Can I keep chickens in Fayetteville, NC?
Yes — Fayetteville allows backyard chickens with no permit required. (Fayetteville UDO Sec. 30-4.D.3.j; Cumberland County Code Ch. 3, verified June 2026)
The full rules
| Chickens allowed | Yes |
|---|---|
| Maximum hens | No numeric cap |
| Permit required | No |
| Coop rules | Permanent coops must comply with UDO accessory-structure location and lot-coverage provisions; Cumberland County sanitation and nuisance rules apply (habitual crowing is a nuisance). |
| Code section | Fayetteville UDO Sec. 30-4.D.3.j; Cumberland County Code Ch. 3 |
Fayetteville repealed its old animals chapter (which capped hens at 10) in 2012; animal control is now governed by Cumberland County code, which sets no numeric fowl limits. The city UDO allows keeping of fowl as a residential accessory use. Aggregator citations of Sec. 6-228 reflect dead law. Confidence reduced because permissiveness rests partly on absence of prohibition.
Common questions
Can I keep chickens in Fayetteville?
Yes — chickens are allowed in Fayetteville (Fayetteville UDO Sec. 30-4.D.3.j; Cumberland County Code Ch. 3).
How many chickens can I keep in Fayetteville?
Fayetteville sets no numeric cap on hens.
Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Fayetteville?
No — no permit is required for the base allowance in Fayetteville.
What law covers backyard chickens in Fayetteville?
Fayetteville UDO Sec. 30-4.D.3.j; Cumberland County Code Ch. 3. Read the official text at the source linked on this page.
The actual law
Fayetteville UDO Sec. 30-4.D.3.j; Cumberland County Code Ch. 3 — read the official code
“Horticultural and agricultural uses include home gardens, fruit trees, ornamental ponds, ponds used for aquaculture, bee-keeping, keeping of animals and fowl, and similar uses” source
“...adopted May 29, 2012, repealed Chapter 6, in its entirety, which pertained to animals and fowl.” source
Last verified June 13, 2026. Always confirm with your municipality — HOA rules can be stricter than city code. How we verify →
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