Can you keep backyard chickens in Missouri?
Missouri cities, towns and villages may regulate how land is used for homes and other purposes (RSMo 89.020), so check yours first. Whether keepers must register wasn't established.
Read from 13 official sources40 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:
- To promote health, safety, morals or the general welfare, the legislative body of every Missouri city, town and village may regulate and restrict the location and use of buildings, structures and land for trade, industry, residence or other purposes. A city, town or village in a county that has adopted zoning under chapter 64 may instead adopt the county’s zoning regulations by reference.
No statewide permission or prohibition on keeping chickens is established by this finding. Your city, town or village may regulate land use, so check with it. This page names the state law, not its own ordinances, and doesn't cover county zoning powers or 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 Missouri'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: Missouri
Applies to: Missouri’s voluntary animal identification program and the statutory bar on mandated NAIS premises registration (RSMo 267.168), as checked on 24 October 2026.
Outside this finding's scope
- Whether any Missouri law requires backyard poultry keepers to register was not established. No keeper registration duty was found in RSMo 267.168 or in the section headings of RSMo chapter 267 read on 24 October 2026; other chapters and the Department of Agriculture's rules were not read, and whether a governor's executive order currently waives section 267.168 was not checked.
What the checked sources say
- Missouri may support a voluntary animal identification program. The state Department of Agriculture may not mandate or otherwise force national animal identification system (NAIS) premises registration without specific statutory authorization from the Missouri General Assembly, and anyone taking part in NAIS may withdraw at any time.
- If section 267.168 interferes with the marketing of Missouri livestock, the governor may waive it, in whole or in part, by executive order until the end of the next regular session of the General Assembly or any special session the governor calls.
Authority: Not established from the sources checked.
Fee: Not established from the sources checked.
The official wording
The state of Missouri may support a voluntary animal identification program. The department of agriculture shall not mandate or otherwise force national animal identification system (NAIS) premises registration without specific statutory authorization from the Missouri general assembly.
RSMo 267.168.1 · Checked
Any person who participates in the national animal identification system may withdraw from the system at any time.
RSMo 267.168.2, first sentence · Checked
If the provisions of this section interfere with the marketing of Missouri livestock, the governor by executive order may waive the provisions of this section in whole or in part until the completion of the next regular session of the Missouri general assembly or any special session called by the governor at which time the executive order shall expire.
RSMo 267.168.3 · 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: Missouri
Applies to: Quarantine and isolation powers of Missouri's state veterinarian and Department of Agriculture over diseased or exposed animals and birds, under RSMo 267.565, 267.590, 267.595 and 267.645 (the sections read).
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, isolation or housing order applies now.
What the checked sources say
- If, on investigation, the state veterinarian is satisfied that an animal, livestock or bird, or a herd or flock, is suffering from or has been exposed to a highly contagious, communicable or infectious disease against which the state veterinarian thinks it best to quarantine, the state veterinarian must immediately quarantine it to pens, farms, sheds or barns completely separated from other susceptible animals or birds, until the animals or birds recover and can no longer spread the disease, are isolated, are killed or disposed of, are tested, vaccinated or treated, or are otherwise released.
- Quarantine here means restricting an animal or bird of any species to a particular premises on terms the state veterinarian sets by order; isolation means quarantine to a designated premises, separately from animals or birds on adjacent premises. Livestock in these sections includes poultry and other domesticated animals or birds.
- With the governor’s approval, the director of agriculture, or the state veterinarian acting for the director, may order an area quarantined when the state veterinarian considers it essential, for example to confine an outbreak of a highly contagious and communicable disease; the order sets the terms owners of livestock in the area must meet. The department may enter any premises where livestock or birds are kept to enforce these sections.
- As checked on 24 October 2026, the Missouri Department of Agriculture’s avian influenza page told flock owners to contact their veterinarian and the department’s Animal Health division at (573) 751-3377 if they see sickness in their flock.
- 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.
