Coop Ready Kentucky Louisville
Hens allowed
Yes. Louisville allows backyard hens on a typical single-family home lot.
Lots under half an acre may keep 5 or fewer non-crowing poultry and one crowing bird. Birds must stay in a secure, latched fence or structure. Under the zoning code's urban agriculture standards, coops of 200 sq ft or less are exempt from building setbacks, and larger ones must sit 5 ft from residential property.
Hen limit
5 non-crowing poultry (lots under half an acre)
Roosters
1 crowing bird on lots under half an acre
Permit
No
Coop placement
None stated in Metro Code
Source linked These rules come from the source linked below. Confirm current details with the city.
Read the official Louisville rules ↗ Checked October 2026.
Will your coop fit in Louisville?
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 Louisville rules above. Free, no account.
Backyard chicken questions in Louisville
How many chickens can I have in Louisville?
The hen limit in Louisville: 5 non-crowing poultry (lots under half an acre).
Are roosters allowed in Louisville?
The rooster rule in Louisville: 1 crowing bird on lots under half an acre.
Do I need a permit for backyard chickens in Louisville?
No. Louisville Metro's animal code does not require a permit to keep poultry.
How far does a chicken coop have to be from my neighbor in Louisville?
Where the coop can go in Louisville: none stated in Metro Code.
Can my HOA ban chickens if Louisville allows them?
Yes. HOA rules, deed restrictions and leases can be stricter than city code. Read yours before you build.
More Kentucky cities
More from Coop Ready
- Rooster laws by city
- Cities that ban chickens
- HOA chicken rules
- Coop setback rules
- Permit site plan checklist
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- Colorado chicken laws
- Florida chicken laws
- Georgia chicken laws
- Oregon chicken laws
- Texas chicken laws
- Washington chicken laws
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 Louisville before you build.
