Build to suit
Chickens, goats and horses: Arizona homes with room for animals
Want fresh eggs, a goat or a horse? Here's how Arizona zoning treats farm animals, and how a factory-built home on acreage makes it possible.
Yes, you can have chickens in Arizona, it depends on the parcel
Arizona doesn't set one statewide rule for backyard animals. Your county or city zoning decides how many chickens, goats or horses you can keep, and whether roosters are allowed. In general, the more rural the zoning and the bigger the lot, the more room you have.
Rural Maricopa County
In unincorporated Maricopa County's Rural zoning districts, keeping farm animals such as goats and chickens is treated as a normal accessory use of a single-family home, and limited horse keeping is permitted too. Larger agricultural operations of at least 5 contiguous commercial acres may qualify for an agricultural exemption from zoning, with a county application. That's the kind of zoning you find in areas like Rio Verde, outside the city limits.
Yavapai County and the Prescott area
Yavapai County's zoning ordinance lets owners of lots under 70,000 sq ft keep up to eight chickens, with the coop at least 15 feet from every property line and no roosters. On lots of 70,000 sq ft (about 1.6 acres) or more, farm animals are allowed for the household's own use up to the county's Allowed Animal Chart, with swine capped at five per parcel. Towns have their own rules: Prescott, for example, requires a license for small poultry, so check whether your land is inside a city or town.
Why factory-built homes fit this lifestyle
Acreage costs money, and so does the house. New manufactured homes averaged about $72 per square foot versus $144 for site-built homes in 2021 U.S. Census Bureau data, so more of your budget can go toward land, fencing, a coop or a barn. Champion homes are built in a factory to federal HUD standards and set on a permanent foundation, so you're living in a real home on your own land, not a trailer next to a corral.
Where to start
Our Rio Verde homes sit on 1.1-acre lots, and our upcoming 15-lot community in Paulden, about 20 minutes past Prescott, is in rural Yavapai County. If you'd rather find your own acreage, our Land page shows live listings sortable by acreage and price. We build from as far south as Eloy to up north in Flagstaff and everything in between.
Check before you buy
Animal rules can differ by zoning district, HOA and town, and they change over time. Before you buy, confirm the exact parcel's zoning and any HOA or deed restrictions with the county planning department. Then get pre-approved with our preferred mortgage brokers. In USDA-eligible rural areas, the Single-Close Construction loan can cover land and home with zero down for qualified buyers.