"Bird", a bird of the avian species;
RSMo 267.565(5) · Checked
poultry and other domesticated animals or birds;
RSMo 267.565(13) "Livestock", closing · Checked
"Quarantine", a condition in which an animal or bird of any species is restricted in movement to a particular premises under such terms and conditions as may be designated by order of the state veterinarian or his duly authorized deputies;
RSMo 267.565(16) · Checked
"Isolated" or "isolation", a condition in which animals or birds are quarantined to a certain designated premises and quarantined separately and apart from any other animals or birds on adjacent premises;
RSMo 267.565(11) · Checked
If, upon investigation, the state veterinarian is satisfied that an animal, livestock or bird or a herd or flock of animals or birds is suffering from any highly contagious, communicable or infectious disease or exposure thereto, against which he may think best to quarantine,
RSMo 267.590, opening · Checked
he shall immediately quarantine the same to pens, farms, sheds or barns completely separated from other susceptible animals or birds not so diseased or infected until
RSMo 267.590, opening, continued · Checked
(1) Such diseased animals or birds are recovered and no longer capable of transmitting the disease or diseases to other susceptible animals or birds; or (2) Shall have been isolated; or
RSMo 267.590(1)-(2) · Checked
(4) Tested, vaccinated or otherwise treated; or (5) As otherwise released by the state veterinarian.
RSMo 267.590(4)-(5) · Checked
(3) Killed or disposed of as provided for in sections 267.560 to 267.660 and the rules of the department; or
RSMo 267.590(3) · Checked
the director of agriculture or the state veterinarian acting for the director of agriculture with the approval of the governor, may order the area quarantined. Such order shall set forth the terms and conditions that are to be met by the owner of livestock within areas affected by the order.
RSMo 267.595.1, closing · Checked
When in the opinion of the state veterinarian the quarantine of an area is essential to (1) Confine an outbreak of a highly contagious and communicable disease affecting livestock, animals or birds as defined in sections 267.560 to 267.660 ; or
RSMo 267.595.1(1) · Checked
is empowered to enter at any time any premises, barns, stables, sheds, vehicles or other places where livestock or birds are kept for the purpose of administering and enforcing the provisions of sections 267.560 to 267.660 .
RSMo 267.645.1, closing · Checked
Contact your veterinarian and the Missouri Department of Agriculture’s Animal Health division at (573) 751-3377 if you see sickness in your flock.
Missouri Department of Agriculture avian influenza page, "Quick Facts" box, closing · Checked
Small-flock welfare minimums
Conditions apply to this finding
Jurisdiction: Missouri
Applies to: Anyone who has custody or ownership of an animal, meaning every living vertebrate except a human being, under Missouri's animal neglect and abuse statutes, RSMo 578.005, 578.007, 578.009 and 578.012 (the sections read).
Outside this finding's scope
- These sections do not apply to normal or accepted practices of animal husbandry with respect to farm animals (animals raised on a farm or ranch and used or intended for use in farm or ranch production, or as food or fiber), or to the killing of an animal by its owner, the owner's agent, or a veterinarian at the owner's request, an exemption RSMo 578.007(6) does not limit to farm animals. Whether a backyard flock counts as farm animals was not established.
- The other listed exemptions cover care by a licensed veterinarian; bona fide scientific experiments; hunting, fishing or trapping as allowed by chapter 252, including the Missouri Wildlife Code; facilities and publicly funded zoos complying with the federal Animal Welfare Act; rodeo practices accepted by the Professional Rodeo Cowboy's Association; lawful, humane killing by an animal control officer, animal shelter operator, veterinarian, or law enforcement or health official; killing an animal that is off its owner's or custodian's property and injuring a person or farm animal (not a working law enforcement animal); killing house or garden pests; and field trials, training and hunting practices accepted by the Professional Houndsmen of Missouri. The neglect section (578.009) also says it does not apply to the provisions of section 578.007 or chapter 272; chapter 272 was not read, so what that carve-out covers was not established.
- This finding is not a complete welfare code and sets no numerical space standard or property permission.
What the checked sources say
- Anyone who has custody or ownership of an animal must provide adequate care, meaning normal and prudent attention to its needs, including wholesome food, clean water, shelter and health care as necessary to keep that species in good health, and must not knowingly abandon it without provision for its adequate care. Animal neglect is a class C misdemeanor, or a class B misdemeanor after a prior finding of guilt.
- Purposely or intentionally causing injury or suffering to an animal, or, as its owner or custodian, knowingly failing to provide adequate care that results in substantial harm, is animal abuse: a class A misdemeanor, or a class E felony after a prior finding of guilt or where the suffering results from torture or mutilation consciously inflicted while the animal was alive.
