Pecking orders from Chandler expand rules on keeping backyard chickens

PHOENIX – Families in a Phoenix suburb will be counting their chickens, but only up to five, after the city government approved expanding keeping backyard chickens.

The Chandler City Council adopted the ordinance at Monday’s meeting, 5-2. The move goes into effect Jan. 5 and applies to single-family lots.

As of now, chickens are only allowed on lots of at least 33,000 square feet, where residences can house an unlimited number of hens, although roosters are prohibited.

The new code requires the birds have a coop set 5 feet back from all property lines in the East Valley city. The structure’s maximum size is 120 square feet and can’t be higher than a 7-foot perimeter fence.

Under those guidelines, a building permit won’t be necessary, unless the coop, no matter how small, is connected to electricity or water.

If the coop is taller than the fence, it will be classified as an accessory building and only one is allowed per property.

The structure will be limited to 15 feet “as measured to top of flat roof or the mid-point of a pitched and slope roof,” and has to match the look of the house, according to the rules.

Roosters are still banned.

Homeowners who live in an HOA community are excluded; they would have to abide by the regulations set by their association.

Chandler officials said in an email that more than 70% of its residents live within an HOA community. The 2021 Census Bureau put the population at 279,458.

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