Colorado Poultry Association

You should still contact the city in question to make sure that there was not a portion of the writings I might have missed or the laws have not changed.

Anyone who has any new information about chickens in cities not listed here, or zoning changes, please contact myself, Cami Naccarato at findingfeathersfarm@gmail.com so I can update the information.

 *For space, pieces of the ordinances have been deleted that do not pertain to fowl.*

Arvada

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ANIMAL, DOMESTIC

Dogs, cats, rodents, birds, reptiles, fish, pot-bellied pigs weighing less than 70

pounds, and any other species of animal that is sold or retained as a household

pet, but does not include skunks, nonhuman primates, and other species of wild, exotic, or carnivorous animals that may be further restricted in the Arvada City Code.

Boulder County

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Depends on your zoning. Suburban Residential can have up to 8 hens and 2 bee colonies

 http://www.bouldercounty.org/doc/landuse/p29keepinganimals.pdf

Broomfield

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 https://www.municode.com/library/co/broomfield/codes/municipal_code?nodeId=TIT6AN_CH6-24LIHOPRAN

Centennial

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6 hens

 http://centennialcitizen.net/stories/In-Centennial-chickens-count-but-not-hamsters,62336

Colorado Springs

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The following is for in city limits of Colorado Springs.:

6.7.106 Any shelter provided for rabbits or fowl shall contain an area of at least four (4) square feet for each rabbit or fowl. An adequate area outside the shelter must be provided for any rabbits or fowl. The maximum number of rabbits or fowl maintained on a premises shall not exceed ten (10) each of the age of six (6) months or older.
6.7.110 Roosters; Cocks: It shall be unlawful for any person to own or keep any rooster or cock within the City.
6.7.115 It shall be unlawful for any person to own or keep any pet or hoofed animal which by any unreasonably loud and persistent barking, howling, baying, yelping, crowing, crying or other utterance disturbs the peace and quiet of the neighborhood.

6.7.102: DEFINITIONS:

This section has been affected by a recently passed ordinance, Ordinance 08-209: ANIMALS-DOGS AND CATS. Go to new ordinance.

ANIMAL: Any animal, hoofed or otherwise, including any cat, dog, fowl or rabbit.

ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER: Any law enforcement officer, special officer or authorized agent or representative of the City authorized to enforce this article through article 10 of this chapter.

AT LARGE: Off the premises of the owner or keeper, and not under direct physical restraint.

ATTACK: To bite, gore, or engage in any violent or aggressive physical contact with a person.

CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER: Staff member of the City's Code Enforcement Office.

DANGEROUS ANIMAL: Any animal that attacks, threatens to attack or injures any person.

ENCLOSURE OF A DANGEROUS ANIMAL: While on the owner's property, a dangerous animal shall be confined indoors or in a securely enclosed and locked pen, structure or fenced area suitable to prevent the animal from escaping.

FOWL: Any fowl, including any chicken, duck, goose, turkey, pigeon or other fowl.

IMPOUND; IMPOUNDMENT: The holding of an animal in the animal shelter as required for a violation of article 7, 8, 9, or 10 of this chapter for a period of five (5) days or until release is ordered by a Judge of the Municipal Court. This term does not include the voluntary surrender of an animal to the animal shelter by a private citizen for the purpose of relinquishing ownership.

OWNER OR KEEPER: Any person, firm, corporation, organization, or department possessing, harboring, keeping, having an interest in, or having control or custody, either permanently or temporarily, of an animal.

PET: Any domesticated or wild animal which is fed, watered, harbored or allowed to remain at or in the vicinity of a residence in the City by any person, excluding:

A. Any hoofed animal;

B. Any animal held for sale by a dealer in animals;

C. Any animal in a zoo, exhibition or fair authorized by the City; and

D. Any animal which is held for use in bona fide scientific research.

PROVOKE: To incite, aggravate, tempt, agitate, taunt, tease, torment, or abuse.

ROOSTER OR COCK: Male domestic fowl of the gallinaceous kind, to include peacock and peafowl.

SEVERE INJURY: An injury caused by an animal in which at a minimum the skin is broken, exterior bleeding occurs, or medical treatment by a licensed physician is necessary.

SHELTER: A structure beneath, behind or within which an animal is protected from the weather or any adverse conditions.