The official wording
"Animal", every living vertebrate except a human being;
RSMo 578.005(3) · Checked
"Adequate care", normal and prudent attention to the needs of an animal, including wholesome food, clean water, shelter and health care as necessary to maintain good health in a specific species of animal;
RSMo 578.005(1) · Checked
"Owner", in addition to its ordinary meaning, any person who keeps or harbors an animal or professes to be owning, keeping, or harboring an animal;
RSMo 578.005(9) · Checked
"Farm animal", an animal raised on a farm or ranch and used or intended for use in farm or ranch production, or as food or fiber;
RSMo 578.005(5) · Checked
A person commits the offense of animal neglect if he or she: (1) Has custody or ownership of an animal and fails to provide adequate care; or (2) Knowingly abandons an animal in any place without making provisions for its adequate care.
RSMo 578.009.1 · Checked
The offense of animal neglect is a class C misdemeanor unless the person has previously been found guilty of an offense under this section, or an offense in another jurisdiction which would constitute an offense under this section, in which case it is a class B misdemeanor.
RSMo 578.009.2 · Checked
(2) Purposely or intentionally causes injury or suffering to an animal; or (3) Having ownership or custody of an animal knowingly fails to provide adequate care which results in substantial harm to the animal.
RSMo 578.012.1(2)-(3) · Checked
Animal abuse is a class A misdemeanor, unless the defendant has previously been found guilty of animal abuse or the suffering involved in subdivision (2) of subsection 1 of this section is the result of torture or mutilation consciously inflicted while the animal was alive, in which case it is a class E felony.
RSMo 578.012.2 · Checked
The provisions of section 574.130 and sections 578.005 to 578.023 shall not apply to: (1) Care or treatment performed by a licensed veterinarian within the provisions of chapter 340 ; (2) Bona fide scientific experiments; (3) Hunting, fishing, or trapping as allowed by chapter 252 , including all practices and privileges as allowed under the Missouri Wildlife Code;
RSMo 578.007(1)-(3) · Checked
(4) Facilities and publicly funded zoological parks currently in compliance with the federal "Animal Welfare Act" as amended; (5) Rodeo practices currently accepted by the Professional Rodeo Cowboy's Association; (6) The killing of an animal by the owner thereof, the agent of such owner, or by a veterinarian at the request of the owner thereof;
RSMo 578.007(4)-(6) · Checked
(7) The lawful, humane killing of an animal by an animal control officer, the operator of an animal shelter, a veterinarian, or law enforcement or health official; (8) With respect to farm animals, normal or accepted practices of animal husbandry;
RSMo 578.007(7)-(8) · Checked
(9) The killing of an animal by any person at any time if such animal is outside of the owned or rented property of the owner or custodian of such animal and the animal is injuring any person or farm animal, but this exemption shall not include the killing or injuring of a law enforcement animal while working;
RSMo 578.007(9) · Checked
(10) The killing of house or garden pests; or (11) Field trials, training and hunting practices as accepted by the Professional Houndsmen of Missouri.
RSMo 578.007(10)-(11) · Checked
This section shall not apply to the provisions of section 578.007 or chapter 272 .
RSMo 578.009.3, last sentence · Checked
National or state rules on keeping poultry
Conditions apply to this finding
Jurisdiction: Missouri
Applies to: Missouri’s grant of zoning power to cities, towns and villages, the nuisance protection for agricultural operations, and the state constitution’s right-to-farm clause.
Outside this finding's scope
- No statewide permission or prohibition on keeping chickens is established by this finding. Your city, town or village may regulate land use, so check with it. This page names the state law, not its own ordinances, and doesn't cover county zoning powers or HOA, rooster or setback rules.
- The nuisance protection covers agricultural operations, including facilities used to produce poultry or poultry products for commercial purposes; whether a backyard flock qualifies was not established. It does not apply where a nuisance results from negligent or improper operation, or to a nuisance from an agricultural operation located within the limits of any city, town or village on August 13, 1982, and it does not defeat damages claims for water pollution or for overflow of land.
- The constitutional right to farm is subject to duly authorized powers, if any, conferred by article VI of the Missouri Constitution; how it applies to a backyard flock or to a particular local ordinance was not established.
