Can I keep chickens in Leesburg, VA?
Yes, with conditions — Leesburg allows chickens only in certain zones or lot configurations. Roosters are prohibited. (Leesburg Town Code Ch. 4 (Animals), Secs. 4-3, 4-5, verified June 2026)
The full rules
| Chickens allowed | Conditional (zone / lot rules) |
|---|---|
| Roosters | Prohibited |
| Permit required | No |
| Home slaughter | Allowed with restrictions |
| Coop rules | Poultry must be confined to the owner's premises. In residential subdivisions, only chickens (hens) are allowed - waterfowl, roosters, and other poultry are prohibited. The Town Zoning Ordinance imposes no per-lot hen cap, coop setback, or chicken permit. |
| Code section | Leesburg Town Code Ch. 4 (Animals), Secs. 4-3, 4-5 |
Leesburg (a town in Loudoun County) allows chickens in residential subdivisions: Sec. 4-3 requires poultry to be confined to the owner's premises and prohibits keeping any poultry - including waterfowl and roosters - in a residential subdivision except chickens. Chicken slaughter is expressly permitted by Sec. 4-5. Neither the Town Code nor the Zoning Ordinance imposes a hen cap, permit, or coop setback for chickens.
Common questions
Can I keep chickens in Leesburg?
Yes, with conditions — Leesburg allows chickens only in certain zones or situations (Leesburg Town Code Ch. 4 (Animals), Secs. 4-3, 4-5).
How many chickens can I keep in Leesburg?
It depends on your lot. Chickens (hens) allowed in residential subdivisions; roosters and other poultry prohibited there. No per-lot hen cap, coop setback, or permit in Town Code or Zoning Ordinance. Chicken slaughter permitted.. Rules vary by zoning district — check the full summary for your zone.
Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Leesburg?
No — no permit is required for the base allowance in Leesburg.
Are roosters allowed in Leesburg?
No — roosters are prohibited in Leesburg.
Can I slaughter chickens at home in Leesburg?
Yes, with restrictions — see the city's rules in Leesburg Town Code Ch. 4 (Animals), Secs. 4-3, 4-5.
What law covers backyard chickens in Leesburg?
Leesburg Town Code Ch. 4 (Animals), Secs. 4-3, 4-5. Read the official text at the source linked on this page.
The actual law
Leesburg Town Code Ch. 4 (Animals), Secs. 4-3, 4-5 — read the official code
“The owner or custodian of any poultry shall keep such poultry confined to his own premises. No person shall keep any poultry, including water fowl and roosters in any area in town that is located in a residential subdivision, except for chickens.” source
“It shall be unlawful for any person to kill, butcher, slaughter or dress any livestock or poultry, except for chickens within the town.” 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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