Am I allowed to keep chickens in my garden in Sweden?
Usually yes — but inside a detailed-plan area in Stockholm you need a permit from the Environmental Office before getting chickens. Outdoor hens do not count as ordinary pets, so the permit requirement applies even to a single hen. The permit is based on the Environmental Code and requires that the hens cause no nuisance to human health. In addition, everyone keeping birds must register the holding with the Board of Agriculture, however few animals — hobby hens included. A crowing cockerel is the classic disturbance; keep the birds in at night.
📋 The rules
- Inside a detailed-plan area you need a permit from the Environmental Office
- Even a single hen needs a permit (not counted as a pet)
- The permit requires no nuisance to health
- Register the holding with the Board of Agriculture — all bird keepers
- Crowing cockerel: keep the birds in at night
🔓 Exceptions
- Outside a detailed-plan area, no municipal permit is normally needed
- Snakes always need a permit, wherever you live
- During bird flu, temporary protective rules (housing) may apply
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Keeping chickens without a permit or causing a nuisance can bring an injunction with a conditional fine or a revoked permit (Environmental Code). Animal-welfare failings are handled by the County Board and can lead to an animal ban or seizure.
📎 Official sources
- City of Stockholm · Pets and animal keeping →
- Board of Agriculture · Register poultry →
- Environmental Code (1998:808) · Riksdagen →
❓ Frequently asked
Can I keep chickens in Stockholm?
Usually yes, but inside a detailed-plan area you must first apply for a permit from the Environmental Office.
Do I need a permit for just one hen?
Yes, inside a detailed-plan area. Outdoor hens are not pets, so even one hen needs a permit.
Must I register the chickens somewhere?
Yes. Everyone keeping birds must register the holding with the Board of Agriculture, hobby keeping included.
Can I keep a cockerel?
Often it is possible, but crowing is a common disturbance. Keep the cockerel in at night to avoid complaints.
How many hens can I keep without a permit?
There is no fixed limit — the test is that no nuisance to health arises.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “can I keep chickens in stockholm”
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- “register chickens board of agriculture”
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