Rock Hill, SC Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)

The City of Rock Hill regulates poultry and livestock through Chapter 6 (Animals) and Chapter 31 (Zoning) of the Code of Ordinances. According to publicly available City guidance and several backyard-poultry references compiled from Rock Hill residents, the City permits a small backyard flock of hens (commonly cited as up to six birds) on residential lots, prohibits roosters because of crowing-noise complaints, and requires coops and pens to be set back roughly 25 to 30 feet from the nearest dwelling other than the owner's. A permit through the Planning and Development Department is required, and applicants should confirm exact counts, setbacks, and coop construction standards with the City because the rules sit at the intersection of Chapter 6 animal rules and Chapter 31 zoning. Larger livestock - cattle, swine, goats, horses - are not permitted on standard residential lots and are confined under Chapter 31 to agricultural and large-lot single-family zoning districts that survive on the periphery of City limits. Rock Hill sits inside York County; unincorporated York County operates under York County Chapter 55 (Animals), which is administered by York County Animal Services from 713 Justice Boulevard in York. Slaughter of poultry or livestock for personal consumption inside City limits is heavily restricted by both Chapter 6 nuisance authority and Chapter 31 use restrictions. Commercial poultry or livestock operations require agricultural zoning and are essentially unavailable inside Rock Hill. South Carolina state law (S.C. Code Title 47) provides the cruelty-of-care floor for all livestock.