Kentucky legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Kentucky HB276: AN ACT relating to keeping chickens on residential property.
Status: In committee, February 6, 2026
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 65 to define "backyard chicken"; allow a person to keep 6 or fewer backyard chickens on residential property in cities and certain other local governments; establish requirements and restrictions on local regulatory authority.
What the bill says
An act relating to keeping chickens on residential property.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT relating to keeping chickens on residential property. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: SECTION 1. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 65 IS CREATED TO READ AS FOLLOWS: (1) As used in this section, "backyard chicken": (a) Means a domesticated hen kept on residential property for personal egg production or educational purposes; and (b) Does not mean a domesticated hen used for commercial farming or a domesticated rooster. (2) A city, urban-county government, charter county government, consolidated local government, or unified local government: (a) Shall not enact or enforce any ordinance, zoning regulation, or policy that directly or indirectly prohibits a person from keeping six (6) or fewer backyard chickens on any residential property; and (b) May enact and enforce reasonable ordinances, regulations, or policies to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of residents, including but not limited to: 1. Requiring setbacks for coops holding backyard chickens from property lines and neighboring residences; 2. Requiring sanitation and maintenance standards relating to backyard chickens to control odors and pests; and 3. Prohibiting the commercial sale of eggs or backyard chickens on residential properties. (3) Any ordinance, regulation, or policy that conflicts with this section shall be void and unenforceable. HB027610.100 - 1608 - XXXX 2/5/2026 3:01 PM GA
Sponsors
- Steven Doan (R, HD-069) · primary sponsor
- Savannah Maddox (R, HD-061)
- Felicia Rabourn (R, HD-047)
Latest actions
- : to Committee on Committees (S)
- : received in Senate
- : 3rd reading, passed 72-22
- : posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Thursday, February 05 2026
- : 2nd reading, to Rules
- : reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
- : to Local Government (H)
- : to Committee on Committees (H)
- : introduced in House
Votes
- House: Pass RCS# 56 (February 5, 2026): 72 yea, 22 nay, passed
Subjects: Animals, Livestock, And Poultry, Local Mandate, Unified Local Governments, Charter County Government, Consolidated Local Governments, Counties, Urban, Local Government, Cities
Common questions
- What is HB276?
- HB276 is a bill in the Kentucky Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT relating to keeping chickens on residential property.
- What does HB276 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to keeping chickens on residential property.
- What is the status of HB276?
- In committee as of February 6, 2026. Latest action: to Committee on Committees (S) (February 6, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB276?
- Steven Doan (R, HD-069), with 2 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB276?
- On the Kentucky Legislature website: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26rs/hb276.html
Source: official Kentucky record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.