THREATEN TO ATTACK: Any obvious attitude of attack to include, but not be limited to, approaching in a menacing fashion such as growling, snapping or charging at a person on property other than the owner's. (1968 Code �11-112; Ord. 74-114; 1980 Code; Ord. 81-203; Ord. 87-36; Ord. 89-13; Ord. 91-32; Ord. 96-131; Ord. 01-42; Ord. 03-31; Ord. 06-105)

6.7.106: ANIMALS KEPT ON PREMISES; SANITARY REQUIREMENTS:

Animals may be kept within the City upon compliance with the following requirements:

A.All fecal waste shall be removed as necessary from premises and placed in closed flytight containers, at least every three (3) to seven (7) days. The Code Enforcement Officer has the authority to order more frequent removal depending on the number and size of the animals on the property. The contents of the containers shall be removed from the City as necessary to prevent the contents from becoming a nuisance.

B.The premises upon which animals are kept shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition and shall be subject to inspection at all reasonable hours by the Code Enforcement Officer or the Health Department.

C.The premises upon which an animal is kept shall be fenced or the animal tied so that the animal while unattended is securely contained and is not a danger to persons or property.

D.Any shelter provided for rabbits or fowl shall contain an area of at least four (4) square feet for each rabbit or fowl. An adequate area outside the shelter must be provided for any rabbits or fowl. The maximum number of rabbits or fowl maintained on a premises shall not exceed ten (10) each of the age of six (6) months or older.

E.Variance from the provisions of subsection D of this section, pertaining to the number of rabbits or fowl, shall be considered a nonuse variance as defined in the City's Zoning Code and shall be governed by the procedures set forth in the City's Zoning Code.

6.7.110: SPECIFIC ANIMALS PROHIBITED; EXCEPTION:

A.Roosters; Cocks: It shall be unlawful for any person to own or keep any rooster or cock within the City.

6.7.115: NOISY PETS OR ANIMALS PROHIBITED:

A.It shall be unlawful for any person to own or keep any pet or hoofed animal which by any unreasonably loud and persistent barking, howling, baying, yelping, crowing, crying or other utterance disturbs the peace and quiet of the neighborhood.

B.It shall be a defense to the violation of this section that the complainant provoked the pet or hoofed animal whose noise is complained of by the complainant.

C.In the event an animal control officer determines that a violation of this section has occurred, the animal control officer shall give the owner or keeper of the animal a written warning of the violation pursuant to this chapter. The owner or keeper shall be entitled to a period of three (3) days after the date on which the written warning is given to correct the violation. If the violation persists or recurs for any pet or hoofed animal at the same residence cited in the warning after the three (3) day period, the owner or keeper shall be subject to enforcement action under this chapter. No enforcement action for a violation of this section shall be taken more than six (6) calendar months after the date on which a written warning for that violation is given. If enforcement action is taken within six (6) months of the date on which a written warning was given, the issuance of a summons and complaint shall constitute written warning for the purposes of calculating a new six (6) month enforcement period. Only one warning per residence, per enforcement period, regardless if served on the owner or keeper, will be given.

D.The warning process to be employed by the animal control officer shall be as follows:

1. A written warning pursuant to subsection C of this section will be issued by the animal control officer if, upon investigation, the officer establishes that there is one witness to the unreasonably loud and persistent nature of the noise. The officer or the complaining witness may be relied upon as a witness in meeting this requirement.

2. The warning shall be sufficient if it cites this section, states that a complaint has been received, that the person's pet or hoofed animal is disturbing the peace of another in the neighborhood, identifies the date and time of the disturbance, identifies the animal disturbing the peace, identifies the witness to the disturbance and is identified as coming from within the City limits.

3. A warning is given under this section if it is posted on the owner's or keeper's premises.

4. The City shall keep records of all warnings given and the records shall be prima facie evidence that the warnings were given.

E.No person shall be convicted at trial of violating this section unless some testimonial or demonstrative evidence is presented corroborating the complaining witness's allegation of the unreasonably loud and persistent nature of the noise and a warning was issued pursuant to subsection D of this section. A corroborating witness shall not include the complainant nor a member of the complainant's household.

F.Upon a second conviction entered and in addition to any other penalties that may be imposed, the court may order the owner or keeper of the pet to abate the nuisance within five (5) days. Failure to abate the nuisance within five (5) days shall constitute a "contempt of court" as defined in chapter 11 of this Code.

