Can I keep chickens in Boulder, CO?
Yes — Boulder allows backyard chickens with no permit required. (Boulder Revised Code 6-1 (Animals) — no chicken-specific section; 6-1-4 exotic animal ban does not include poultry; 6-1-14 regulates sale/dyeing of fowl only; Title 9 land use contains no poultry references, verified June 2026)
The full rules
| Chickens allowed | Yes |
|---|---|
| Maximum hens | No numeric cap |
| Permit required | No |
| Code section | Boulder Revised Code 6-1 (Animals) — no chicken-specific section; 6-1-4 exotic animal ban does not include poultry; 6-1-14 regulates sale/dyeing of fowl only; Title 9 land use contains no poultry references |
Boulder does not prohibit backyard chickens. Chapter 6-1 (Animals) contains no hen limit, no permit requirement, and no keeping prohibition for poultry. Chickens are absent from the exotic animals ban list (6-1-4). The code's animal care provisions explicitly reference fowl husbandry standards, implying their keeping is legally recognized. No chicken-specific ordinance exists in either Title 6 (animal code) or Title 9 (land use).
Common questions
Can I keep chickens in Boulder?
Yes — chickens are allowed in Boulder (Boulder Revised Code 6-1 (Animals) — no chicken-specific section; 6-1-4 exotic animal ban does not include poultry; 6-1-14 regulates sale/dyeing of fowl only; Title 9 land use contains no poultry references).
How many chickens can I keep in Boulder?
Boulder sets no numeric cap on hens.
Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Boulder?
No — no permit is required for the base allowance in Boulder.
What law covers backyard chickens in Boulder?
Boulder Revised Code 6-1 (Animals) — no chicken-specific section; 6-1-4 exotic animal ban does not include poultry; 6-1-14 regulates sale/dyeing of fowl only; Title 9 land use contains no poultry references. Read the official text at the source linked on this page.
The actual law
Boulder Revised Code 6-1 (Animals) — no chicken-specific section; 6-1-4 exotic animal ban does not include poultry; 6-1-14 regulates sale/dyeing of fowl only; Title 9 land use contains no poultry references — read the official code
“The code does not list animals that can be kept but rather it lists animals that cannot be kept. Chickens are not listed in the code as prohibited.” source
“Fowl shall at all times be provided receptacles kept constantly filled with clean water. Snow or ice is not an adequate water source.” source
“No person shall place on public display, own, or keep any of the following animals: (1) Ursids... (15) Crocodilians — chickens and poultry not listed; no permit or hen limit found in Chapter 6-1” source
“No person shall place on public display, own, or keep any of the following animals: (1) Ursids... (15) Crocodilians — chickens and poultry not listed; no permit or hen limit found in Chapter 6-1” 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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