Can you keep backyard chickens in Minnesota?
A Minnesota city council has power by ordinance to regulate the keeping of animals (Minn. Stat. s. 412.221); whether that section covers your city wasn't established, so check with it.
Read from 7 official sources31 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:
- Under Minn. Stat. s. 412.221, subd. 21, the city council may, by ordinance, regulate the keeping of animals, restrain them from running at large and authorize their impounding; whether that section covers your city was not established.
No statewide permission or prohibition on keeping chickens is established by this finding. A city council covered by s. 412.221 has power by ordinance to regulate the keeping of animals, so check with your city; whether that section covers your city was not established. This page doesn't cover the powers of other cities, towns and counties, local ordinances, or HOA, rooster and 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 Minnesota'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: Minnesota
Applies to: Minnesota Board of Animal Health poultry dealer permits and premises identification numbers (PINs), as checked on 24 October 2026.
Outside this finding's scope
- Whether Minnesota requires backyard poultry keepers to register was not established. The dealer permit covers businesses that buy and then sell poultry regularly, and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture describes PIN registration as highly encouraged rather than required.
What the checked sources say
- Anyone in the business of buying and then selling or distributing live poultry, hatching eggs or ratites on a regular basis needs a Board of Animal Health poultry dealer permit, renewed every year. Buying or selling for slaughter, or within the normal operation of a specific poultry production system, is not dealing.
- The Minnesota Department of Agriculture says all animal production or processing facilities are highly encouraged to register their site for an official Premise Identification Number, through the Board of Animal Health website.
Authority: Not established from the sources checked.
Fee: Not established from the sources checked.
The official wording
A poultry dealer may not buy, sell, trade, or distribute hatching eggs, poultry, or ratites in the state unless the dealer has obtained a permit from the board. Permits must be renewed annually based on a date set by the board.
"Poultry dealer" means a person or entity engaged in the business of buying and then selling or distributing live poultry, hatching eggs, or ratites on a regular basis for the person's own account or the account of others.
Poultry dealer does not include a person or entity buying or selling poultry or ratites for slaughter or a person or entity buying or selling poultry, hatching eggs, or ratites as part of the normal operation of a specific poultry production system.
All animal production or processing facilities in Minnesota are highly encouraged to register their site to obtain an official Premise Identification Number (PIN).
MDA HPAI page, "Premise Identification Number (PIN)" · Checked
Go to the Board of Animal Health website to register your premise and receive your PIN.
MDA HPAI page, "Premise Identification Number (PIN)", closing sentence · Checked
Bird-flu housing orders
Current status needs rechecking
Check the official current-status pageOrders 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: Minnesota
Applies to: Quarantine powers of the Minnesota Board of Animal Health over domestic animals, including poultry, under Minn. Stat. ss. 35.05 and 35.0661.
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 quarantine, control area or housing order applies now.
What the checked sources say
- Domestic animals include poultry under Minnesota’s animal health chapter. The Board of Animal Health may quarantine or kill any domestic animal infected with or exposed to a contagious or infectious dangerous disease when that is necessary to protect the state’s domestic animals.
- If the board certifies that a confirmed case is a substantial and imminent threat, the governor may declare an emergency letting the board, or a licensed veterinarian it designates, set up quarantine zones of control where an animal is deemed likely infected. Zones must be as small and short-lived as effective disease control allows, and the board may order limits on moving people, machinery and property off quarantined premises.
- As checked on 24 October 2026, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s HPAI page sent readers to the Board of Animal Health for the latest on the state’s response. It said a control area is a 10 km zone around infected flocks, where poultry keepers need a board permit to move birds or poultry products on or off the farm. Report sick birds on the HPAI hotline, 1-833-454-0156.
- 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.
"Livestock" and "domestic animals" include poultry.
Minn. Stat. s. 35.01, subd. 3 · Checked
"Board" or "state board" means the Board of Animal Health.
Minn. Stat. s. 35.01, subd. 2 · Checked
The state board may quarantine or kill any domestic animal infected with, or which has been exposed to, a contagious or infectious dangerous disease if it is necessary to protect the health of the domestic animals of the state.
