OR · verified 2026-10-26
Portland, OR
Short answerYes: the City of Portland code allows up to 4 birds; roosters are banned; the cited code does not mention a permit; and the coop setback is 3 ft.
Buying notes for backyard hens inside the City of Portland corporate limits. HOA covenants and county rules outside city limits can differ.
Heads up: These rules apply inside the City of Portland corporate limits only. An HOA or neighborhood covenant can still ban hens. Those private rules are usually not public, so HenCheck does not look them up.
Primary source: Portland City Code 13.40.020 Backyard Livestock and 13.40.040 Livestock Facility Standards.
At a glance
- Hen cap
- Up to 4 hens
- Roosters
- Banned
- Permit & fee
- Code does not mention a permit
- Setback
- 3 ft
Code cite: Portland City Code 13.40.020 Backyard Livestock and 13.40.040 Livestock Facility Standards.
The rule, quoted
Word for word from Portland City Code 13.40.020 Backyard Livestock and 13.40.040 Livestock Facility Standards.
How many hens
“Up to four chickens, ducks, pigeons and/or other similarly sized domestic fowl may be kept on any lot. Up to six small domestic fowl may be kept on lots 10,000 square feet and greater.”
Up to four hens on any lot, or six on lots of 10,000 sq ft or more. Up to four extra chicks under 12 weeks old are also allowed. Ducks and pigeons count toward the same limit.
Portland City Code 13.40.020 Backyard Livestock and 13.40.040 Livestock Facility Standards.
Roosters
“It is unlawful to have or keep roosters except for agricultural purposes on lots that allow agricultural uses.”
Permit and fee
Code does not mention a permit. Ask the city whether a permit is needed before you buy birds.
Chapter 13.40 does not require a permit for backyard hens; keepers must meet the Title 13 standards.
Setback / screening
“Structures in a livestock facility must be located at least three feet from side and rear property lines and at least 10 feet from the front property line.”
Keep the coop at least 3 ft from side and rear lot lines and 10 ft from the front lot line. On lots with more than one home, the hen area must be at least 15 ft from every unit’s walls and shared outdoor spaces.
Coop and run size
“Each fowl over 12 weeks of age must be provided a minimum of 10 square feet of usable shelter or pen area.”
Also in this section
Multi-unit lots
“On lots with more than one residential unit, livestock areas must be located at least 15 feet from the walls of all residential units and any outdoor spaces used for activities such as, but not limited to, seating, playgrounds and recreational fields.”
No roaming
“Livestock may never be allowed to roam at large.”
What to buy
Named products and shops are real. Confirm stock, shipping, and that the vet still sees poultry before you spend money.
Shared Portland, OR metro list: same stores for every city in this metro.
Hatchery
Cackle Hatchery
Ships live chicks to Oregon via USPS Priority Mail. Cackle's FAQ lists Oregon among the states it ships to, with chicks going out Mondays and Wednesdays from February to August and Wednesdays only from August to late October. Order sexed pullets if your city bans roosters or does not address them.
Feed store
Tractor Supply — Sandy (#2366)
Sandy — 16325 Champion Way, Sandy, OR 97055. (503) 668-2868. Store page lists livestock feed and farm supplies, including chicken coops, waterers and feeders.
Coop
OverEZ Medium Chicken Coop with Wooden 8 ft Chicken Run
Dimensions: Coop 50¼ in L × 52½ in W × 62¼ in H (includes nesting box), sized by OverEZ for up to 10 chickens; Wooden 8 ft run 8 ft W × 8 ft L × 6 ft 3 in H
Price: Coop $1,699.00 (Classic, Farmhouse or Coastal finish); Wooden 8 ft run $1,899.00. Prices as shown on overezchickencoop.com on 2026-10-22.
The coop footprint is about 4.2 ft × 4.4 ft and the run is 8 ft × 8 ft, so with the coop at the end of the run plan on roughly 8 ft × 12.5 ft. Measure your setback from the cited code before you pick a spot, and check any height limit: the run is 6 ft 3 in tall. OverEZ ships coops and runs by tractor-trailer freight to the end of your driveway; homes on roads a truck cannot reach may need to pick up at a freight terminal.
Vet
No verified poultry vet yet
We have not confirmed a clinic here that says it treats chickens. Call local vets and ask before you need one.
Verified 2026-10-26 against Portland City Code 13.40.020 Backyard Livestock and 13.40.040 Livestock Facility Standards. at https://www.portland.gov/code/13/40. Read the live code before you build or order birds.