Richmond, VA Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)

Section 4-124 lets the Director of Animal Care and Control issue permits for keeping female chickens on residential parcels; roosters are never permitted. 00 fee. No permit may authorize more than six female chickens on a parcel, and none is issued to anyone already keeping more than six. Before issuing a permit, the Director runs a background check for animal cruelty or neglect convictions or pending complaints and inspects the proposed coop site under Section 4-125; a failed inspection or background check, or refusal to allow a follow-up inspection, results in denial or revocation.

Section 4-126 requires at least three square feet of enclosed coop space per hen, and the fenced enclosure must sit at least 15 feet from any neighboring dwelling and outside any required front or street-side yard under Chapter 30. 1. Outside the chicken-permit division, Section 4-92 bans keeping hogs or pigs anywhere in the City except as educational exhibits at Maymont Park, and requires any other fowl enclosure to sit at least 200 feet from all property lines unless it qualifies under the permitted-chicken setback.