Mo, Dot, Chewy, Biscuit, and Guinness excitedly scamper behind Tim Prinsen as he carries a pail of mealworms and grain into his East Bde Maka Ska backyard.
Tim and Dawn Prinsen’s flock of five chickens is as much a part of their family as Chili, the dog who has watched over them since they were day-old chicks.
The Prinsens are not alone in their passion for backyard chickens. As of May 2026, more than 300 Minneapolis households held permits for chickens, including 15 in Wards 7 and 11.
Raising chickens in Minneapolis requires several regulatory steps, including an inspection by Minneapolis Animal Care and Control. In response to growing interest in backyard flocks, the City Council amended its domestic animals ordinance in 2016. One significant change allowed residents to keep six or fewer chickens without obtaining consent from neighbors.
The Prinsens got their first flock in 2015 and were required to secure approval from neighbors, including renters in a 30-unit apartment building. Today, residents may keep up to six hens as long as they comply with permit requirements. Animal Care and Control notes that permit holders must complete educational requirements and maintain appropriate structures to keep the birds safe.
One important caveat: roosters require a special permit.
Courtney Cushing Kiernat photographs and writes for the Hill & Lake Press. She lives in Kenwood.
