Alabama Backyard Chicken Laws: Permits by County and City

Looking for backyard chicken laws in Alabama?

While there is no statewide cap on flock sizes, local regulations determine rooster allowance, permits, and setbacks.

⚠️ Important: Alabama ordinances may change without notice. Always verify the current rules with your local jurisdiction before even building your coop.

Alabama Major Cities Ordinances

Refer to our Official Sources below for data integrity.

Note: Not specified means the city code does not set that number. No published ordinance means no hen, rooster, permit, or setback rule was found in the city’s published code.

Huntsville, AL

Hen Limit: Not specified (15 sq ft pen space per bird) | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not required | Setback: 150 ft from any other dwelling

Mobile, AL

Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Not Allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: Not specified; fowl must be in a director-approved coop or yard

Birmingham, AL

Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Not Allowed | Permit: Not required | Setback: Not specified

Montgomery, AL

Hen Limit: Allowed in AGR-1 and AGR-2; special exception in R districts | Roosters: Not Allowed | Permit: Special exception required in residential zones | Setback: Not specified

Tuscaloosa, AL

Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Not Allowed | Permit: Not required | Setback: Not specified

Hoover, AL

Hen Limit: Not allowed in standard residential zones; livestock only in A-1 (typically 5+ acres) | Roosters: Not Allowed | Permit: Not required | Setback: 50 ft from side/rear lines; 75 ft from front (A-1 livestock structures)

Auburn, AL

Hen Limit: 4 hens (10,000–19,999 sq ft); 6 hens (20,000 sq ft or more); 10,000 sq ft minimum | Roosters: Not Allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 10 ft from property lines; 30 ft from neighboring dwellings

Dothan, AL

Hen Limit: Allowed on lots of 1/2 acre or more | Roosters: Not Allowed | Permit: Special exception required | Setback: 35 ft from other property

Madison, AL

Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not required | Setback: Not specified

Decatur, AL

Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Not Allowed | Permit: May be required in standard residential zones | Setback: Not specified

Alabama Ordinances by City & County

Autauga County, AL

Prattville, AL

Prattville, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Baldwin County, AL

Bay Minette, AL

Bay Minette, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Daphne, AL

Hen Limit: 2 hens (5,000–7,799 sq ft); 4 hens (7,800 sq ft–3 acres); 8 hens (over 3 acres) | Roosters: Not Allowed | Permit: Not required | Setback: 10 ft from property lines; 25 ft from the residence

Fairhope, AL

Hen Limit: Up to 4 hens (7,800 sq ft minimum) | Roosters: Not Allowed | Permit: Not required | Setback: Rear yard; 10 ft from property lines typical in similar Baldwin hen codes

Foley, AL

Hen Limit: 4 poultry (under 1/2 acre); 8 hens per 1/2 acre (1/2 acre or more) | Roosters: Not Allowed | Permit: Not required | Setback: Rear yard; accessory-structure setbacks

Gulf Shores, AL

Gulf Shores, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Loxley, AL

Loxley, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Orange Beach, AL

Orange Beach, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Robertsdale, AL

Robertsdale, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Spanish Fort, AL

Spanish Fort, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Barbour County, AL

Eufaula, AL

Eufaula, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Blount County, AL

Oneonta, AL

Oneonta, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Butler County, AL

Greenville, AL

Greenville, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Calhoun County, AL

Anniston, AL

Anniston, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Jacksonville, AL

Jacksonville, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Oxford, AL

Oxford, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Chambers County, AL

Lanett, AL

Lanett, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Valley, AL

Valley, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Chilton County, AL

Clanton, AL

Clanton, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Coffee County, AL

Enterprise, AL

Enterprise, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Colbert County, AL

Muscle Shoals, AL

Muscle Shoals, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Sheffield, AL

Sheffield, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Tuscumbia, AL

Tuscumbia, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Covington County, AL

Andalusia, AL

Andalusia, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Opp, AL

Hen Limit: Up to 6 adult fowl and 12 adolescents | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not required | Setback: Enclosed on the owner's property; 15 sq ft pen space per bird

Dale County, AL

Ozark, AL

Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not Allowed | Permit: Not required | Setback: Back yard, or side yard if 50 ft from the side line or 150 ft from the nearest residence

Dallas County, AL

Selma, AL

Selma, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

DeKalb County, AL

Fort Payne, AL

Fort Payne, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Rainsville, AL

Rainsville, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Elmore County, AL

Millbrook, AL

Millbrook, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Wetumpka, AL

Wetumpka, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Escambia County, AL

Atmore, AL

Atmore, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Etowah County, AL

Gadsden, AL

Gadsden, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Rainbow City, AL

Rainbow City, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Southside, AL

Southside, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Franklin County, AL

Russellville, AL

Russellville, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Jackson County, AL

Scottsboro, AL

Scottsboro, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Jefferson County, AL

Bessemer, AL

Bessemer, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Center Point, AL

Center Point, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Clay, AL

Clay, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Fairfield, AL

Fairfield, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Fultondale, AL

Fultondale, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Gardendale, AL

Gardendale, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Homewood, AL

Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not required | Setback: 300 ft from any neighboring residence, business, church, or school yard; 100 ft from any road

