Can you keep backyard chickens in Colorado?
Each Colorado municipality may regulate how land is used for homes and other purposes (C.R.S. 31-23-301), so your city or town's zoning is the first place to check. Whether keepers must register wasn't established.
Read from 5 official sources34 passages quotedChecked October 24, 2026
At a glance
Registering your flock
Where hens can live
Bird-flu housing orders
Welfare rules
Who decides where hens can live
The state law we read gives a named local body its own powers over where hens can live. What the checked sources say:
- Except as section 34-1-305 provides, the governing body of each Colorado municipality may, to promote health, safety, morals or the general welfare, regulate and restrict the location and use of buildings, structures and land for trade, industry, residence or other purposes. For unincorporated land, a county planning commission may make a zoning plan, and must when the board of county commissioners orders it, recommending among other things how land may be used.
No statewide permission or prohibition on keeping chickens is established by this finding. Your municipality may zone land use, and for unincorporated land your county planning commission may make a zoning plan, so check with them. This page names the state law, not their zoning codes or home-rule powers, and doesn't cover HOA, rooster or setback rules.
Registration: not established in the state sources we read.
The law's own words are quoted under state rules on keeping poultry below.
How to check: Look up the local rules where you live (the ordinances, bylaws or zoning of the body named here), or ask that office, before you get hens.
A sourced reading of Colorado's state law, not legal advice. Local ordinances and zoning, HOA rules, and any local rooster or coop limits aren't covered here yet: check your local code before you get hens.
Keeping your flock
These findings cover the national or state scope stated below. They do not determine whether chickens are allowed at a particular home. City zoning, property restrictions and other local rules are outside this research.
Registering as a poultry keeper
Not established from the sources checked
Jurisdiction: Colorado
Applies to: Colorado’s livestock disease law (C.R.S. title 35, article 50), which lets the commissioner of agriculture set livestock identification and traceability rules, as checked on 24 October 2026.
Outside this finding's scope
- Whether Colorado requires backyard poultry keepers to register was not established. No section of article 50 read requires a keeper to register, and the state’s animal health rules and agriculture department pages were not quoted.
What the checked sources say
- The commissioner of agriculture may adopt, with the state agricultural commission’s approval, reasonable rules for the livestock disease law, including standards and requirements for identifying and tracing livestock.
Authority: Not established from the sources checked.
Fee: Not established from the sources checked.
The official wording
The commissioner may adopt, subject to the commission's approval, all reasonable rules for the administration and enforcement of this article including, but not limited to:
C.R.S. 35-50-105(3), opening · Checked
(j) The standards and requirements for identification and traceability of livestock;
C.R.S. 35-50-105(3)(j) · Checked
Bird-flu housing orders
Current status needs rechecking
An official current-status link has not been established.
Orders can change between checks. A missed check or an expired order does not establish that no order applies.
Housing-order finding as checked on 2026-10-24
The scope and conditions below are a dated record, not confirmation of today's position.
Conditions apply to this finding
Uses housing orders in this scope: Yes, according to the checked evidence, within the limits listed under “Outside this finding’s scope” below.
Jurisdiction: Colorado
Applies to: Hold and quarantine powers of Colorado’s commissioner of agriculture and state veterinarian over livestock, poultry included, under C.R.S. 35-50-103 and 35-50-111.
Outside this finding's scope
- These powers do not in terms require birds to be kept indoors, and this finding does not establish that any hold, quarantine or housing order applies now.
What the checked sources say
- Colorado’s livestock disease law counts poultry as livestock: the definition lists cattle, sheep, goats, bison, swine, mules, poultry, horses and alternative livestock, and all other domesticated animals raised or kept for profit.
- When clinical signs suggest an infectious or contagious disease and laboratory confirmation is pending, the commissioner of agriculture may place a hold on specific livestock, premises or areas. A hold is a temporary order of the state veterinarian that isolates the livestock or premises, restricts movement and sets sanitary measures until testing is complete.
