Berkeley County, SC Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)

" Subsection A permits up to eight female domestic hens; subsection B ties the number to lot size: a minimum 10,000-square-foot residential parcel allows up to two chickens, and one additional hen is allowed for each further 4,500 square feet, capped at eight. Subsection C sets the operating standards: no male chickens (roosters) over three months old are permitted; chickens cannot run at large and must stay within the property boundary; the owner must provide a covered, predator-proof, well-ventilated chicken house adjacent to the enclosure, with any heat source or wiring meeting adopted building and electrical codes; chickens must be secured inside the house from sunset to sunrise; the enclosure and house must be kept neat, sanitary and regularly cleaned to prevent offensive odors; chickens need continuous food and water access; stored feed must sit in a rodent- and predator-proof container; sick chickens must receive medical care or be culled; and no chicken house may sit closer than 20 feet to a structure inhabited by anyone other than the chicken keeper, nor closer than 10 feet to any property line, though movable coops are allowed if they meet all standards.

Slaughter within public view is prohibited, and noxious odor or persistent loud noise from the flock is also barred. Subsection D requires written property-owner consent submitted with the permit application if the applicant is not the fee owner. Subsection E puts enforcement in the hands of the code enforcement officer, who investigates complaints and can issue a warning, a corrective-action order, or an immediate violation notice. The section was adopted by Ordinance No. 15-01-01 in 2015 and amended by Ordinance No. 23-07-42 in 2023.