Birmingham, AL Chicken Laws: Hens, Roosters, Permits and Coop Rules

Coop Ready Alabama Birmingham

Larger lots only

Only on big lots. Birmingham requires fowl pens to be 100 ft from any dwelling and any street, which rules out a typical city lot.

No fowl pen may be within 100 ft of a dwelling, church, hospital, school, public building, park or street, and the code does not exclude your own house. Each bird needs 15 sq ft. We did not check the zoning code.

Hen limit

No set number in city code

Roosters

Not stated

Permit

Not stated

Coop placement

Pen at least 100 ft from any dwelling, church, school, park or street

Checked against city code We read the official code section linked below for every fact on this page.

Read the official Birmingham rules ↗ Checked October 2026.

Will your coop fit in Birmingham?

Draw your lot, your house and your neighbor's house on a satellite map, drop in a coop, and Coop Ready measures the distances and compares them with the Birmingham rules above. Free, no account.

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Backyard chicken questions in Birmingham

How many chickens can I have in Birmingham?

The hen limit in Birmingham: no set number in city code.

Are roosters allowed in Birmingham?

The city rules we read do not mention roosters. Check with the city before you get one.

Do I need a permit for backyard chickens in Birmingham?

The city rules we read do not mention a permit for backyard hens. Ask the city before you build.

How far does a chicken coop have to be from my neighbor in Birmingham?

Where the coop can go in Birmingham: pen at least 100 ft from any dwelling, church, school, park or street.

Can my HOA ban chickens if Birmingham allows them?

Yes. HOA rules, deed restrictions and leases can be stricter than city code. Read yours before you build.

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See every city on Coop Ready → · Coop size calculator · Chicken laws study · Backyard chickens 101

Coop Ready is a planning aid, not legal advice. City codes change, and zoning, HOA rules and your exact parcel can change what is allowed. Confirm with Birmingham before you build.