Can I keep chickens in Raleigh, NC?
Yes — Raleigh allows backyard chickens with no permit required. (Raleigh City Code Part 12, Ch. 3; UDO Sec. 6.6.1 (urban farms only), verified June 2026)
The full rules
| Chickens allowed | Yes |
|---|---|
| Maximum hens | No numeric cap |
| Permit required | No |
| Coop rules | No dedicated coop standards for residential flocks; general adequate food/water/shelter rules (Sec. 12-3009) and at-large prohibition (Sec. 12-3007) apply. |
| Code section | Raleigh City Code Part 12, Ch. 3; UDO Sec. 6.6.1 (urban farms only) |
Raleigh's city code contains no numeric cap, permit requirement, or rooster ban for backyard chickens at residences; chickens are regulated only as domesticated animals (no running at large, adequate shelter, nuisance rules). The often-cited 1-per-1,000-sq-ft / 10-bird / no-rooster rules apply only to Urban Farm uses under the UDO, not ordinary homes. The widely-circulated $15 hen permit does not exist in the code. Confidence is reduced because permissiveness rests on absence of prohibition.
Common questions
Can I keep chickens in Raleigh?
Yes — chickens are allowed in Raleigh (Raleigh City Code Part 12, Ch. 3; UDO Sec. 6.6.1 (urban farms only)).
How many chickens can I keep in Raleigh?
Raleigh sets no numeric cap on hens.
Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Raleigh?
No — no permit is required for the base allowance in Raleigh.
What law covers backyard chickens in Raleigh?
Raleigh City Code Part 12, Ch. 3; UDO Sec. 6.6.1 (urban farms only). Read the official text at the source linked on this page.
The actual law
Raleigh City Code Part 12, Ch. 3; UDO Sec. 6.6.1 (urban farms only) — read the official code
“It shall be unlawful for the owner of any domesticated animal to allow such animal to be at-large within the corporate limits of the City. (Sec. 12-3007; chapter contains no hen cap or permit provision)” source
“Chickens are allowed at rate of 1 chicken per 1,000 square feet of lot area not to exceed 10 chickens on any single lot. No roosters are allowed.” 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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