Can I keep chickens in Huntington, WV?
Yes, with conditions — Huntington allows chickens only in certain zones or lot configurations. (Codified Ordinances Part Five, Art. 505, Secs. 505.05 & 505.06 (Confinement of fowl; Permit for fowl required), verified June 2026)
The full rules
| Chickens allowed | Conditional (zone / lot rules) |
|---|---|
| Permit required | Yes |
| Coop rules | Fowl must be confined to the owner's premises and may not pass onto another's premises or public streets. A health-officer permit is required. |
| Code section | Codified Ordinances Part Five, Art. 505, Secs. 505.05 & 505.06 (Confinement of fowl; Permit for fowl required) |
Huntington allows keeping chickens and other fowl city-wide, but only after obtaining a written permit from the health officer (Sec. 505.06). Fowl must be confined to the owner's property (Sec. 505.05). The code sets no maximum hen count, no fee, no setback for fowl, and does not separately prohibit roosters.
Common questions
Can I keep chickens in Huntington?
Yes, with conditions — Huntington allows chickens only in certain zones or situations (Codified Ordinances Part Five, Art. 505, Secs. 505.05 & 505.06 (Confinement of fowl; Permit for fowl required)).
How many chickens can I keep in Huntington?
It depends on your lot. Keeping fowl is permitted only with a health-officer permit; no numeric cap is set in the code.. Rules vary by zoning district — check the full summary for your zone.
Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Huntington?
Yes — Huntington requires a permit or registration before keeping chickens.
What law covers backyard chickens in Huntington?
Codified Ordinances Part Five, Art. 505, Secs. 505.05 & 505.06 (Confinement of fowl; Permit for fowl required). Read the official text at the source linked on this page.
The actual law
Codified Ordinances Part Five, Art. 505, Secs. 505.05 & 505.06 (Confinement of fowl; Permit for fowl required) — read the official code
“All chicken, ducks, geese, turkeys or other fowl of any kind owned by any person shall be confined upon the owner's premises and shall not be permitted to pass from or off such premises and upon the premises of another or upon the public streets or places of the city.” source
“No person shall keep or maintain any chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys or other fowl within the city until such person first obtains from the health officer a permit to do so, as provided in this section.” 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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