Backyard chickens in Charleston, South Carolina

Yes. The City of Charleston permits residents to keep poultry and fowl, but a poultry or fowl permit (with a permit fee set by the Division of Animal Control) is required before keeping any chickens. Coops/enclosures must be at least 50 feet from any neighboring dwelling unless the neighbor within that 50-foot zone gives written permission, free-roaming birds are not allowed, and roosters are completely prohibited anywhere within city limits (Code of the City of Charleston, Ch. 5, § 5-11, as amended by Ord. No. 2025-110, § 7, 8-19-25).

Charleston has hot, humid summers and mild, wet winters typical of the Lowcountry coastal plain. Coops should prioritize ventilation and shade to prevent heat stress in July–September, while predator-proofing and good drainage are important year-round given the region's heavy rain and high water table.

Charleston's marshy, wooded, and suburban mix of habitats supports healthy populations of raccoons, opossums, rat snakes, red-tailed and other hawks, and foxes — all of which will readily take chickens or eggs. Fully enclosed, hardware-cloth-covered runs and secure, locking coop doors are essential, especially near creeks, marshes, and green spaces common throughout the peninsula and surrounding neighborhoods.