Can I keep chickens in Huntsville, AL?
Yes, with conditions — Huntsville allows chickens only in certain zones or lot configurations. Coops must be at least 150 ft from neighboring lines/homes. (Code of Ordinances, Ch. 5 (Animals), Secs. 5-105, 5-107, verified June 2026)
The full rules
| Chickens allowed | Conditional (zone / lot rules) |
|---|---|
| Roosters | Allowed with conditions |
| Permit required | No |
| Coop setback | 150 ft |
| Coop rules | Minimum 15 sq ft of pen space per fowl; no fowl pen within 150 ft of a dwelling occupied by someone other than the owner. |
| Code section | Code of Ordinances, Ch. 5 (Animals), Secs. 5-105, 5-107 |
Huntsville has no dedicated backyard-chicken ordinance and no hen cap or rooster ban; fowl fall under general animal-keeping rules. Any fowl pen must sit at least 150 feet from a neighbor's dwelling and provide at least 15 square feet per bird. The 150-foot setback effectively limits keeping to large lots, so the practical status is conditional.
Common questions
Can I keep chickens in Huntsville?
Yes, with conditions — Huntsville allows chickens only in certain zones or situations (Code of Ordinances, Ch. 5 (Animals), Secs. 5-105, 5-107).
How many chickens can I keep in Huntsville?
It depends on your lot. No numeric cap in code; limited by 15 sq ft/bird pen minimum and a 150 ft setback from any dwelling occupied by a non-owner (Sec. 5-105, 5-107).. Rules vary by zoning district — check the full summary for your zone.
Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Huntsville?
No — no permit is required for the base allowance in Huntsville.
Are roosters allowed in Huntsville?
Yes, with conditions — see Huntsville's rules (Code of Ordinances, Ch. 5 (Animals), Secs. 5-105, 5-107).
How far must a chicken coop be from the property line in Huntsville?
150 feet minimum. Minimum 15 sq ft of pen space per fowl; no fowl pen within 150 ft of a dwelling occupied by someone other than the owner.
What law covers backyard chickens in Huntsville?
Code of Ordinances, Ch. 5 (Animals), Secs. 5-105, 5-107. Read the official text at the source linked on this page.
The actual law
Code of Ordinances, Ch. 5 (Animals), Secs. 5-105, 5-107 — read the official code
“It shall be unlawful for any person to keep any animals, including fowl, in any pen in the city unless such pen has a minimum area of 15 square feet of space for each animal or fowl (Sec. 5-107).” source
“It shall be unlawful for any owner or person in charge to keep any animal or fowl in the city in any corral, stable or pen any part of which is within 150 feet of a dwelling occupied by a person other than the owner or person in charge of the animal or fowl (Sec. 5-105).” 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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