Can I keep chickens in Tuscaloosa, AL?
Yes, with conditions — Tuscaloosa allows chickens only in certain zones or lot configurations. Coops must be at least 300 ft from neighboring lines/homes. (Code of the City of Tuscaloosa, Ch. 4 (Animals and Fowl), Secs. 4-21, 4-22, verified June 2026)
The full rules
| Chickens allowed | Conditional (zone / lot rules) |
|---|---|
| Permit required | No |
| Coop setback | 300 ft |
| Coop rules | Public nuisance to keep fowl unless kept at all times at least 300 ft from any church, school, public building, park, playground or the residence of another. Fowl kept inside a residence as a pet or ornament are exempt. |
| Code section | Code of the City of Tuscaloosa, Ch. 4 (Animals and Fowl), Secs. 4-21, 4-22 |
Tuscaloosa requires outdoor fowl to be kept at least 300 feet from any neighbor's residence, church, school, park or public building, which on typical residential lots effectively prevents backyard chickens. Fowl kept indoors as a pet or ornament are exempt. There is no hen cap or permit, but the 300-foot setback makes lawful outdoor keeping conditional on a very large lot.
Common questions
Can I keep chickens in Tuscaloosa?
Yes, with conditions — Tuscaloosa allows chickens only in certain zones or situations (Code of the City of Tuscaloosa, Ch. 4 (Animals and Fowl), Secs. 4-21, 4-22).
How many chickens can I keep in Tuscaloosa?
It depends on your lot. No numeric cap; outdoor fowl must be 300 ft from any residence/church/school/park (Sec. 4-22), which precludes keeping on normal lots. Indoor pet fowl exempt.. Rules vary by zoning district — check the full summary for your zone.
Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Tuscaloosa?
No — no permit is required for the base allowance in Tuscaloosa.
How far must a chicken coop be from the property line in Tuscaloosa?
300 feet minimum. Public nuisance to keep fowl unless kept at all times at least 300 ft from any church, school, public building, park, playground or the residence of another. Fowl kept inside a residence as a pet or ornament are exempt.
What law covers backyard chickens in Tuscaloosa?
Code of the City of Tuscaloosa, Ch. 4 (Animals and Fowl), Secs. 4-21, 4-22. Read the official text at the source linked on this page.
The actual law
Code of the City of Tuscaloosa, Ch. 4 (Animals and Fowl), Secs. 4-21, 4-22 — read the official code
“It shall be unlawful and shall constitute a public nuisance for any person to keep within the city any livestock, rabbit or fowl unless such animal is kept at all times at a distance of not less than three hundred (300) feet from any church or other house of worship, school, public building, park, public playground or the residence of another (Sec. 4-22).” source
Last verified June 14, 2026. Always confirm with your municipality — HOA rules can be stricter than city code. How we verify →
Reach people actively researching backyard chickens in their city. Founding sponsor slots now open.
Apply to become a sponsor →