Hueytown, AL

Hueytown, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Irondale, AL

Irondale, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Leeds, AL

Leeds, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Mountain Brook, AL

Mountain Brook, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Pinson, AL

Pinson, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Pleasant Grove, AL

Pleasant Grove, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Trussville, AL

Trussville, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Vestavia Hills, AL

Hen Limit: Case-by-case | Roosters: Not Allowed | Permit: Conditional use required | Setback: Set in the approval

Lauderdale County, AL

Florence, AL

Florence, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Lee County, AL

Opelika, AL

Hen Limit: 4 hens (10,000–19,999 sq ft); 6 hens (20,000–29,999 sq ft); 10 hens (30,000 sq ft or more); 10,000 sq ft minimum | Roosters: Not Allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 10 ft from property lines; 50 ft from neighboring dwellings

Limestone County, AL

Athens, AL

Athens, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Macon County, AL

Tuskegee, AL

Tuskegee, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Marengo County, AL

Demopolis, AL

Demopolis, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Marion County, AL

Hamilton, AL

Hamilton, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Marshall County, AL

Albertville, AL

Albertville, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Arab, AL

Arab, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Boaz, AL

Boaz, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Guntersville, AL

Guntersville, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Mobile County, AL

Chickasaw, AL

Chickasaw, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Prichard, AL

Prichard, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Saraland, AL

Saraland, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Satsuma, AL

Satsuma, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Semmes, AL

Semmes, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Montgomery County, AL

Pike Road, AL

Pike Road, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Morgan County, AL

Hartselle, AL

Hartselle, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Pike County, AL

Troy, AL

Troy, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Russell County, AL

Phenix City, AL

Phenix City, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Shelby County, AL

Alabaster, AL

Alabaster, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Calera, AL

Calera, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Chelsea, AL

Chelsea, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Helena, AL

Helena, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Montevallo, AL

Montevallo, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Pelham, AL

Pelham, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

St. Clair County, AL

Margaret, AL

Margaret, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Moody, AL

Moody, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Odenville, AL

Odenville, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Pell City, AL

Pell City, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Talladega County, AL

Lincoln, AL

Lincoln, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Sylacauga, AL

Sylacauga, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Talladega, AL

Talladega, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Tallapoosa County, AL

Alexander City, AL

Alexander City, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Tuscaloosa County, AL

Northport, AL

Northport, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Walker County, AL

Jasper, AL

Jasper, AL has no publicly available ordinance data for hen limits, roosters, permits, or setbacks.

Rural and Unincorporated Areas

Alabama does not set a statewide hen cap. In unincorporated land, the county commission may control animals and animal nuisances under Ala. Code § 11-3A-2. Many rural parcels treat a small home flock as ordinary farm use. Roosters are more often allowed outside city limits.

Cities cannot run those county animal rules inside municipal boundaries. ADAI still handles disease reporting and commercial poultry. Check the county zoning map and any recorded covenants before you build a coop.

Zoning, Permits, Coops, and HOAs

Cities may police animals in town under general municipal power, including § 11-47-110 on animals at large. There is no statewide chicken license. A city or county may still require a local fowl permit, a special exception, or a building permit if the coop is large enough to count as an accessory structure.

Recorded CC&Rs can forbid poultry even when the zoning map allows it. Pull the plat and covenants from the county probate office before you buy birds.

Confirm: zoning district, animal code, and HOA documents for the exact address.

Selling Backyard Eggs in Alabama

Eggs fall under the Alabama Egg Law, Title 2, Chapter 12. Producers who sell only their own flock’s eggs straight to the buyer—from the farm, a stand, or pickup—are often exempt from dealer permits and grading (§ 2-12-6). Keep the eggs clean. Label the carton with your name and that the eggs are ungraded if that is how you sell them (§ 2-12-2; Ala. Admin. Code 80-3-14).

Sales into stores or restaurants usually need an ADAI egg-dealer permit (§ 2-12-4). Farm products sold by the producer can be sales-tax exempt under § 40-23-4. Ask ADAI before you scale up.

Alabama Poultry Slaughter Rules

Birds you raise and kill for your household, guests, and employees generally need no inspection (§ 2-17-27; 9 C.F.R. § 381.10). Selling meat is tighter. Alabama follows the federal 1,000-bird and 20,000-bird producer exemptions. Work stays sanitary, and the product must not be sold as USDA-inspected.

A city can still ban on-lot slaughter even when the state exemption applies. If the local code forbids it, use a custom-exempt plant. Large confinement houses can trigger ADEM AFO/CAFO rules; a typical backyard pen does not.

Essential Guides for Backyard Chicken Success

Alabama heat, humidity, hawks, raccoons, foxes, coyotes, and dogs do more damage here than winter. Use hardware cloth, a fully covered run, and a coop that dumps heat at night.

See our high-ventilation coop plans and the Backyard Chicken Coop Management Guide.

Official Sources

1. We reference Alabama municipal bylaws and ordinances from verified platforms like ecode360.com, municode.com, and local government websites at the time of publication.

2. Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries — Poultry

3. Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries

4. When a city or county has no published ordinance available in the sources above, we state “no publicly available ordinance data.” This does not mean chickens are banned — only that we could not locate a citable published rule. See our disclaimer below.