Madison's code treats fowl as domestic animals allowed only in confinement, but keeping livestock requires a lot of at least three acres. There is no chicken-specific hen-limit ordinance in the codified animal chapter.
Madison City Code § 6-1 defines domestic animals to include fowl, ducks, geese, and turkeys "raised and/or maintained in confinement," so poultry must be kept confined, not at large. Livestock keeping is tightly limited: under § 6-13 it is unlawful to keep livestock on any lot smaller than three acres, any corral must give 10,000 sq ft for one animal (plus 1,000 sq ft per additional animal), and no corral or stable may sit within 75 feet of a neighbor's dwelling. Madison is a Dillon-rule Alabama municipality; agricultural uses also depend on the zoning district. Confirm your parcel's zoning with Planning before adding poultry or livestock.
Keeping livestock below the three-acre minimum or inside required setbacks is unlawful under § 6-13; violations are punishable under § 6-2 / § 1-8 fines.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Madison, AL
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