Can I keep chickens in Columbia, MO?
Yes — Columbia allows backyard chickens, up to 6 hens with no permit required. Roosters are prohibited, and coops must be at least 25 ft from neighboring lines/homes. (Code of Ordinances Ch. 5 Art. V, Secs. 5-91 to 5-94 (Ord. No. 20549; amended Ord. 23840), verified June 2026)
The full rules
| Chickens allowed | Yes |
|---|---|
| Maximum hens | 6 |
| Roosters | Prohibited |
| Permit required | No |
| Coop setback | 25 ft |
| Coop rules | Henhouses, chicken tractors and pens at least 10 ft from the property line and at least 25 ft from any adjacent residential dwelling, church, school or business; rear of dwelling. Noncommercial only (no breeding or fertilizer for sale). |
| Code section | Code of Ordinances Ch. 5 Art. V, Secs. 5-91 to 5-94 (Ord. No. 20549; amended Ord. 23840) |
Columbia allows up to six chickens (female only, no roosters) per tract regardless of the number of dwelling units, for noncommercial use, with no permit required. Henhouses must be at least 10 ft from the property line and 25 ft from any adjacent residential dwelling, church, school or business. The code (Ord. 20549, amended 2019) sets no permit requirement and is silent on slaughter.
Common questions
Can I keep chickens in Columbia?
Yes — chickens are allowed in Columbia (Code of Ordinances Ch. 5 Art. V, Secs. 5-91 to 5-94 (Ord. No. 20549; amended Ord. 23840)).
How many chickens can I keep in Columbia?
Up to 6 hens.
Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Columbia?
No — no permit is required for the base allowance in Columbia.
Are roosters allowed in Columbia?
No — roosters are prohibited in Columbia.
How far must a chicken coop be from the property line in Columbia?
25 feet minimum. Henhouses, chicken tractors and pens at least 10 ft from the property line and at least 25 ft from any adjacent residential dwelling, church, school or business; rear of dwelling. Noncommercial only (no breeding or fertilizer for sale).
What law covers backyard chickens in Columbia?
Code of Ordinances Ch. 5 Art. V, Secs. 5-91 to 5-94 (Ord. No. 20549; amended Ord. 23840). Read the official text at the source linked on this page.
The actual law
Code of Ordinances Ch. 5 Art. V, Secs. 5-91 to 5-94 (Ord. No. 20549; amended Ord. 23840) — read the official code
“The maximum number of chickens allowed is six (6) per tract of land regardless of how many dwelling units are on the tract.” source
“Only female chickens are allowed. There is no restriction on chicken species.” source
“Henhouses, chicken tractors and chicken pens must be located at least ten (10) feet from the property line and at least twenty-five (25) feet from any adjacent residential dwelling, church, school or place of business.” 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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