Can I keep chickens in Commerce City, CO?
Yes — Commerce City allows backyard chickens with a required permit/registration. Roosters are prohibited. (Commerce City Municipal Code Ch. 4 (Animal Code), Art. V, Sec. 4-5001-4-5002, verified September 2026)
The full rules
| Chickens allowed | Yes |
|---|---|
| Maximum hens | 1 per 16 sq ft |
| Roosters | Prohibited |
| Permit required | Yes |
| Coop rules | Coop min 2 sq ft/chicken; outdoor enclosure min 16 sq ft of permeable land/chicken; chickens secured in coop dusk-to-dawn; no chickens in the front yard. Coop setback must match the principal building's required setback (not a flat number). |
| Code section | Commerce City Municipal Code Ch. 4 (Animal Code), Art. V, Sec. 4-5001-4-5002 |
Commerce City requires a backyard chicken permit and bans roosters, but sets no flat headcount cap — the number of chickens is effectively limited by a 16-square-foot-of-permeable-outdoor-space-per-bird requirement plus a 2-square-foot-per-bird coop minimum.
Common questions
Can I keep chickens in Commerce City?
Yes — chickens are allowed in Commerce City (Commerce City Municipal Code Ch. 4 (Animal Code), Art. V, Sec. 4-5001-4-5002).
How many chickens can I keep in Commerce City?
It depends on your lot. 1 hen per 16 sq ft of lot area.
Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Commerce City?
Yes — Commerce City requires a permit or registration before keeping chickens.
Are roosters allowed in Commerce City?
No — roosters are prohibited in Commerce City.
What law covers backyard chickens in Commerce City?
Commerce City Municipal Code Ch. 4 (Animal Code), Art. V, Sec. 4-5001-4-5002. Read the official text at the source linked on this page.
The actual law
Commerce City Municipal Code Ch. 4 (Animal Code), Art. V, Sec. 4-5001-4-5002 — read the official code
“Section 4-5002(b): An outdoor enclosure must be provided which, at a minimum, must provide sixteen (16) feet of permeable land area available for each chicken. Section 4-5002(l): Coops and enclosures must have a set-back from the nearest property line equal to the set-back required of the principal building on the property.” source
“Outdoor enclosure must provide sixteen (16) feet of permeable land area [per chicken]” source
“keeping of chickens shall be permitted only after a valid backyard chicken permit has been issued” source
“No roosters may be kept under a backyard chicken permit” source
Last verified September 27, 2026. Always confirm with your municipality — HOA rules can be stricter than city code. How we verify →
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