NM · verified 2026-10-26
Albuquerque, NM
Short answerYes: the City of Albuquerque code allows up to 15 birds; roosters are allowed; the cited code does not mention a permit; and the setback is not verified yet.
Buying notes for backyard hens inside the City of Albuquerque corporate limits. HOA covenants and county rules outside city limits can differ.
Heads up: These rules apply inside the City of Albuquerque 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: § 9-2-4-3 Animal Limits and Restrictions, (C)(3) Poultry (Humane and Ethical Animal Rules and Treatment ordinance).
At a glance
- Hen cap
- Up to 15 hens
- Roosters
- Allowed
- Permit & fee
- Code does not mention a permit
- Setback
- Not verified yet
The rule, quoted
Word for word from § 9-2-4-3 Animal Limits and Restrictions, (C)(3) Poultry (Humane and Ethical Animal Rules and Treatment ordinance).
How many hens
“The Poultry limit is 15.”
Up to 15 poultry per household, counting any rooster. The city’s Integrated Development Ordinance (zoning) was not checked for extra coop rules.
§ 9-2-4-3 Animal Limits and Restrictions, (C)(3) Poultry (Humane and Ethical Animal Rules and Treatment ordinance).
Roosters
“No Person shall have more than one rooster in a Household.”
One rooster per household.
Permit and fee
Code does not mention a permit. Ask the city whether a permit is needed before you buy birds.
§ 9-2-4-3 lists no permit for keeping poultry within the limit.
Setback / screening
Not verified yet.
The animal code sets no coop distance; check your zone’s accessory-structure setbacks in the Integrated Development Ordinance.
What to buy
Named products and shops are real. Confirm stock, shipping, and that the vet still sees poultry before you spend money.
Shared Albuquerque, NM metro list: same stores for every city in this metro.
Hatchery
Cackle Hatchery
Ships live chicks to New Mexico via USPS Priority Mail. Cackle's FAQ lists New Mexico 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 — Albuquerque (#2326)
Albuquerque — 8100 2nd St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87114. (505) 897-6800. Store page lists a livestock department.
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 § 9-2-4-3 Animal Limits and Restrictions, (C)(3) Poultry (Humane and Ethical Animal Rules and Treatment ordinance). at https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/albuquerque/latest/albuquerque_nm/0-0-0-121064. Read the live code before you build or order birds.