Can I keep chickens in Fayetteville, NC?
Yes — Fayetteville allows backyard chickens, up to 10 hens with no permit required. Roosters are prohibited, and coops must be at least 30 ft from neighboring lines/homes. (Fayetteville UDO Sec. 30-4.D.3.j (Horticulture and Agriculture); Cumberland County Code of Ordinances Sec. 3-75(c) and Sec. 3-70, verified August 2026)
The full rules
| Chickens allowed | Yes |
|---|---|
| Maximum hens | 10 |
| Roosters | Prohibited |
| Permit required | No |
| Coop setback | 30 ft |
| Coop rules | No roosters. Maximum ten female chickens (hens) per dwelling lot. No animal may be tethered, grazed, or allowed to stand within 30 feet of any wall or within 50 feet of the front door of any residence. Premises must meet sanitary standards set by the Cumberland County Board of Health. |
| Code section | Fayetteville UDO Sec. 30-4.D.3.j (Horticulture and Agriculture); Cumberland County Code of Ordinances Sec. 3-75(c) and Sec. 3-70 |
Fayetteville allows backyard hens, but not without limit. The city UDO defers animal-keeping to Cumberland County Code Chapter 3, which caps a dwelling lot at ten female chickens and prohibits roosters outright. No city permit is required, though coops must meet county Board of Health sanitary standards.
Common questions
Can I keep chickens in Fayetteville?
Yes — chickens are allowed in Fayetteville (Fayetteville UDO Sec. 30-4.D.3.j (Horticulture and Agriculture); Cumberland County Code of Ordinances Sec. 3-75(c) and Sec. 3-70).
How many chickens can I keep in Fayetteville?
Up to 10 hens.
Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Fayetteville?
No — no permit is required for the base allowance in Fayetteville.
Are roosters allowed in Fayetteville?
No — roosters are prohibited in Fayetteville.
How far must a chicken coop be from the property line in Fayetteville?
30 feet minimum. No roosters. Maximum ten female chickens (hens) per dwelling lot. No animal may be tethered, grazed, or allowed to stand within 30 feet of any wall or within 50 feet of the front door of any residence. Premises must meet sanitary standards set by the Cumberland County Board of Health.
What law covers backyard chickens in Fayetteville?
Fayetteville UDO Sec. 30-4.D.3.j (Horticulture and Agriculture); Cumberland County Code of Ordinances Sec. 3-75(c) and Sec. 3-70. Read the official text at the source linked on this page.
The actual law
Fayetteville UDO Sec. 30-4.D.3.j (Horticulture and Agriculture); Cumberland County Code of Ordinances Sec. 3-75(c) and Sec. 3-70 — read the official code
“Horticultural and agricultural uses include home gardens, fruit trees, ornamental ponds, ponds used for aquaculture, bee-keeping, keeping of animals and fowl, and similar uses” source
“Horticultural and agricultural uses include home gardens, fruit trees, ornamental ponds, ponds used for aquaculture, bee-keeping, keeping of animals and fowl, and similar uses. The horticulture and agriculture use shall comply with the following standards: 1. Such uses shall be conducted in conformance with the requirements of the Cumberland County Code of Ordinances, Chapter 3 as applicable.” source
“Sec. 3-70. - Keeping chickens or rabbits; sanitation requirements. It shall be unlawful to keep, house or pen chickens or rabbits on premises which fail to meet sanitary standards established by the county board of health.” source
“No roosters, and no more than ten female chickens (hens) or rabbits shall be kept, housed, or penned at a dwelling or on the lot on which such dwelling is located within the corporate limits of any municipality in which this chapter is applied.” source
Last verified August 23, 2026. Always confirm with your municipality — HOA rules can be stricter than city code. How we verify →
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