What the checked sources say
- To promote health, safety, morals or the general welfare, the legislative body of every Missouri city, town and village may regulate and restrict the location and use of buildings, structures and land for trade, industry, residence or other purposes. A city, town or village in a county that has adopted zoning under chapter 64 may instead adopt the county’s zoning regulations by reference.
- An agricultural operation that has been operating for more than one year, and was not a nuisance when it began, may not be deemed a public or private nuisance because conditions in the locality have changed.
- Missouri’s constitution guarantees the right of farmers and ranchers to engage in farming and ranching practices, subject to duly authorized powers, if any, conferred by article VI.
The official wording
For the purpose of promoting health, safety, morals or the general welfare of the community, the legislative body of all cities, towns, and villages is hereby empowered to regulate and restrict the height, number of stories, and size of buildings and other structures,
RSMo 89.020.1, opening · Checked
and the location and use of buildings, structures and land for trade, industry, residence or other purposes.
RSMo 89.020.1, closing · Checked
Any city, town, or village that is granted zoning powers under this section and is located within a county that has adopted zoning regulations under chapter 64 may enact an ordinance to adopt by reference the zoning regulations of such county in lieu of adopting its own zoning regulations.
RSMo 89.020.7 · Checked
No agricultural operation or any of its appurtenances shall be deemed to be a nuisance, private or public, by any changed conditions in the locality thereof after the facility has been in operation for more than one year, when the facility was not a nuisance at the time the operation began.
RSMo 537.295.1, first sentence · Checked
As used in this section the term "agricultural operation and its appurtenances" includes, but is not limited to, any facility used in the production or processing for commercial purposes of crops, livestock, swine, poultry, livestock products, swine products or poultry products.
RSMo 537.295.2 · Checked
The provisions of this section shall not apply whenever a nuisance results from the negligent or improper operation of any such agricultural operation or its appurtenances.
RSMo 537.295.1, last sentence · Checked
The provisions of this section shall not affect or defeat the right of any person, firm or corporation to recover damages for any injuries sustained by it as a result of the pollution or other change in the quantity or quality of water used by that person, firm or corporation for private or commercial purposes,
RSMo 537.295.3, opening · Checked
or as a result of any overflow of land owned by or in the possession of any such person, firm or corporation.
RSMo 537.295.3, closing · Checked
The provisions of this section shall not apply to any nuisance resulting from an agricultural operation located within the limits of any city, town or village on August 13, 1982.
RSMo 537.295.4 · Checked
the right of farmers and ranchers to engage in farming and ranching practices shall be forever guaranteed in this state, subject to duly authorized powers, if any, conferred by article VI of the Constitution of Missouri.
Mo. Const. art. I, s. 35, second sentence, closing · Checked
Bird flu right now? PoultryPal's bird-flu tracker for Missouri has the latest we've checked.
Next door
Every state on the map →Common questions
- Do I have to register backyard chickens in Missouri?
- Registration: not established. The finding covers: Missouri’s voluntary animal identification program and the statutory bar on mandated NAIS premises registration (RSMo 267.168), as checked on 24 October 2026. Outside this finding's scope: Whether any Missouri law requires backyard poultry keepers to register was not established. No keeper registration duty was found in RSMo 267.168 or in the section headings of RSMo chapter 267 read on 24 October 2026; other chapters and the Department of Agriculture's rules were not read, and whether a governor's executive order currently waives section 267.168 was not checked.
- Can I keep chickens in my backyard in Missouri?
- The state law we read gives a named local body its own powers over where hens can live. To promote health, safety, morals or the general welfare, the legislative body of every Missouri city, town and village may regulate and restrict the location and use of buildings, structures and land for trade, industry, residence or other purposes. A city, town or village in a county that has adopted zoning under chapter 64 may instead adopt the county’s zoning regulations by reference. No statewide permission or prohibition on keeping chickens is established by this finding. Your city, town or village may regulate land use, so check with it. This page names the state law, not its own ordinances, and doesn't cover county zoning powers or 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 Missouri?
- Housing orders come and go, so we never show one as current. This page links the official status page to check today. PoultryPal's bird-flu tracker page for Missouri has the latest we've checked.
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