G.For the purpose of this section, "neighborhood" means the area within five hundred feet (500') of the exterior boundaries of the premises where the pet resides; "disturb" means to unreasonably annoy, perturb or interfere with the quiet enjoyment of another's premises.

H.Among the circumstances which may be considered in determining whether reasonable grounds for belief have arisen that an owner's or keeper's pet or hoofed animal is in violation of this section are:

1. The time of day.

2. The location of the noise.

3. The frequency of the noise.

4. The length of time for which the noise persists. (Ord. 96-131; Ord. 01-42; Ord. 03-31; Ord. 04-178)

Denver

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As of June 2011, Denver now allows each lot to have up to 8 chickens and ducks (total of 8) and 2 dwarf goats.  These must be females, although there some brief exceptions for newborn male goats and neutered goats. 

$25.00 one time registration for the property.

SUMMARY
Total estimated time to get permit assuming a reasonable ten days from Animal Control and a few extra days in between: 60 days

Time expended in getting an approval: 12.5 hours, which includes 1 letter and 1 trip to Animal Control, a meeting with Animal Control at your property, 3 trips to Zoning, posting signs on your property, getting letters of support from your neighbors.

Total application fees: $150

Total annual fees: $70

Not surprisingly, the rules are sufficiently complex and expensive that they provide a significant disincentive to obtaining a permit.   From a financial perspective, it is far cheaper for a potential chicken owner to drive to the supermarket and purchase eggs that were trucked to the store, rather than to produce eggs in the backyard.   (Of course, this assessment does not take into consideration the cost to the environment or to the metro region’s air or traffic congestion.)   I spoke to two animal control staff on February 17, 2009 and the answer to my question about how many such permits have been granted was, “a handful,” and “just a few.”  (The Zoning Department does not compile a list of applicants for such permits as their records are by address; I have requested a list of applicants from Animal Control via the Colorado Open Records Act.)  Consequently, this leads some Denver residents into becoming chicken outlaws, an observation I confirmed by internet research into the growing underground chicken movement in Denver. 

1Sec. 8-92.  Nuisance-free facilities prerequisite to granting.
A permit to keep livestock or fowl within the city shall not be granted unless the owner or possessor provides facilities which will reasonably assure the manager that the premises will be maintained in a sanitary condition, free from insects and rodents, offensive odors, excessive noise, or any other conditions which constitute a public nuisance.

2 What kind of livestock are permitted?  The law contains no limits, but at least some of the animals contemplated are mentioned in the Zoning Ordinance:
Sec. 8-91.  Livestock or fowl permit required.
It shall be unlawful for any person to keep, maintain, possess or harbor on any property within the city any livestock or fowl such as, but not limited to, horses, mules, donkeys, burros, cattle, sheep, goats, swine, chickens, geese, ducks or turkeys, unless a livestock or fowl permit therefor has been issued by the manager. Such permit is required to be renewed annually for a fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) for each application.

3 Sec 59-38(a)(12)e.   Keeping of animals  . In addition to the animals permitted by the zoning administrator, the zoning administrator may authorize, upon application in specific cases, subject to terms and conditions fixed by the board and pursuant to the conditions hereinafter set forth, an exception permitting the keeping of animals in connection with the operation of a single unit dwelling or a dwelling unit in a multiple unit dwelling. Such exception shall be personal to the applicant therefor. Notwithstanding other provisions of chapter 59, which limit the number of animals, the breeding of animals may be permitted. 
1.   The application shall be filed in the name of the land owner.
2.   The owner/tenant seeking the exception must occupy the subject property as his/her primary residence;
3.   The animal shall be kept solely as a pet; a hobby; for educational, research, rehabilitation or propagation purposes; or for the production of food products for personal consumption by the resident;
4.   The application shall contain provisions which ensure that the exception will not substantially or permanently injure the appropriate use of adjacent conforming property. In determining that this condition will be met, the zoning administrator shall consider the following factors:
i.   The type of animal to be kept;
ii.   The number to be kept;
iii.   The maximum size of the animal;
iv.   The space or area in which the animal is to be kept and whether or not other animals may occupy that same space;
v.   The methods by which any sanitation problems will be controlled;
vi.   The methods by which abutting residents will be protected from any nuisance; and
vii.   The applicant's intent to allow reproduction.
5.   The applicant shall have written approval from the department of environmental health;
6.   The applicant shall have written approval from the division of wildlife, Colorado Department of Natural Resources, if applicable, for species of animals considered to be wildlife;
7.   The applicant shall have notified abutting owners about the proposed animal and shall have requested letters of support or petitions of consent from such owners. If any of said owners fail to consent, the zoning administrator shall consider the circumstances, including any letters or petitions of opposition. Further, the zoning administrator shall give serious consideration to any letter from a physician stating that a resident living nearby is allergic to some feature of the proposed animal and may have a serious reaction if exposed to such animal.
8.   Any structure erected for the shelter of such animal shall comply with all regulations for the zone district in which such property is located. If a variance is required for any such structure, an application for a variance must be made to the board of adjustments. Any such structure shall be maintained in accordance with the building and housing codes and shall be subject to inspection by the building inspection division and the department of environmental health.
9.   An approved exception for an animal shall not be valid until the applicant has executed an agreement listing the terms and conditions fixed by the zoning administrator and the applicable conditions set forth above. Such agreement shall be recorded with the clerk and recorder. The permit for an approved exception shall expire at such time as the applicant no longer resides at the property, or discontinues the keeping of subject animal.
10.   Upon receipt of a complaint from an abutting property owner, the department of zoning administration shall investigate. If any deviations from the conditions listed in the agreement exist, an order may be issued terminating the exception. The order may then be appealed to the board of adjustments for review.

