Auburn, AL Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)

Auburn permits urban chicken keeping under Section 501.03 (Limitations on Animals) of the City of Auburn Zoning Ordinance, adopted after the City Council approved the urban chicken ordinance in 2011. The keeping of chickens is allowed inside and outside the stock district provided: the lot is at least 10,000 square feet; the principal use is a single-family dwelling; the number of chickens does not exceed four (4) on lots of 10,000 to 19,999 square feet or six (6) on lots of 20,000 square feet or greater; chickens are kept in an enclosure (henhouse, coop, chicken tractor, etc.) at all times with a minimum of six square feet per chicken; the enclosure is in the backyard only; and the covered enclosure is at least 10 feet from any adjacent property line and 30 feet from neighboring dwellings, churches, schools, or places of business. Enclosures must be kept clean, dry, and odor-free, and owners must control predators, rodents, and pests. Roosters and the slaughtering of chickens are strictly prohibited inside the stock district, and breeding chickens or producing fertilizer for commercial purposes is unlawful. A site plan review (Section 804) and a Planning Department permit with a $40 fee are required before building the enclosure.