1. Portland, OR
If you reside in the City of Portland, Oregon, you may keep up to chickens or ducks on any lot. On a lot 10,000 square feet and greater, you may keep a total of 6 chickens or ducks. In addition to this number, you may keep 4 chickens or ducks under 12 weeks of age. You're not required to obtain a chicken-keeping permit. However, you must comply with all the city's chicken-keeping standards and best practices. These include keeping your chicken enclosure at least 3 feet from the side and rear property lines and 10 feet from the front property line. For additional info, visit the city of Portland's official website.
2. Eugene, OR
Urban chicken keeping is permitted within the city limits of Eugene, OR. Aside from chickens, the keeping of quails, pheasants, ducks, pigeons, and doves is also allowed in the city. However, the city does not allow the keeping of roosters, geese, peacocks, or turkeys. On a property less than 20,000 square feet in area, you may keep up to 6 hens, quails, pheasants, ducks, pigeons, or doves, or any combination of such birds not exceeding 6 in total. If your property is 20,000 square feet or greater in area, you may contact Land Use staff at landuseinfo@eugene-or.gov or 541-682-8336 for additional domestic bird allowances. For more information, visit Eugene's Urban Animal Keeping.
3. Salem, OR
In Salem, OR, you don't need a permit or license to keep certain domesticated birds for personal use as long as you follow the city Poultry Keeping Rules. Domesticated birds that are legal to own in Salem include chickens, ducks, guinea fowls, pheasants, pigeons, quails, partridges, and doves. The keeping of geese, turkeys, emus, ostriches, or similar-sized birds is prohibited within the city limits. Without a permit or license, you may keep no more than 6 hens or ducks in Salem.
With a permit or license, a maximum of 12 chickens or other legal birds is allowed per property. Chicken and duck coops must be situated at least 3 feet away from any other building on the property and 25 feet away from a residence on an adjacent unit of land. These guidelines do not apply to properties zoned Residential Agriculture (RA) and Exclusive Farm Use (EFU).
4. Gresham, OR
A Backyard Chicken Permit is required to keep up to three adult hens in your residential backyard in Gresham, OR. No more than 3 female chickens may be kept on residential properties with a single-family dwelling. Chicken coops and runs may only be located in the rear yard and at least 10 feet from the property line. The coop is required to be kept at least 25 feet from neighboring residences.
5. Hillsboro, OR
To keep backyard chickens on a residential property in Hillsboro, OR, a livestock permit is required. Roosters are prohibited and the number of hens you can keep on a Single-Family Residential Property is restricted based on lot size. For example, on a lot 7,000 to 10,000 square feet, up to 3 hens may be kept. A maximum of 6 hens is allowed on lots over 10,000 square feet to 1 acre in area. On a lot over 1 acre or larger in area, up to 9 hens may be kept. By ordinance, the selling of eggs and slaughtering of hens on residential property are prohibited.
6. Bend, OR
In Bend, Oregon, you may keep a total of 4 chickens (no roosters) on a property that is 5,000 square feet or greater in size. You don't need a permit, but you must keep your hens in healthful a manner. Bend's municipal code requires henhouses to be located at least 25 feet from any adjacent residences and 15 feet from any interior or rear lot line.
7. Beaverton, OR
In Beaverton, OR, the keeping of backyard chickens is allowed only on properties 5,000 square feet or greater in size. In addition, the property must be occupied by a detached single-family dwelling or duplex to keep chickens. Your chicken enclosures must be kept at least 20 feet from a neighboring dwelling. The number of chickens that may be kept on any one property is limited to 4. You may not keep any roosters within the City of Beaverton, according to the city code.
8. Medford, OR
You may keep backyard chickens on your residential property in Medford, OR, as long as you follow the city's chicken-keeping rules. According to the Medford City Code, chickens may be kept on residential property for personal use only. Roosters as well as ostriches, emus, peacocks, and turkeys are prohibited on residential property. Only hens, ducks, geese, and swans are allowed and they must be confined to your property at all times. Your hen enclosure must not be located within 4 feet of the property lines of any abutting parcel.
9. Corvallis, OR
It is legal to keep chickens in your backyard in Corvallis, Oregon. You don't need a permit and there are no restrictions on the number of chickens you can own. However, you must not allow your birds to leave your property. Also, you must not keep any roosters within the city limits.
10. Albany, OR
In Albany, OR, two chickens are allowed per lot less than 7,000 square feet in area. For each additional 3,000 square feet of lot area, one additional chicken is allowed. By ordinance, all chickens are required to be contained within a coop or fenced area inaccessible to predatory animals. Furthermore, all coops or fenced areas must be located at least 10 feet from adjoining property lines and 20 feet from any public right-of-way.
Other Oregon municipalities that allow backyard chickens
- Springfield, OR
- Tigard, OR
- Lake Oswego, OR
- Keizer, OR
- Oregon City, OR
- Redmond, OR
- McMinnville, OR
- Woodburn, OR
- Happy Valley, OR
- Tualatin, OR - Permitted only within the RL-Planning District
- Forest Grove, OR
- West Linn, OR
- Wilsonville. OR
- Newberg, OR
- Roseburg, OR
- Klamath County, OR
This is not an exhaustive list, meaning many more Oregon cities allow backyard chickens.
Related: How many pets can you own in Oregon?
