Lee County, AL Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Use classification
- Hobby/recreational farm or Commercial farm
- RP, CR, RC districts
- Permitted by right (P)
- Special District (SP*)
- Not permitted (N)
- Minimum lot area
- 15,000 sq ft (Sec. 4.2)
- Applies only
- In beats that adopted zoning
- Violation notice period
- 30 days by certified mail
Summary
Lee County's Zoning Regulations classify backyard chickens, poultry and livestock keeping as a "Hobby or recreational farm" or "Commercial farm" land use under Article III. Both are Permitted (P) by right in the Rural Preserve, Corridor and Rural Center districts and barred (N) in the Special District, but only in election beats that voted to adopt zoning.
Commercial farm. A large tract of land used for the commercial production, keeping or maintenance, for sale or lease, of plants and animals useful to man, including the following farming activities: ... poultry, including egg production but excluding poultry processing; livestock, such as beef cattle, sheep, goats, or any similar livestock, including the breeding and grazing of such animals but excluding meat processing; ... Hobby or recreational farm. A large tract of land used for the production, keeping or maintenance of farm animals personally useful to the occupants of a dwelling on the same tract.
Full Breakdown
4(1) defines "Commercial farm" as a tract used for the commercial production, keeping or maintenance, for sale or lease, of animals useful to man, expressly including poultry (egg production, excluding processing) and livestock such as beef cattle, sheep and goats, including their breeding and grazing but excluding meat processing. A separate classification, "Hobby or recreational farm," covers the same activity for personal use: a tract used for the production, keeping or maintenance of farm animals personally useful to the occupants of a dwelling on the same tract.
7 marks both classifications "P" (Permitted) in the Rural Preserve (RP), Corridor (CR) and Rural Center (RC) districts, and "N" (Not Permitted) in the Special District (SP*). 2. 3 is treated as an accessory use only if it is incidental or insubstantial and commonly associated with the primary residential use. None of this reaches unincorporated land outside a beat where voters adopted zoning.
Violations & Fines
Operating a use outside its classification, for example a commercial livestock or poultry operation run where the district marks it "N," draws a written notice from the Planning Director, served by certified mail, giving up to 30 days to correct (Sec. 6.3(a)). An uncorrected violation is referred to the Lee County Attorney for an injunction; a losing violator pays the county's court costs and attorney fees (Sec. 6.3(c)).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep chickens on unincorporated Lee County property?
Is there a limit on how many chickens or livestock I can keep?
What if my property isn't in a zoned beat?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lee County
How Lee County compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare Lee County to another location·View the Alabama animal ordinances overview
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