Minn. Stat. s. 35.05(a) · Checked
After receiving certification from the board, the governor may declare an emergency under this section for purposes of allowing the board to establish quarantine zones of control to protect the health of domestic animals from animal diseases of potentially disastrous proportions.
Minn. Stat. s. 35.0661, subd. 1(a), second sentence · Checked
Upon an emergency declaration by the governor under subdivision 1, the board or any licensed veterinarian designated by the board may establish quarantine zones of control in any area where a specific animal is deemed by a licensed veterinarian as likely to be infected with the disease based on an actual veterinary examination or laboratory testing.
Quarantine zones of control to restrict the movement of livestock must be the smallest size practicable to prevent the spread of disease and must exist for the shortest duration consistent with effective disease control.
The board may issue orders restricting the movement of persons, machinery, and personal property off infected premises designated by the board as quarantined under subdivision 2.
Minn. Stat. s. 35.0661, subd. 3(a), first sentence · Checked
For the latest information on the state's response, visit the Minnesota Board of Animal Health website.
MDA HPAI page, introduction · Checked
A control area is a 10 km (6.2 miles) zone established around infected flocks. If you raise poultry and your farm is located in a control area, you will need a permit from the Board of Animal Health to move your birds and/or poultry related products on or off your farm.
MDA HPAI page, control area paragraph · Checked
The state has activated an HPAI hotline for anyone with poultry to ask questions or for anyone to report sick birds at 1-833-454-0156.
MDA HPAI page, introduction · Checked
If the board determines that a confirmed case of a disease in this state presents a substantial and imminent threat to the state's domestic animal population, it shall certify the case to the governor.
Minn. Stat. s. 35.0661, subd. 1(a), first sentence · Checked
Small-flock welfare minimums
Rule identified for the scope below
Jurisdiction: Minnesota
Applies to: Every living creature except humans, including chickens, under Minnesota’s animal-cruelty statutes, Minn. Stat. ss. 343.20–343.21.
Outside this finding's scope
- The public-display caging rule does not apply to the State Fair, county fairs and agricultural societies, agricultural displays by political subdivisions, or educational livestock or poultry exhibitions.
- This finding is not a complete welfare code and sets no numerical space standard or property permission.
What the checked sources say
- No one may torture, neglect, or unjustifiably injure or kill any animal, whether their own or someone else’s. Cruelty includes any act, omission or neglect that causes or permits unnecessary or unjustifiable pain, suffering or death.
- If an animal is in your charge or control, you may not deprive it of necessary food, water or shelter, and you may not keep it in an enclosure without wholesome exercise and change of air. You may not abandon any animal.
- Unless the statute provides otherwise, breaking these rules is a misdemeanor.
The official wording
"Animal" means every living creature except members of the human race.
Minn. Stat. s. 343.20, subd. 2 · Checked
"Torture" or "cruelty" means every act, omission, or neglect which causes or permits unnecessary or unjustifiable pain, suffering, or death.
Minn. Stat. s. 343.20, subd. 3 · Checked
No person shall overdrive, overload, torture, cruelly beat, neglect, or unjustifiably injure, maim, mutilate, or kill any animal, or cruelly work any animal when it is unfit for labor, whether it belongs to that person or to another person.
Minn. Stat. s. 343.21, subd. 1 · Checked
No person shall deprive any animal over which the person has charge or control of necessary food, water, or shelter.
Minn. Stat. s. 343.21, subd. 2 · Checked
No person shall keep any cow or other animal in any enclosure without providing wholesome exercise and change of air.
Minn. Stat. s. 343.21, subd. 3 · Checked
No person shall abandon any animal.
Minn. Stat. s. 343.21, subd. 5 · Checked
a person who fails to comply with any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor.
The provisions of this subdivision do not apply to the Minnesota State Agricultural Society, the Minnesota State Fair, or to the county agricultural societies, county fairs, to any agricultural display of caged animals by any political subdivision of the state of Minnesota, or to district, regional or national educational livestock or poultry exhibitions.