- Once testing confirms such a disease, the commissioner may quarantine specific livestock, premises or areas by an order that isolates them, restricts movement and sets sanitary measures. Held or quarantined livestock must be treated, fed and cared for at the owner’s expense.
- As saved on 14 October 2026, the Colorado Department of Agriculture’s avian influenza page asked people to report sick birds, or birds that died from unknown causes, to the Colorado State Veterinarian’s Office at (303) 869-9130, USDA Veterinary Services in Colorado at (303) 231-5385, or Colorado State University’s Avian Health Hotline at (970) 297-4008.
- Current mandatory housing status remains unconfirmed.
- Checked
- Recheck due
Historical evidence, as checked
These quotations record what was checked on the dates shown. They do not confirm an order's current status.
(7) "Livestock" means cattle, sheep, goats, bison, swine, mules, poultry, horses, alternative livestock as defined in section 35-41.5-102 (1), and all other domesticated animals raised or kept for profit.
C.R.S. 35-50-103(7) · Checked
(5) "Hold" means a temporary order issued by the state veterinarian when an infectious or contagious disease is suspected in livestock to isolate any specific livestock, premises, county, district, or section of the state; restrict the movement of livestock; and specify sanitary measures, pending completion of testing.
C.R.S. 35-50-103(5) · Checked
(10) "Quarantine" means an order issued by the commissioner when testing has confirmed the presence of an infectious or contagious disease in livestock, which order isolates specific livestock, premises, counties, districts, or sections of the state; restricts the movement of livestock; and specifies sanitary measures.
C.R.S. 35-50-103(10) · Checked
The commissioner may place a hold upon any specific livestock, premises, county, district, or section of the state for the purpose of preventing the spread of an infectious or contagious disease when clinical signs and symptoms suggest the presence of the disease and laboratory confirmation is pending.
C.R.S. 35-50-111(2) · Checked
Once testing has confirmed the presence of an infectious or contagious disease, the commissioner may quarantine any specific livestock, premises, county, district, or section of the state for the purpose of preventing the spread of any infectious or contagious disease within the state.
C.R.S. 35-50-111(3) · Checked
Held or quarantined livestock shall be treated, fed, and cared for at the expense of the owner.
C.R.S. 35-50-111(5), first sentence · Checked
To report sick birds or birds that have died from unknown causes, please call : Colorado State Veterinarian’s Office (303) 869-9130, or USDA-Veterinary Services Colorado Office (303) 231-5385, or Avian Health Hotline at Colorado State University (CSU): (970) 297-4008
CDA avian influenza page, "Report sick domestic birds or unusual bird deaths" · Checked
Small-flock welfare minimums
Conditions apply to this finding
Jurisdiction: Colorado
Applies to: Anyone dealing with an animal, which Colorado’s cruelty law defines as any living dumb creature, under C.R.S. 18-9-201 to 18-9-202; the same law’s definition of livestock includes poultry.
Outside this finding's scope
- Nothing in this part of the law affects accepted animal husbandry practices used by anyone in the care of companion or livestock animals, or in exterminating undesirable pests as defined in title 35, articles 7, 10 and 43; animal care otherwise authorized by law; or facilities licensed under the federal Animal Welfare Act of 1970. Where it conflicts with Colorado’s wildlife statutes, the wildlife statutes control.
- This finding is not a complete welfare code and sets no numerical space standard or property permission.
What the checked sources say
- A person commits cruelty to animals by knowingly, recklessly or with criminal negligence depriving an animal of necessary sustenance, allowing it to be housed in a way that results in chronic or repeated serious physical harm, or otherwise mistreating or neglecting it; or, while having charge or custody of an animal, by failing to provide it with proper food, drink or protection from the weather consistent with its species, breed and type, or by abandoning it.
- Neglect means failing to provide food, water, protection from the elements, or other care generally considered normal, usual and accepted for an animal’s health and well-being consistent with its species, breed and type. Cruelty to animals is a class 1 misdemeanor unless subsection (2)(b) of the section provides otherwise.