Evans

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6.04.170 Certain animals prohibited. It shall be unlawful for any person to keep, harbor, care

for or possess the following animals within the city of Evans.

A. Any animal having poisonous bites.

B. Any farm animal, as defined in this chapter, on properties with less than 5000 square feet (Farm animals by definition is Farm animal" means horse, mule, ass, sheep, goat (excluding pygmy goat), llama, swine (excluding pot belly pig), cow, or other cloven hoofed animals commonly known as livestock.. *I could not find anything in relation to the mentioned "Fowl Animal" in the codes online.* of open area designed to be used and used by the animals. Furthermore, an additional 2500 square feet of open area is required for each animal in excess of three. This open area must be located at least 50 feet from any residence, business or other building intended for human habitation.

Englewood

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No restrictions - No nuisance

Ft. Collins

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Just passed the law to allow 6 hens in town. It was voted on and passed 5-1. Way to go to everyone who made that possible!

 http://www.colocode.com/ftcollins/municipal/chapter4.htm#sec4d117

Golden

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Special use permit - $45

• The keeping of up to 6 chicken hens
• Vietnamese pot bellied pigs
• Beehives for domesticated honeybees
• Any dwarfed hoofed animal
• Pigeon coops
• Rabbits and or chinchillas

http://www.cityofgolden.net/city-services/chickens-small-animal-permits/

Littleton

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Updated 3/27/15 - 4 Hens

 http://littletonindependent.net/stories/Count-your-chickens-Council-passes-ordinance,103056

Has only a few articles that touch on "fowl" and those are listed below:

Chapter 1
ANIMALS AND FOWL

6-1-1: CONDITIONS AND ACTS PROHIBITED:

(A) Fighting Places Prohibited: No person shall keep or cause to be kept any place where any fowl or any animals are suffered to fight upon exhibition, or for sport upon any wager. (1971 Code, sec. 4.1)

(B) Annoying Odors: The maintenance on any premises in the City of a dog or other animal in such a manner or in such living quarters so as to cause annoying and offensive odors to permeate the neighborhood, or to seriously annoy persons passing to and fro upon the streets or sidewalks, is hereby declared to be a nuisance and shall not be permitted within the City. (1971 Code, sec. 4.2)

(C) (Repealed by Ord. 1, Series of 1979)

(D) Abandonment Of Animals: It shall be unlawful for any person to abandon any animal or to cause any animal to be abandoned. (1971 Code, sec. 4.10)

6-1-2: ANIMALS AT LARGE:

(A) Fowl Running At Large: It shall be unlawful for any person owning or having in his possession or custody any chickens or feathered fowl to have the same running at large in the City and upon the property of others or upon the streets, alleys or other public places within the City.

