Animals

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Frequently asked quest​​ions:

• ​Can I have chickens on my residential property? How Many?
• ​​You are permitted up to 5 chickens on lots 6,000 square feet or less. For each additional animal, you need an additional 1,000 square feet of area.
• Noisy animals such as roosters, turkeys, guinea fowl, peacocks, or geese are prohibited.
  
• Structures for keeping the animals must meet the setbacks of the zoning district, and be at least 10 feet from any lot line.
  
• Chronic noise from any animal is not permitted.
  

• Can I have horses / cows / llamas / goats on my residential property?  How many?
• Anchorage Municipal Code section 1.05.070.16 allows up to 3 large domestic animals on lots that are 20,000 square feet or greater.  Any structures for keeping the animals must be set back at least 25 feet from the property line.  Uncovered enclosures must be 75 feet from residences or 10 feet from the property line with buffer landscaping. These standards are found in AMC 21.05.070D.13.b.iii.
• Four or more large domestic animals are allowed on larger lots.  With a lot of 40,000 square feet you may have four large animals.  Each animal above four requires an additional 10,000 square feet of property area.
• More information can be found in Title 21, subsection 21.05.070D.13 and 21.05.070D.16.

• Can I keep bees on my residential property? How many hives can I have?
• On lots up to 10,000 square feet you may have up to four hives. Larger lots may have additional hives.
  
• Colonies must be managed so that the flight path to and from the hive will not bring them into contact with people on adjacent property.
• Colonies must be at least 25 feet from any property line, or oriented with entrances facing away from adjacent property, or placed behind a fence at least six feet in height and extending at least 10 feet beyond the hive in all directions.
  
• These regulations are found in AMC 21.05.070D.4.
  

Animal control regulations are found in Title 17 of the municipal code.  Complaints about animals should be directed to the Department of Health and Human Services. Complaints about the location of enclosures for animals other than dogs can be filed with Land Use Enforcement.

If you use the online version of the code (under "External Links"), try searching on "17.05.010" for more information.  Please note that recent amendments may not have been published yet.  Land Use Review will be happy to verify the current code language for you.