Can I keep chickens in Tupelo, MS?
Yes, with conditions — Tupelo allows chickens only in certain zones or lot configurations. Coops must be at least 250 ft from neighboring lines/homes. (Code of Ordinances ch. 6 (Animals and Fowl), art. III, § 6-46, verified June 2026)
The full rules
| Chickens allowed | Conditional (zone / lot rules) |
|---|---|
| Coop setback | 250 ft |
| Minimum lot size | 43,560 sq ft |
| Coop rules | Keeping fowl in residential/business zones is unlawful unless EITHER kept in an open area of at least 1 acre with no part within 250 ft of any residence, OR penned so movement is restricted to a pen not exceeding 200 sq ft. Pens must be kept clean; fowl may not run at large. |
| Code section | Code of Ordinances ch. 6 (Animals and Fowl), art. III, § 6-46 |
Tupelo makes it unlawful to keep chickens or other domestic fowl in any area zoned residential or business unless the fowl are kept either on an open area of at least one acre (with no part within 250 feet of any residence) or penned in an enclosure not exceeding 200 square feet. There is no numeric hen limit and no rooster-specific provision; fowl may not run at large.
Common questions
Can I keep chickens in Tupelo?
Yes, with conditions — Tupelo allows chickens only in certain zones or situations (Code of Ordinances ch. 6 (Animals and Fowl), art. III, § 6-46).
How many chickens can I keep in Tupelo?
It depends on your lot. Allowed in residential/business zones only if on 1+ acre kept 250 ft from any residence, OR penned in an enclosure no larger than 200 sq ft. No numeric hen cap in the code.. Rules vary by zoning district — check the full summary for your zone.
How far must a chicken coop be from the property line in Tupelo?
250 feet minimum. Keeping fowl in residential/business zones is unlawful unless EITHER kept in an open area of at least 1 acre with no part within 250 ft of any residence, OR penned so movement is restricted to a pen not exceeding 200 sq ft. Pens must be kept clean; fowl may not run at large.
Is there a minimum lot size for chickens in Tupelo?
Yes — 43,560 sq ft.
What law covers backyard chickens in Tupelo?
Code of Ordinances ch. 6 (Animals and Fowl), art. III, § 6-46. Read the official text at the source linked on this page.
The actual law
Code of Ordinances ch. 6 (Animals and Fowl), art. III, § 6-46 — read the official code
“Sec. 6-49. ... It shall be unlawful for any person who may own or have in his possession or control any chicken, duck, turkey, goose or other domestic fowl to ... permit any such domestic fowl to run or be at large at any time within the corporate limits of the city.” source
“Sec. 6-46. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to house, keep or confine any chicken, duck, turkey, goose or other domestic fowl in any area of the city zoned for residential or business purposes, unless: (1) The domestic fowl is kept in an open area of at least one (1) acre, with no part of the area lying within two hundred fifty (250) feet of any residence; or (2) The domestic fowl is kept penned ... No such penned area shall exceed two hundred (200) square feet in size nor violate health regulations.” 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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