Current permitting process to legally have chickens:
· Get a pre-approval letter from Denver Animal Control
o Send a letter to the Director of the Division of Animal Control at 678 South Jason Street, Denver, CO 80223, with the following information:
§ Your name, address, phone number
§ The number of each type of livestock you are attempting to house on your property
§ Size of area where animal(s) will be held
§ Vets name, address and phone number
§ Indicate if the animal is spayed or neutered
§ Indicate where they dispose of excrement
§ List of vaccinations animal has received
o Animal Control will conduct a background check on you and the property for any outstanding animal violations
o If no issues, Animal Control will mail you a pre-approval letter
§ Animal Control will contact you by phone to schedule an inspection at your property
o Animal Control will send you an Inspection Results Letter stating whether Animal Control opposes the request for a zoning use permit
· If Animal Control is not opposed, you need to get a Zoning Use Permit from Denver Zoning through the Administrative Review Process
o Contact Denver Zoning Department at (720) 865-3000 or Webb Municipal Office Building, 201 W. Colfax Avenue, 2nd Floor and complete an application for a use permit
o Zoning is responsible for verifying that raising livestock will not substantially or permanently injure the appropriate use of adjacent properties.
o You must collect and post an administrative review notice in a conspicuous place on your property for 10 days. This notice provides information about the use permit you are applying for and informs neighbors and local neighborhood associations the process to use if they want to comment on the application. The first day marks the beginning of the 30 day public comment period. This allows time for neighbors and local neighborhood associations to share their opinions on the decision to approve, approve with conditions or deny the use permit through the Zoning Administrative Review process.
o Within 5 business days of the end of the 30 day public comment period, Zoning will review and determine whether to approve, approve with conditions, or deny the use permit based on comments received during the comment period.
o If Zoning approves (with or without conditions) they will send an approval letter to the Director of Animal Control and a copy to you
o If approved, you must sign an agreement letter at Denver Zoning, collect your use permit and collect and post a new public notice sign announcing the Zoning decision for 15 days
· Purchase a Livestock Permit from Denver Animal Care and Control. This must be renewed yearly.
Current cost to legally have chickens:
- Zoning: Zoning Use Permit $100
- Animal Care and Control: Livestock Permit $50 for fowl and $100 for all other livestock. This must be renewed yearly.
Appeals Process:
· Depending upon the Zoning decision, either the applicant for the use permit or neighbors can appeal the Zoning decision to the Board of Adjustment. This is a group of 5 qualified citizens appointed by the Mayor to review Zoning Administrator decisions.