Can I keep chickens in Montgomery, AL?
Yes, with conditions — Montgomery allows chickens only in certain zones or lot configurations. Coops must be at least 200 ft from neighboring lines/homes. (Appendix C - Zoning, Art. VII Sec. 2 (Residential, Class F) and Sec. 7 (Agricultural, AGR-1/AGR-2), verified June 2026)
The full rules
| Chickens allowed | Conditional (zone / lot rules) |
|---|---|
| Permit required | Yes |
| Coop setback | 200 ft |
| Coop rules | By-right in AGR-1 (1.5-acre min) and AGR-2 (5-acre min) as general farming including poultry raising. In residential R-districts, poultry/livestock raising is permitted only on appeal (special exception), and no structure, pen or corral housing animals may be within 200 ft of any property line. |
| Code section | Appendix C - Zoning, Art. VII Sec. 2 (Residential, Class F) and Sec. 7 (Agricultural, AGR-1/AGR-2) |
Montgomery zoning permits poultry by-right only in the AGR-1 and AGR-2 agricultural districts. In single-family residential districts, poultry/livestock raising is a special-exception use, and any animal structure or pen must be 200 feet from every property line, which is prohibitive on small lots. No numeric hen cap appears in the zoning text.
Common questions
Can I keep chickens in Montgomery?
Yes, with conditions — Montgomery allows chickens only in certain zones or situations (Appendix C - Zoning, Art. VII Sec. 2 (Residential, Class F) and Sec. 7 (Agricultural, AGR-1/AGR-2)).
How many chickens can I keep in Montgomery?
It depends on your lot. Zone-dependent: by-right in AGR-1/AGR-2; in residential R-zones only via special exception with a 200 ft setback from every property line. No hen number set in code.. Rules vary by zoning district — check the full summary for your zone.
Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Montgomery?
Yes — Montgomery requires a permit or registration before keeping chickens.
How far must a chicken coop be from the property line in Montgomery?
200 feet minimum. By-right in AGR-1 (1.5-acre min) and AGR-2 (5-acre min) as general farming including poultry raising. In residential R-districts, poultry/livestock raising is permitted only on appeal (special exception), and no structure, pen or corral housing animals may be within 200 ft of any property line.
What law covers backyard chickens in Montgomery?
Appendix C - Zoning, Art. VII Sec. 2 (Residential, Class F) and Sec. 7 (Agricultural, AGR-1/AGR-2). Read the official text at the source linked on this page.
The actual law
Appendix C - Zoning, Art. VII Sec. 2 (Residential, Class F) and Sec. 7 (Agricultural, AGR-1/AGR-2) — read the official code
“A General farming, including horticulture, dairying, livestock and poultry raising and other similar uses.” source
“F Agriculture, poultry, and livestock raising, but not including the operation of chicken brooder houses; and provided no structure, pen or corral housing animals be located closer than 200 feet to any property line.” 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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