Can I keep chickens in Covington, KY?
Yes — Covington allows backyard chickens, up to 8 hens with no permit required. Roosters are prohibited, and coops must be at least 10 ft from neighboring lines/homes. (Covington, KY Code of Ordinances Ch. 90 (Animals), Sec. 90.18, verified June 2026)
The full rules
| Chickens allowed | Yes |
|---|---|
| Maximum hens | 8 |
| Roosters | Prohibited |
| Permit required | No |
| Coop setback | 10 ft |
| Coop rules | Non-crowing fowl kept in a covered, predator-proof, ventilated, odor-free structure with at least 3 sq ft per bird. No fowl closer than 4 ft to the owner's residence or 10 ft to any residence occupied by another. Feed in rodent/predator-proof containers. |
| Code section | Covington, KY Code of Ordinances Ch. 90 (Animals), Sec. 90.18 |
Covington permits non-crowing fowl such as hens for non-commercial purposes, with no more than eight birds on a lot smaller than one-half acre (larger lots are not capped). Roosters and crowing fowl are prohibited, no permit is mentioned, and housing must be at least 4 ft from the owner's residence and 10 ft from any neighboring residence, with at least 3 sq ft per bird.
Common questions
Can I keep chickens in Covington?
Yes — chickens are allowed in Covington (Covington, KY Code of Ordinances Ch. 90 (Animals), Sec. 90.18).
How many chickens can I keep in Covington?
Up to 8 hens. Tiered by lot size: 8 up to 21,780 sq ft.
Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Covington?
No — no permit is required for the base allowance in Covington.
Are roosters allowed in Covington?
No — roosters are prohibited in Covington.
How far must a chicken coop be from the property line in Covington?
10 feet minimum. Non-crowing fowl kept in a covered, predator-proof, ventilated, odor-free structure with at least 3 sq ft per bird. No fowl closer than 4 ft to the owner's residence or 10 ft to any residence occupied by another. Feed in rodent/predator-proof containers.
What law covers backyard chickens in Covington?
Covington, KY Code of Ordinances Ch. 90 (Animals), Sec. 90.18. Read the official text at the source linked on this page.
The actual law
Covington, KY Code of Ordinances Ch. 90 (Animals), Sec. 90.18 — read the official code
“(5) No more than eight non-crowing fowl shall be kept on a lot smaller than one-half acre.” source
“Non-crowing fowl, such as hens, may be kept within the city limits for non-commercial purposes, subject to the following provisions.” source
“No non-crowing fowl shall be located closer than four feet to the owner's residence, and no non-crowing fowl shall be located closer than ten feet to any residential structure occupied by someone other than the fowl owner.” 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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