Auburn, AL Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Min. lot size for chickens
- 10,000 sq. ft.
- Chicken cap, smaller lots
- 4 birds (10,000-19,999 sq ft)
- Chicken cap, larger lots
- 6 birds (20,000+ sq ft)
- Setback from property line
- 10 feet minimum
- Roosters
- Prohibited in stock district
- Rural livestock lot minimum
- 3 acres (horses: 2 acres)
Summary
Auburn allows backyard chickens on single-family lots of at least 10,000 square feet with strict enclosure, spacing and hygiene conditions, while horses, cattle, sheep, goats and hogs are confined to large Rural District lots or prohibited entirely inside the stock district.
B. The keeping or maintaining of horses, mules, cattle, sheep, goats, hogs, fowl or any other such animal shall be prohibited within the stock district... Inside and outside of the stock district, the keeping of chickens is allowed, provided: 1. the minimum lot size of the property is 10,000 square feet 2. the principal use of the property is a single-family dwelling 3. the number of chickens does not exceed: a. four (4) on lots 10,000 square feet to 19,999 square feet b. six (6) on lots 20,000 square feet or greater. Roosters and the slaughtering of chickens are strictly prohibited inside of the stock district. Outside the established stock district, mules, cattle, sheep, goats, hogs, fowl or any other such animal may only be maintained on lots of three (3) acres or more in the Rural (R) District. Horses may be maintained only outside of the established stock district on lots of two (2) acres or more with a limit of one (1) horse per acre.
Full Breakdown
B bans keeping horses, mules, cattle, sheep, goats, hogs or fowl inside the City's designated "stock district," a mapped area on file with the Planning Department. Chickens are the exception: inside or outside the stock district, a single-family lot of at least 10,000 square feet may keep four chickens on lots from 10,000 to 19,999 square feet, or six chickens on lots of 20,000 square feet or more. The birds must stay in a fenced enclosure or henhouse at all times, with at least six square feet per chicken, located only in the rear yard, at least 10 feet from any property line and 30 feet from a neighboring dwelling, church, school or business.
Enclosures must be kept clean, dry, odor-free and free of predator and pest attractants, and a site plan must be reviewed and approved under Section 804 before the coop is built. Roosters and chicken slaughtering are strictly prohibited inside the stock district, and commercial chicken breeding or fertilizer production is unlawful. Outside the stock district, mules, cattle, sheep, goats, hogs or other such animals may only be kept on Rural (R) District lots of three acres or more, and horses require two acres or more with no more than one horse per acre.
Violations & Fines
Keeping livestock inside the stock district, exceeding the four/six-bird chicken cap, keeping a rooster, slaughtering chickens inside the stock district, or letting chickens become a nuisance through odor or noise all violate § 501.03.B. As a Zoning Ordinance violation, Section 909 sets the penalty at up to a $500 fine, up to six months in city jail, or both, with each day of continued violation a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep backyard chickens in Auburn, Alabama?
Are roosters allowed in Auburn?
Can I keep a horse or cow in Auburn city limits?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Auburn
How Auburn compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare Auburn to another location·View the Alabama animal ordinances overview
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