The keeping of backyard chickens is booming in the state of Alaska and Alaskans are flocking to learn more about chickens. Raising chickens for fresh eggs in your backyard can be a fun and rewarding hobby if it is allowed in your municipality, that is.
Even if it is legal to keep backyard chickens in your municipality, another question is what types of chickens can survive in Alaska, the coldest state in America, with an average annual temperature of 30.7 F°. By all accounts, the types of chickens that do well in Alaska include Rhode Island Red, Barred Rock, Wyandotte, Leghorn, Plymouth Rock, Australorp, and Sussex Chickens.
Now, let's come back to the main question: Where in Alaska can you have backyard chickens and how many chickens can you have? In the Last Frontier, the following municipalities allow residents to keep a certain number of chickens in their backyards.
Anchorage, AK
The City of Anchorage allows the keeping of backyard chickens in all zoning districts except the R-4 zoning district. In addition, Anchorage does not allow the keeping of chickens in mobile home parks within the City limits. The maximum number of chickens you can own in the City of Anchorage depends on the size of your property. Up to five chickens are permitted on lots of 6,000 square feet or less, with an additional one chicken per additional 1,000 square feet of lot area.
On lots smaller than 40,000 square feet, it is prohibited to keep roosters, turkeys, guinea fowl, peacocks, or geese. Anchorage Code requires that chicken coops or runs be located at least 10 feet from any lot line. Furthermore, it is illegal for owners to permit their chickens to make chronic noise in Anchorage, AK.
Fairbanks, AK
Chickens, in addition to rabbits, ducks, geese, turkeys, and miniature goats, are considered livestock in Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska. Depending on lot size, up to 18 chickens are permitted in single-family, two-family, and multiple-family, residential zoning districts.
A total of 8 chickens and ducks are permitted on zoning lots between 2,000 and 9,999 square feet in size, with one additional duck or chicken per every additional 1,000 square feet of lot size. Regardless of lot size, however, the maximum number of backyard chickens you can have in Fairbanks' residential districts is 18. In addition to chickens, you may also keep a maximum of three geese and/or turkeys in Fairbanks' residential districts, on lots of 20,000 square feet in size or larger.
If you reside in a rural residential zone in Fairbanks, you may keep a maximum of 20 chickens. The City of Fairbanks does not allow the keeping of adult roosters in the rural residential zone. In addition to chickens, a total of five geese and/or turkeys are allowed in the rural residential zone, according to the
Borough Code.
Juneau, AK
The City and Borough of Juneau permit the keeping of up to 12 chickens (no roosters) without any special permits in RR, D-1, D-3, D-5, D-10SF, D-10, LC, GC, WC, WI, and I
zoning districts. However, if you reside in D-15, D-18, MU, or MU2 zoning districts in Juneau, AK, you may keep no more than six hens in your backyard, provided your chicken coop is located at least 20 feet away from the nearest neighboring residence. A conditional use permit is required if your yard is closer than 20 feet from the nearest neighboring and if you wish to keep more than six backyard hens in D-15, D-18, MU, and MU2 zoning districts in Juneau, AK.
You may be prohibited from keeping backyard chickens in the city of Juneau if you permit your chickens to cause a public nuisance (noise), or public health (disease), or to roam at large. However, you will be warned twice about your violations before the city can prohibit you from keeping chickens.
Wasilla, AK
In the City of Wasilla, AK, the maximum number of chickens you can keep in your backyard depends on the size of your property. A maximum of six backyard chickens is permitted on lots up to 20,000 square feet, 12 chickens on lots greater than 20,000 square feet, and 15 chickens on lots of 40,000 square feet or more. Wasilla
Code requires that all chicken coops or runs be located at least 25 feet away from residential dwellings on neighboring lots.
Chicken Ordinances in Other Alaskan Municipalities
- Kenai, AK: A maximum of 12 hens may be kept in the Rural Residential (RR) zone
- Soldotna, AK: Chickens are allowed.
In most areas of Alaska, the keeping of backyard chickens for personal use is permitted without a permit. However, prior to acquiring any chickens in Alaska, you may need to contact your city clerk, as some cities and boroughs in the Last Frontier have regulations on the number of chickens residents can keep.
