Can I keep chickens in Greenville, MS?
Yes, with conditions — Greenville allows chickens only in certain zones or lot configurations. (Code of Ordinances ch. 8, art. II, §§ 8-39 & 8-43, verified June 2026)
The full rules
| Chickens allowed | Conditional (zone / lot rules) |
|---|---|
| Permit required | No |
| Coop rules | Fowl pens/coops must be cleaned daily of decaying matter and must not become a nuisance or produce offensive smells objectionable to neighbors. |
| Code section | Code of Ordinances ch. 8, art. II, §§ 8-39 & 8-43 |
Greenville regulates fowl pens and coops under a sanitation/nuisance standard (Sec. 8-43) rather than banning poultry, implying fowl keeping is permitted citywide subject to those rules with no hen cap, permit, or stated setback. Separately, four-legged 'livestock' may be pastured only within Agricultural (A-1) zones (Sec. 8-39). No rooster or slaughter provision was found.
Common questions
Can I keep chickens in Greenville?
Yes, with conditions — Greenville allows chickens only in certain zones or situations (Code of Ordinances ch. 8, art. II, §§ 8-39 & 8-43).
How many chickens can I keep in Greenville?
It depends on your lot. No numeric cap stated; fowl keeping governed by nuisance/sanitation rules in Sec. 8-43, livestock confined to A-1 zones in Sec. 8-39.. Rules vary by zoning district — check the full summary for your zone.
Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Greenville?
No — no permit is required for the base allowance in Greenville.
What law covers backyard chickens in Greenville?
Code of Ordinances ch. 8, art. II, §§ 8-39 & 8-43. Read the official text at the source linked on this page.
The actual law
Code of Ordinances ch. 8, art. II, §§ 8-39 & 8-43 — read the official code
“Livestock shall be pastured within the city limits only within Agricultural (A-1) zones.” source
“It shall be unlawful to keep fowl in pens or coops which shall be permitted to become in such condition as to be a nuisance or harmful to any of the inhabitants of the city or to permit such pens or coops to become and be kept in such condition as to produce offensive and unwholesome smells.” 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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