The official wording
(2) "Animal" means any living dumb creature,
C.R.S. 18-9-201(2), opening · Checked
(2.9) "Livestock" means bovine, camelids, caprine, equine, ovine, porcine, and poultry.
C.R.S. 18-9-201(2.9) · Checked
(4) "Neglect" means failure to provide food, water, protection from the elements, or other care generally considered to be normal, usual, and accepted for an animal's health and well-being consistent with the species, breed, and type of animal.
C.R.S. 18-9-201(4) · Checked
(3) "Mistreatment" means every act or omission that causes or unreasonably permits the continuation of unnecessary or unjustifiable pain or suffering.
C.R.S. 18-9-201(3) · Checked
A person commits cruelty to animals if he or she knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence overdrives, overloads, overworks, torments, deprives of necessary sustenance, unnecessarily or cruelly beats, allows to be housed in a manner that results in chronic or repeated serious physical harm,
C.R.S. 18-9-202(1)(a), opening · Checked
or otherwise mistreats or neglects any animal, or causes or procures it to be done, or, having the charge or custody of any animal, fails
C.R.S. 18-9-202(1)(a), middle · Checked
to provide it with proper food, drink, or protection from the weather consistent with the species, breed, and type of animal involved, or abandons an animal.
C.R.S. 18-9-202(1)(a), closing · Checked
(2) (a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2)(b) of this section, cruelty to animals, or cruelty to a service animal or a law enforcement animal pursuant to subsection (1.5)(c) of this section, is a class 1 misdemeanor.
C.R.S. 18-9-202(2)(a) · Checked
(1) Nothing in this part 2 shall affect accepted animal husbandry practices utilized by any person in the care of companion or livestock animals or in the extermination of undesirable pests as defined in articles 7, 10, and 43 of title 35, C.R.S.
C.R.S. 18-9-201.5(1) · Checked
(2) In case of any conflict between this part 2 or section 35-43-126, C.R.S., and the wildlife statutes of the state, said wildlife statutes shall control.
C.R.S. 18-9-201.5(2) · Checked
(3) Nothing in this part 2 shall affect animal care otherwise authorized by law.
C.R.S. 18-9-201.5(3) · Checked
(4) Nothing in this part 2 shall affect facilities licensed under the provisions of the federal "Animal Welfare Act of 1970", 7 U.S.C. sec. 2131 et seq., as amended.
C.R.S. 18-9-201.5(4) · Checked
National or state rules on keeping poultry
Conditions apply to this finding
Jurisdiction: Colorado
Applies to: Colorado’s grant of zoning power to municipal governing bodies and county planning commissions, and the right-to-farm nuisance statute.
Outside this finding's scope
- No statewide permission or prohibition on keeping chickens is established by this finding. Your municipality may zone land use, and for unincorporated land your county planning commission may make a zoning plan, so check with them. This page names the state law, not their zoning codes or home-rule powers, and doesn't cover HOA, rooster or setback rules.
- The nuisance protection covers agricultural operations, which Colorado defines by reference to agriculture, including livestock and poultry; whether a backyard flock qualifies was not established. The bar on local nuisance ordinances does not apply to an operation within a city’s or town’s corporate limits on July 1, 1981, or on land the landowner voluntarily annexes to a municipality on or after July 1, 1981.
What the checked sources say
- Except as section 34-1-305 provides, the governing body of each Colorado municipality may, to promote health, safety, morals or the general welfare, regulate and restrict the location and use of buildings, structures and land for trade, industry, residence or other purposes. For unincorporated land, a county planning commission may make a zoning plan, and must when the board of county commissioners orders it, recommending among other things how land may be used.
- Except as the statute provides, an agricultural operation is not a public or private nuisance if it uses methods or practices commonly or reasonably associated with agricultural production. It is also not a nuisance if it was established before the surrounding area began nonagricultural use, uses such methods or practices, and is not operating negligently.
- A local ordinance or resolution that makes an agricultural operation a nuisance, or provides for abating it as one, in these circumstances is void, subject to the exceptions noted above.
