Can I keep chickens in Birmingham, AL?
Yes, with conditions — Birmingham allows chickens only in certain zones or lot configurations. Coops must be at least 100 ft from neighboring lines/homes. (General Code, Title 6, Ch. 1 (Animals and Fowl), Secs. 6-1-111, 6-1-112, verified June 2026)
The full rules
| Chickens allowed | Conditional (zone / lot rules) |
|---|---|
| Roosters | Allowed with conditions |
| Permit required | No |
| Coop setback | 100 ft |
| Coop rules | No fowl enclosure within 100 ft of a dwelling, church, hospital, school, public building, park or thoroughfare; minimum 15 sq ft per fowl; fowl may not run at large. |
| Code section | General Code, Title 6, Ch. 1 (Animals and Fowl), Secs. 6-1-111, 6-1-112 |
Birmingham's fowl article sets no hen cap, no rooster ban, and no permit; keeping is governed by a 100-foot setback and a 15-square-foot-per-bird space requirement. Fowl may not run at large. The 100-foot setback from any dwelling or thoroughfare makes lawful keeping conditional on lot size.
Common questions
Can I keep chickens in Birmingham?
Yes, with conditions — Birmingham allows chickens only in certain zones or situations (General Code, Title 6, Ch. 1 (Animals and Fowl), Secs. 6-1-111, 6-1-112).
How many chickens can I keep in Birmingham?
It depends on your lot. No numeric cap in code; limited by 15 sq ft/bird and a 100 ft setback from any dwelling, church, school, park, public building or thoroughfare (Sec. 6-1-112).. Rules vary by zoning district — check the full summary for your zone.
Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Birmingham?
No — no permit is required for the base allowance in Birmingham.
Are roosters allowed in Birmingham?
Yes, with conditions — see Birmingham's rules (General Code, Title 6, Ch. 1 (Animals and Fowl), Secs. 6-1-111, 6-1-112).
How far must a chicken coop be from the property line in Birmingham?
100 feet minimum. No fowl enclosure within 100 ft of a dwelling, church, hospital, school, public building, park or thoroughfare; minimum 15 sq ft per fowl; fowl may not run at large.
What law covers backyard chickens in Birmingham?
General Code, Title 6, Ch. 1 (Animals and Fowl), Secs. 6-1-111, 6-1-112. Read the official text at the source linked on this page.
The actual law
General Code, Title 6, Ch. 1 (Animals and Fowl), Secs. 6-1-111, 6-1-112 — read the official code
“It shall be unlawful for any person to keep, harbor or confine any duck, goose, chicken, guinea, peacock or other fowl in any stable, building, structure, corral, pen or enclosure in the city, any part of which is within 100 feet of a dwelling, church, hospital, school, public building, public park or public thoroughfare. There shall be provided for each fowl an area of at least 15 square feet (Sec. 6-1-112).” source
Last verified June 14, 2026. Always confirm with your municipality — HOA rules can be stricter than city code. How we verify →
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