roosters, ducks, peacocks, turkeys, or emus. Hens must be kept in an enclosure built to confine them to the owner property and to keep rodents from being harbored underneath or within its walls. A covered or fenced enclosure must be at least 10 feet from any adjacent property line and at least 40 feet from any residential structure on an adjacent property, unless that owner consents in writing to the Zoning Administrator. Feed must be rodent-protected.
What law covers backyard chickens in Lansing?
Lansing Zoning Code Sec. 1250.02.04(d) (Keeping of animals - Livestock), Title 6 Ch. 1250 (Ord. No. 1331, Sec. 1, adopted 5-5-2025). Read the official text at the source linked on this page.
The actual law
Lansing Zoning Code Sec. 1250.02.04(d) (Keeping of animals - Livestock), Title 6 Ch. 1250 (Ord. No. 1331, Sec. 1, adopted 5-5-2025) — read the official code
“The City of Lansing allows residents to keep up to five hens on their property” source
“CHAPTER 610. - ANIMALS [contains only 610.01 Definitions and 610.02 Dogs running at large; nuisance; leash requirement - no fowl provisions]” source
“(2) Hens must be kept in an enclosure so constructed or repaired as to keep the hens confined on the owner's property, and to prevent rats, mice, or other rodents from being harbored underneath, or within the walls of the enclosure;” source
“(d) Livestock. No livestock or poultry shall be owned, kept, possessed, harbored or kept charge of except as provided for below: (1) No more than five hens may be kept on any one- or two-family residential property, and no roosters, ducks, peacocks, turkeys or emus shall be allowed;” source
Last verified August 23, 2026. Always confirm with your municipality — HOA rules can be stricter than city code. How we verify →
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