Can I keep chickens in Butte, MT?
Yes, with conditions — Butte allows chickens only in certain zones or lot configurations (up to 25 hens where permitted). (Butte-Silver Bow Code 6.12.020, verified June 2026)
The full rules
| Chickens allowed | Conditional (zone / lot rules) |
|---|---|
| Maximum hens | 25 |
| Roosters | Allowed with conditions |
| Permit required | No |
| Minimum lot size | 20,000 sq ft |
| Coop rules | No specific coop construction standards; fowl flock tied to lot area. General sanitary maintenance applies. |
| Code section | Butte-Silver Bow Code 6.12.020 |
Butte-Silver Bow limits keeping of fowl and other livestock to lots of five acres or more, with one key exception: a flock of up to 25 fowl may be kept on an area of at least 20,000 sq ft. There is no small-lot backyard-hen allowance, so keeping chickens is conditional on having a parcel of at least 20,000 sq ft. Confirmed current through Ord. 2025-03.
Common questions
Can I keep chickens in Butte?
Yes, with conditions — Butte allows chickens only in certain zones or situations (Butte-Silver Bow Code 6.12.020).
How many chickens can I keep in Butte?
Up to 25 hens. Up to 25 fowl only on an area of at least 20,000 sq ft; otherwise restricted to lots of 5+ acres. No small-lot or per-hen scaling allowance.. Rules vary by zoning district — check the full summary for your zone.
Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Butte?
No — no permit is required for the base allowance in Butte.
Are roosters allowed in Butte?
Yes, with conditions — see Butte's rules (Butte-Silver Bow Code 6.12.020).
Is there a minimum lot size for chickens in Butte?
Yes — 20,000 sq ft.
What law covers backyard chickens in Butte?
Butte-Silver Bow Code 6.12.020. Read the official text at the source linked on this page.
The actual law
Butte-Silver Bow Code 6.12.020 — read the official code
“Fowl, not to exceed a flock of twenty-five, may be kept in an area of twenty thousand square feet.” source
“The keeping of swine, goats, rabbits and fowl within the jurisdictional boundaries shall be limited to lot sizes of five acres or more in area, with the following exceptions:” 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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