The official wording
Except as otherwise provided in section 34-1-305, C.R.S., for the purpose of promoting health, safety, morals, or the general welfare of the community, including energy conservation and the promotion of solar energy utilization, the governing body of each municipality is empowered to regulate and restrict the height, number of stories, and size of buildings and other structures,
and the location and use of buildings, structures, and land for trade, industry, residence, or other purposes.
The county planning commission of any county may, and upon order by the board of county commissioners in any county having a county planning commission shall, make a zoning plan for zoning all or any part of the unincorporated territory within such county,
C.R.S. 30-28-111(1), opening · Checked
and the uses of land for trade, industry, recreation, or other purposes.
Except as provided in this section, an
C.R.S. 35-3.5-102(1)(a), opening words · Checked
agricultural operation shall not be found to be a public or private nuisance if the agricultural operation alleged to be a nuisance employs methods or practices that are commonly or reasonably associated with agricultural production.
(2) (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section to the contrary, an agricultural operation shall not be found to be a public or private nuisance if such agricultural operation:
C.R.S. 35-3.5-102(2)(a), opening · Checked
(I) Was established prior to the commencement of the use of the area surrounding such agricultural operation for nonagricultural activities; (II) Employs methods or practices that are commonly or reasonably associated with agricultural production; and (III) Is not operating negligently.
C.R.S. 35-3.5-102(2)(a)(I)-(III) · Checked
(4) As used in this article, "agricultural operation" has the same meaning as "agriculture", as defined in section 35-1-102 (1).
C.R.S. 35-3.5-102(4) · Checked
(5) Any ordinance or resolution of any unit of local government that makes the operation of any agricultural operation a nuisance or provides for the abatement thereof as a nuisance under the circumstances set forth in this section is void;
C.R.S. 35-3.5-102(5), opening · Checked
except that the provisions of this subsection (5) shall not apply when an agricultural operation is located within the corporate limits of any city or town on July 1, 1981, or is located on a property that the landowner voluntarily annexes to a municipality on or after July 1, 1981.
C.R.S. 35-3.5-102(5), closing · Checked
(1) "Agriculture" means the science and art of production of plants and animals useful to
C.R.S. 35-1-102(1), opening · Checked
and includes horticulture, floriculture, viticulture, forestry, dairy, livestock, poultry, bee,
C.R.S. 35-1-102(1), list · Checked
Bird flu right now? PoultryPal's bird-flu tracker for Colorado has the latest we've checked.
Next door
Every state on the map →Common questions
- Do I have to register backyard chickens in Colorado?
- Registration: not established. The finding covers: Colorado’s livestock disease law (C.R.S. title 35, article 50), which lets the commissioner of agriculture set livestock identification and traceability rules, as checked on 24 October 2026. Outside this finding's scope: Whether Colorado requires backyard poultry keepers to register was not established. No section of article 50 read requires a keeper to register, and the state’s animal health rules and agriculture department pages were not quoted.
- Can I keep chickens in my backyard in Colorado?
- The state law we read gives a named local body its own powers over where hens can live. Except as section 34-1-305 provides, the governing body of each Colorado municipality may, to promote health, safety, morals or the general welfare, regulate and restrict the location and use of buildings, structures and land for trade, industry, residence or other purposes. For unincorporated land, a county planning commission may make a zoning plan, and must when the board of county commissioners orders it, recommending among other things how land may be used. No statewide permission or prohibition on keeping chickens is established by this finding. Your municipality may zone land use, and for unincorporated land your county planning commission may make a zoning plan, so check with them. This page names the state law, not their zoning codes or home-rule powers, and doesn't cover HOA, rooster or setback rules. Look up the local rules where you live (the ordinances, bylaws or zoning of the body named here), or ask that office, before you get hens.
- Do I have to keep my hens indoors for bird flu in Colorado?
- Housing orders come and go, so we never show one as current. We haven't confirmed an official current-status page for it. PoultryPal's bird-flu tracker page for Colorado has the latest we've checked.
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