Charleston permits limited backyard chickens in residential zones with coop setbacks and prohibits roosters in dense neighborhoods. Larger livestock such as goats, pigs, and cattle are restricted to agriculturally zoned parcels under Chapter 6 and Chapter 42 zoning rules.
Under Charleston Code Chapter 6 and Chapter 42 (Zoning), residents in standard residential districts may keep a small number of hens for personal use, typically with restrictions on flock size, coop placement away from property lines, and sanitation. Roosters are commonly prohibited in residential zones because of noise. Larger livestock including goats, pigs, horses, and cattle are restricted to parcels zoned for agricultural use or large-lot rural-residential districts. Owners must maintain enclosures that prevent escape and odor nuisances, and waste handling must comply with city sanitation rules to avoid public-nuisance citations.
Unpermitted livestock or noncompliant coops can trigger zoning citations, abatement orders, removal of animals, and daily fines until the violation is corrected.
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See how Charleston's chickens & livestock rules stack up against other locations.
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