Can I keep chickens in Lynchburg, VA?
Yes — Lynchburg allows backyard chickens, up to 4 hens with no permit required. Coops must be at least 20 ft from neighboring lines/homes. (Lynchburg Zoning Ordinance Ch. 35.2, Sec. 35.2-71.7 (Farm animals), Exhibit VII-1, verified June 2026)
The full rules
| Chickens allowed | Yes |
|---|---|
| Maximum hens | 4 |
| Permit required | No |
| Coop setback | 20 ft |
| Coop rules | Enclosure behind the front building line; 20 feet from property line for 4 or fewer hens; 100 feet from the nearest residence if more than 4 hens are kept. Commercial production of eggs/meat for sale prohibited on lots smaller than 10 acres. |
| Code section | Lynchburg Zoning Ordinance Ch. 35.2, Sec. 35.2-71.7 (Farm animals), Exhibit VII-1 |
Lynchburg's zoning ordinance allows poultry (domesticated fowl up to 30 lbs). The base allowance is 4 fowl on lots of 15,000 sq ft or smaller, plus 1 additional fowl for each additional 5,000 sq ft of lot area, up to a maximum of 40. Enclosures for 4 or fewer hens must be 20 feet from the property line; keeping more than 4 requires 100 feet from the nearest residence. No permit is required.
Common questions
Can I keep chickens in Lynchburg?
Yes — chickens are allowed in Lynchburg (Lynchburg Zoning Ordinance Ch. 35.2, Sec. 35.2-71.7 (Farm animals), Exhibit VII-1).
How many chickens can I keep in Lynchburg?
Up to 4 hens. 4 hens on lots of 15,000+ sq ft, +1 per 5,000 sq ft above 15,000, max 40.
Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Lynchburg?
No — no permit is required for the base allowance in Lynchburg.
How far must a chicken coop be from the property line in Lynchburg?
20 feet minimum. Enclosure behind the front building line; 20 feet from property line for 4 or fewer hens; 100 feet from the nearest residence if more than 4 hens are kept. Commercial production of eggs/meat for sale prohibited on lots smaller than 10 acres.
What law covers backyard chickens in Lynchburg?
Lynchburg Zoning Ordinance Ch. 35.2, Sec. 35.2-71.7 (Farm animals), Exhibit VII-1. Read the official text at the source linked on this page.
The actual law
Lynchburg Zoning Ordinance Ch. 35.2, Sec. 35.2-71.7 (Farm animals), Exhibit VII-1 — read the official code
“Maximum number of fowl: 4 fowl on lots of 15,000 sq. ft. or smaller plus 1 fowl for every additional 5,000 sq. ft. of lot area; Maximum of 40 fowl.” source
“Minimum distance of enclosure from nearest residence and/or property lines and location: 20 feet from property line for 4 or fewer hens; 100 feet from nearest residence if more than 4 hens are kept; Located behind front building line.” 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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