(B) Livestock Running At Large: It shall be unlawful for any person owning or having in his possession or custody any livestock to have said livestock be running at large and unattended within the City. For purposes of this Section, "livestock" shall be defined as any bovine animal, horse, mule, or ass. Unattended animals in violation of this Section shall be ordered impounded by the Chief of Police in a pound, stable or other location designated by the Police Department, and the reasonable cost of the transporting, feeding and keeping such animal shall be paid by the owner before the animal is released from said pound.

(C) It shall not be a defense to this Section that the owner did not permit the animals to be running at large. (Ord. 18, Series 1982)

6-1-6: POSSESSION OF CERTAIN ANIMALS:

It shall be unlawful for any person to possess, display, sell, or give away dyed, colored or in any way artificially treated baby chicks, ducklings, fowl, rabbits or any animals as pets, playthings, novelties or gifts.

This Section shall not be construed to prohibit the display by hatcheries, stores, owners, dealers or persons engaged in the business of selling the same to be raised for food; but no such hatcheries, stores, owners, dealers or persons shall sell or give away baby chicks, ducks, fowls, rabbits or any animals as pets, playthings, or novelties. (1971 Code, sec. 4.12)

6-1-7: DISPOSITION OF DEAD ANIMALS:

All animals which die shall be disposed of by the owners or keepers within twenty four (24) hours of their death by burial, incineration in a facility approved by the Animal Control Officer or by rendering. No dead animal shall be dumped or abandoned on any public or private property. (Ord. 18, Series of 1982)    Louisville-Chapter 6.16 LIVESTOCK Sec. 6.16.010. Running at large prohibited. It shall be unlawful for any person who is the owner or custodian of any cattle, horses, mules, sheep, hogs, or goats to suffer or permit such animals to run at large within the city. Any such animals found running at large may be taken up, impounded, and disposed of by the police department in the manner provided by state law. (Code 1962, § 30.6; Code 1977, § 6.16.010)  

Sec. 6.16.020. Keeping of certain animals prohibited.

A.     It is unlawful for any person to maintain or to keep any cattle, sheep, goats, swine, chickens, horses or other livestock within the city, except in areas zoned for such use as provided in the zoning regulations. The keeping of such animals within areas of the city not specifically excepted herein is declared to be a nuisance.

B.     It is unlawful for any person to maintain or to keep more than three ducks, geese or turkeys, or any combination thereof, within the city in areas zoned for such use as provided in the zoning regulations. The keeping of more than three fowl within areas of the city not specifically excepted herein is declared a nuisance.

(Code 1977, § 6.16.020; Ord. No. 718-1981, § 2; Ord. No. 1085-1992, § 7) 

Chapter 6.20 FOWL

Sec. 6.20.010. Running at large prohibited; impoundment.

A.     It shall be unlawful for any person who is the owner of or who has the care and control of, any domestic fowl to suffer or permit the domestic fowl to run at large within the city or away from the premises of such person.

B.     Any domestic fowl which is found running at large may be taken up and impounded by the code enforcement officer or his designated assistants.

C.     If the owner of such fowl is known and it is his first offense, the police department shall notify such owner and shall return the fowl to the owner upon his payment of a fee of $0.25 for each fowl taken up and returned to him. If the owner of such fowl is unknown, or if it is not the owner's first offense, or if the owner does not claim the fowl after being notified, the fowl shall be sold by the police department and money shall be turned over to the city collector. If the owner of such fowl can establish his ownership, the money received from the sale of the fowl, less the cost of impounding, shall be paid over to the owner.

(Code 1962, § 30.13; Code 1977, § 6.20.010; Ord. No. 718-1981, § 2)

 

Longmont

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Permit found here -  http://longmontcolorado.gov/home/showdocument?id=4546

Allows 4 hens currently

Here  is a blogspot about the laws in Longmont and how to go about the permit

http://longmont-urbanhens.blogspot.com/

Jefferson County

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Jefferson County Planning & Zoning is processing several revisions to the Zoning Resolution. In general, the revisions allow backyard chickens and bees and consolidate the agricultural, commercial, corridor, industrial, mobile home, mountain residential, residential, and suburban residential districts. A draft of these changes is available for public review on our website. The direct link to the changes is http://jeffco.us/planning/planning_T59_R65.htm, it can also be navigated to by going to the main Planning & Zoning page (http://planning.jeffco.us) and then following the link under the “Zoning Resolution Revisions” announcement.  Please email comments to Heather Gutherless or Nina Ruiz by February 20, 2013. More information regarding these changes is outlined after the Hearing Dates.