National or state rules on keeping poultry
Conditions apply to this finding
Jurisdiction: Minnesota
Applies to: The power over keeping animals that Minn. Stat. s. 412.221 gives a city council, and the state limit on nuisance claims against agricultural operations.
Outside this finding's scope
- No statewide permission or prohibition on keeping chickens is established by this finding. A city council covered by s. 412.221 has power by ordinance to regulate the keeping of animals, so check with your city; whether that section covers your city was not established. This page doesn't cover the powers of other cities, towns and counties, local ordinances, or HOA, rooster and setback rules.
- The nuisance protection does not apply to a prosecution for the crime of public nuisance, to an action by a public authority to abate a particular condition that is a public nuisance, or to enforcement actions by a local government related to zoning under Minnesota Statutes chapter 394 or 462. Whether a backyard flock is an agricultural operation was not established.
What the checked sources say
- Under Minn. Stat. s. 412.221, subd. 21, the city council may, by ordinance, regulate the keeping of animals, restrain them from running at large and authorize their impounding; whether that section covers your city was not established.
- An agricultural operation, including a facility producing poultry or poultry products, cannot become a nuisance as a matter of law after two years if it is in an agriculturally zoned area, complies with all applicable laws, ordinances and permits, and follows generally accepted agricultural practices.
The official wording
The council shall have power by ordinance to regulate the keeping of animals, to restrain their running at large, to authorize their impounding and sale or summary destruction, and to establish pounds, and to license and regulate riding academies.
Minn. Stat. s. 412.221, subd. 21 · Checked
"Agricultural operation" means a facility and its appurtenances for the production of crops, livestock, poultry, dairy products or poultry products, but not a facility primarily engaged in processing agricultural products.
Minn. Stat. s. 561.19, subd. 1(a) · Checked
An agricultural operation is not and shall not become a private or public nuisance after two years from its established date of operation as a matter of law if the operation: (1) is located in an agriculturally zoned area;
Minn. Stat. s. 561.19, subd. 2(a), opening and clause (1) · Checked
(2) complies with the provisions of all applicable federal, state, or county laws, regulations, rules, and ordinances and any permits issued for the agricultural operation; and (3) operates according to generally accepted agricultural practices.
Minn. Stat. s. 561.19, subd. 2(a), clauses (2)-(3) · Checked
to any enforcement action brought by a local unit of government related to zoning under chapter 394 or 462.
Minn. Stat. s. 561.19, subd. 2(c)(3) · Checked
(c) The provisions of this subdivision do not apply:
(2) to any prosecution for the crime of public nuisance as provided in section 609.74 or to an action by a public authority to abate a particular condition which is a public nuisance; or
Minn. Stat. s. 561.19, subd. 2(c)(2) · Checked
Next door
Every state on the map →Common questions
- Do I have to register backyard chickens in Minnesota?
- Registration: not established. The finding covers: Minnesota Board of Animal Health poultry dealer permits and premises identification numbers (PINs), as checked on 24 October 2026. Outside this finding's scope: Whether Minnesota requires backyard poultry keepers to register was not established. The dealer permit covers businesses that buy and then sell poultry regularly, and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture describes PIN registration as highly encouraged rather than required.
- Can I keep chickens in my backyard in Minnesota?
- The state law we read gives a named local body its own powers over where hens can live. Under Minn. Stat. s. 412.221, subd. 21, the city council may, by ordinance, regulate the keeping of animals, restrain them from running at large and authorize their impounding; whether that section covers your city was not established. No statewide permission or prohibition on keeping chickens is established by this finding. A city council covered by s. 412.221 has power by ordinance to regulate the keeping of animals, so check with your city; whether that section covers your city was not established. This page doesn't cover the powers of other cities, towns and counties, local ordinances, or HOA, rooster and 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 Minnesota?
- Housing orders come and go, so we never show one as current. This page links the official status page to check today.
Allowed where you live? Then keep the records.
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