Can I keep chickens in St. Joseph, MO?
Yes, with conditions — St. Joseph allows chickens only in certain zones or lot configurations. Roosters are prohibited, and coops must be at least 6 ft from neighboring lines/homes. (Sec. 5-63 (G.O. 3133, adopted Sept. 29, 2025), verified June 2026)
The full rules
| Chickens allowed | Conditional (zone / lot rules) |
|---|---|
| Roosters | Prohibited |
| Permit required | No |
| Coop setback | 6 ft |
| Home slaughter | Not allowed |
| Coop rules | Fowl kept 6 ft from all property lines in a clean fenced enclosure/coop/cage. Distance from neighboring residences scales with flock size: 25 ft (<=3 fowl), 50 ft (4-6), 100 ft (7-12). Supervised free-roaming within a fenced area max 5 hours/day. |
| Code section | Sec. 5-63 (G.O. 3133, adopted Sept. 29, 2025) |
St. Joseph allows backyard fowl (hens) in residential areas under a tiered setback rule adopted Sept. 29, 2025 (G.O. 3133): the more fowl kept, the farther the enclosure must be from neighboring residences (25 ft for 3 or fewer, up to 100 ft for 7-12). Fowl must be 6 ft from property lines and kept in a coop. Roosters are prohibited at residential properties and outdoor slaughtering of fowl is banned.
Common questions
Can I keep chickens in St. Joseph?
Yes, with conditions — St. Joseph allows chickens only in certain zones or situations (Sec. 5-63 (G.O. 3133, adopted Sept. 29, 2025)).
How many chickens can I keep in St. Joseph?
It depends on your lot. No numeric hen cap in code; required setback from neighboring residences scales by flock size (25 ft for <=3, 50 ft for 4-6, 100 ft for 7-12). Tier table tops out at 12 fowl.. Rules vary by zoning district — check the full summary for your zone.
Do I need a permit to keep chickens in St. Joseph?
No — no permit is required for the base allowance in St. Joseph.
Are roosters allowed in St. Joseph?
No — roosters are prohibited in St. Joseph.
How far must a chicken coop be from the property line in St. Joseph?
6 feet minimum. Fowl kept 6 ft from all property lines in a clean fenced enclosure/coop/cage. Distance from neighboring residences scales with flock size: 25 ft (<=3 fowl), 50 ft (4-6), 100 ft (7-12). Supervised free-roaming within a fenced area max 5 hours/day.
Can I slaughter chickens at home in St. Joseph?
No — slaughter is not permitted under St. Joseph's code.
What law covers backyard chickens in St. Joseph?
Sec. 5-63 (G.O. 3133, adopted Sept. 29, 2025). Read the official text at the source linked on this page.
The actual law
Sec. 5-63 (G.O. 3133, adopted Sept. 29, 2025) — read the official code
“No person shall keep or harbor any roosters at a private residence, unless it is zoned for a specific use, other than residential, such as agricultural. (Sec. 5-63(b))” source
“Fowl as described in Section 5-62 shall be kept at least six feet distance from all property lines and in a fenced enclosure, coop or cage... Three or less fowl 25 feet from neighboring residences; Four to six fowl 50 feet; Seven to 12 fowl 100 feet from neighboring residences. (Sec. 5-63(a))” source
“There shall be no outdoor slaughtering of fowl. (Sec. 5-63(c))” 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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