Animal Ordinances in Durham, NC (2026)
4 verified animal ordinances for Durham, North Carolina, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Durham allows up to ten female chickens per lot within the city, with no permit needed but strict coop and pen placement rules: coops at least 15 feet from any property line, pens at least five feet. Roosters aren't allowed, and selling eggs, birds, manure, or produce grown with the manure is prohibited.
Durham Backyard Chicken Keeping Rules
Some RestrictionsDurham UDO § 5.4.12
5.4.12. Domestic chickens (City only) C. Number and Type of Chickens Allowed The maximum number of chickens allowed is 10 per lot, regardless of how many dwelling units are on the lot. Only female chickens are allowed. There is no restriction on chicken breeds. D. Personal Use Only Eggs, chicks, adult chickens, and processed chickens shall not be sold. Chicken manure and compost using chicken m...
Beekeeping
Durham's Unified Development Ordinance lists apiculture as a permitted-by-right use across every residential district, including RR, RS, RS-M, RU and RU-M. Unlike general agriculture, which is limited to the RS-20 district, beekeeping needs no special use permit or zoning map change anywhere in the city's residential tiers.
Durham Beekeeping in Residential Zones
Few RestrictionsDurham UDO § 5.3.1(A), Agricultural Use Standards (Apiculture defined at Art. 17, Definitions)
Agricultural uses in the City, and in the County if not otherwise exempted from zoning regulation by State statute, shall be permitted in accordance with the use table in Sec. 5.1, Use Table, subject to the following standards: In the RS-20 District, all agricultural uses shall be allowed. In all other RS districts, only apiculture, commercial crop production, and forestry are allowed. ... Apic...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Durham zones veterinary clinics, animal hospitals, and kennels under UDO Sec. 5.3.4.W with separation and screening rules rather than a ban. Outdoor animal areas need a 300-foot buffer from any adjacent residential property line, or a six-foot wall where the neighboring zone is non-residential. Outdoor runs and kennels are barred in PDR and Design districts, and kennels can't operate in the S2 sub-districts of the CD and CSD Districts.
Durham Veterinary Clinic Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsDurham UDO Sec. 5.3.4.W
Veterinary clinics, animal hospitals, and kennels shall be permitted in accordance with the use table in Sec. 5.1, Use Table, subject to the following: No outdoor runs, kennels, or storage shall be allowed in PDR or Design districts. A 300-foot separation shall be maintained between the outdoor areas where animals are kept and any property line of any adjacent residential use in a residential d...
Bird Protection
Durham designates its entire corporate limits a bird sanctuary. City Code § 6-2 makes it unlawful to trap, hunt, shoot at, or molest any bird or wildfowl, or rob a nest, anywhere in the city: with one narrow exception letting the director of public safety authorize destroying nuisance flocks of starlings, pigeons, or similar birds that threaten health or damage property.
Durham Citywide Bird Sanctuary Rule
Heavy RestrictionsDurham City Code § 6-2
(a) Designation of city. The entire area embraced within the corporate limits of the city is hereby designated as a bird sanctuary. (b) Trapping, shooting birds or wildfowl. It shall be unlawful to trap, hunt, shoot or attempt to shoot or molest in any manner any bird or wildfowl or to rob bird nests or wildfowl nests; provided, however, that if starlings, pigeons, or similar birds are found to...
Looking for Durham County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Durham city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Durham County →