Are Chickens Allowed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania?

BySusan Medlin

As of mid-2025, no — backyard chickens (hens) are generally still *not legal* in Philadelphia under current city code. The city classifies chickens as “farm animals,” and farm animals have been prohibited in residential zones since 2004. However, there are active efforts underway to change that with proposed legislation, and if passed, some types of chicken keeping may become legal under certain regulations. Below are the details.

What the Law Currently Says

  • Philadelphia’s current code (Chapter 10-100, Animals) defines “farm animal” to include chickens (along with roosters, geese, ducks, turkeys, goats, sheep, pigs, cows, etc.) when they cause nuisance due to noise or smell. Under that definition, hens are grouped with those farm animals and are thus prohibited in most residential settings.
  • There is no valid permit or special zoning for typical single-family homes in most parts of the city to legally keep hens under current law. Possessing chickens in a yard can risk enforcement or fines.

Proposed Changes That Might Legalize Hens

There is proposed legislation aiming to legalize backyard hens under specific conditions. Key provisions being discussed include:

  • Allowing up to six (6) hens per household.
  • The coop would need to be fully enclosed, with at least one square foot per hen inside the coop.
  • An attached run or open area would also be required — around two square feet per hen.
  • Roosters would likely remain prohibited under most versions of the proposed law.

Status & What’s Holding It Up

  • Multiple bills have been introduced over the past several years to legalize hens, but they have not yet been passed into law.
  • Concerns include neighborhood impacts (noise, smell, pests), code enforcement, and whether they’d set minimum size or zoning requirements.
  • Some support comes from urban agriculture advocates, environmental sustainability groups, and community gardeners; opposition comes from others who worry about property values, nuisance complaints, safety, etc.

What You Should Do If You Live in Philadelphia & Want Chickens

  1. Watch for new legislation: Stay updated with Philadelphia City Council actions — bills to legalize backyard hens may pass and change what’s allowed.
  2. Check your zoning district: Even if a bill passes, there may be restrictions by zoning (lot size, residential vs other zones).
  3. Review proposed ordinance language: If legal, you’ll want your coop and run to meet the size, enclosure, setback, and sanitation specs that are likely to be required.
  4. Talk to neighbors & community members: Support from neighbors can make permitting, if required, much easier and reduce risk of complaints.
  5. Be prepared for inspections and enforcement: Any law that allows chickens will almost certainly come with code enforcement provisions. Keeping coops clean, keeping odors in check, etc., will matter.

Conclusion

In short: Philadelphia currently does not allow backyard hens/chickens under its existing code. All chickens are treated as farm animals, which are disallowed in residential zones due to nuisance concerns. But there is momentum for change — proposed bills aim to legalize up to six hens under specific conditions (no roosters, specific coop/run requirements, etc.). Whether or when those changes will pass is still uncertain.