Woodbury MN Backyard Chicken Debate: What a New City Survey Could Change in 2026
Woodbury, Minnesota has a backyard chicken problem, and it depends entirely on which zoning district you live in.
Since October 2024, residents in the R-1 "urban reserve" and R-2 "single-family estate" districts have been allowed to keep backyard hens. But the urban residential district, where most Woodbury families actually live, still prohibits them. A new quality-of-life survey from the city is asking residents to weigh in again, and results will go before the Woodbury City Council in mid-May 2026.
How Woodbury Got Here
The city collects community feedback through a biannual survey sent to residents by mail and online. In the 2024 version, 36% of respondents said they supported allowing chickens on urban city lots, while 93% supported them in rural areas. City planner Eric Searles says the council has been deliberate about using that data before making any policy changes.
Two local advocates, Rachel Pastick and Samantha Wolf, have been pushing for broader access since at least 2023. Pastick, who moved from St. Paul four years ago, kept a flock of six hens at her previous home. Wolf, a former Minneapolis resident, was surprised to find Woodbury's rules were stricter than a city like Minneapolis, where chickens are allowed on much smaller lots.
What the Current Rules Actually Say
For residents in the zones where chickens are currently allowed, Woodbury's rules are straightforward. Owners with lots under 4 acres can keep up to six hens. Those with 4 acres or more can keep up to two hens per acre. Roosters are not permitted under any circumstance, a rule both Pastick and Wolf support.
Neighboring cities in the Twin Cities east metro have already navigated this. Hastings allows up to six backyard hens or ducks with proper licensing, and city planner Justin Fortney says 30 applications have been approved with minimal complaints. Cottage Grove has similar standards and requires residents to complete an educational course on chicken care before getting a permit.
Why Woodbury Residents Are Paying Attention
Quality-of-life conversations like this one reflect what residents actually want from their community. People move to Woodbury for space, for larger lots, and for the ability to live with a little more intention than a dense city block allows. How the city chooses to govern what residents can do with their own backyards is part of that picture, and residents on both sides of this debate are watching closely.
If you live in Woodbury and want your voice counted, now is the time to fill out the city's current community survey. The council reviews results in mid-May.
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