Buncombe County, NC Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- State farm exemption
- NCGS 160D-903 (bona fide farm)
- County chicken cap
- None for farm-use property
- Cage/pen setback
- 10 ft from lot line (Sec. 6-57)
- Livestock defined
- Sec. 6-28 (fowl included)
- State poultry ID
- NCFarmID required (2026)
Summary
Buncombe County cannot zone out bona fide farm uses, so keeping chickens, fowl, and livestock on qualifying property in the unincorporated county is broadly allowed under NCGS 160D-903. Animals must still avoid nuisance conditions and cages/pens have setback limits under the animal ordinance.
County zoning and development regulations may not affect property used for bona fide farm purposes... Bona fide farm purposes include the production and activities relating or incidental to the production of crops, grains, fruits, vegetables, ornamental and flowering plants, dairy, livestock, poultry, and all other forms of agriculture.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
Under NCGS 160D-903, county zoning may not affect property used for bona fide farm purposes, which include raising livestock, poultry, and all other agriculture as defined in NCGS 106-581.1. Buncombe County's animal code (Sec. 6-28) defines livestock to include horses, swine, sheep, cattle, goats, chickens, and other fowl. There is no county numeric cap on backyard chickens for farm-use property. Cages or pens used to restrain animals generally must sit at least ten feet from the lot line and not within 50 feet of a neighboring dwelling (Sec. 6-57(a)(4)). Inside Asheville and other towns, municipal zoning may set stricter poultry rules. Since 2026 NC requires poultry owners to obtain an NCFarmID.
Violations & Fines
Farm animals kept so as to constitute a public nuisance (odor, waste runoff, at-large animals) are citable under Sec. 6-57 as Level I to Level III civil penalties ($50-$500). Cage/pen setback violations are Level I.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep backyard chickens in unincorporated Buncombe County?
Is there a limit on how many chickens I can have?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Buncombe County
How Buncombe County compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare Buncombe County to another location·View the North Carolina animal ordinances overview
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