North Carolina Backyard Chicken Laws
North Carolina has no statewide chicken law — every city sets its own rules. Find your city below.
4
Cities allow chickens
1
Cities ban chickens
5
Cities covered
Important: North Carolina delegates all backyard chicken rules to local municipalities. Your city's ordinance is what matters — not state law. HOA covenants can also override city rules on your specific property.
Easiest cities
Strictest cities
Charlotte
Up to 20 hens. Coop or fowl house must be at least 25 ft from any property line
Durham
Up to 10 hens. Coop and pen must be at least 15 ft from any property line or public right-of-way
Greensboro
Up to 10 hens. Poultry is not allowed on lots under 7,000 sq ft; coops and shelters must be behind the rear wall of the principal building
Winston-Salem
Up to 5 hens. Coops and runs must be in the back yard and at least 20 ft from any adjoining property line
Raleigh
Raleigh's UDO allows chickens only under the community garden animal-raising rules outside Residential Districts; ordinary residential backyard hens are not treated as allowed.
About North Carolina Chicken Laws
Like most US states, North Carolina does not have a single statewide law governing backyard chickens. Each city, village, and county sets its own rules about flock size, roosters, permits, coop setbacks, and sanitation.
Always verify rules directly with your city clerk or planning department before purchasing birds or building a coop. Laws change — our pages include a last-verified date and link directly to the municipal code for each city.
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