Backyard Chickens in Mobile, Alabama

Can you keep chickens in Mobile?

Thinking about raising backyard hens in the Port City? Mobile, Alabama allows hens with a permit from the Director of Mobile Animal Services, though roosters are restricted to residential-agricultural (R-A) zoned properties. Here's what Peggy's Happy Chickens found in the actual city code.

Yes – with conditions

Yes, hens may be kept in the City of Mobile, but a permit is required. Under Mobile's Code of Ordinances, Chapter 7 (Animals and Fowl), "It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or maintain domestic fowl within the city without a permit from the director." Roosters are more restricted: "No permit will be issued authorizing the keeping of any rooster within a residentially zoned area other than an area zoned as a residential-agricultural (R-A) district." This means hens are permitted city-wide (with a permit), while roosters may only be permitted if the property sits in an R-A zoned district.

The ordinance does not set a fixed numeric cap on the number of hens in the code text itself; instead it requires that fowl be kept in a proper enclosure meeting standards set by the Director of Mobile Animal Services.

Read the ordinance ↗

The rules at a glance

Hens in city limits: Allowed
How many hens: No Set Limit
Roosters: conditional
Permit required: Yes
Setback from property line: Not specified

Peggy knows Mobile

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

Per the current Mobile Code of Ordinances, Chapter 7 (Animals and Fowl): "Domesticated fowl must be kept in an appropriate house, coop, ark, or yard which must meet requirements as set by the director." The Director of Mobile Animal Services (formerly the Mobile Animal Shelter) has authority to set the specific structural and sanitation requirements for fowl enclosures rather than the code fixing a specific square-footage or setback number for fowl.

Note that 'Fowl' is separately defined from 'Livestock' in the current code — fowl includes chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, guineas, quail, and pheasants kept as pets or for ornamental purposes, and is not subject to the 150-foot livestock corral/stable setback that applies to cattle, horses, sheep, swine, mules, and goats. Keeping any animal or fowl in an area not zoned for that animal or fowl is also unlawful, so check your property's zoning classification (e.g., whether it is R-A, residential-agricultural) before acquiring birds, especially roosters.

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Mobile

🌡️ Climate

USDA Hardiness Zone 9a / Humid Subtropical

Mobile has a humid subtropical climate with hot, muggy summers, mild winters, and heavy annual rainfall. Chicken keepers should prioritize heat and humidity tolerance, good coop ventilation, shade, and predator-proofing against the area's abundant wildlife and frequent storms.

🦝 Who's after your hens

RaccoonHawkFoxSnakeOpossumCoyote

Coastal Alabama's warm, wet climate supports large populations of raccoons, opossums, and snakes that target coops at night, while hawks are a daytime threat to free-ranging birds. Foxes and coyotes are also present in and around Mobile's more wooded and suburban fringe neighborhoods. Secure, hardware-cloth-lined coops with buried skirting and locking latches are strongly recommended.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Easter Egger, Leghorn, Rhode Island Red, Buff Orpington, Australorp

Our package comes with two Rhode Island Reds – hardy in heat and cold, and friendly with kids.

Questions people ask about Mobile

▸Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Mobile, Alabama?

Yes. The Mobile Code of Ordinances states it is unlawful to keep or maintain domestic fowl within the city without a permit from the Director of Mobile Animal Services.

▸Can I keep a rooster in Mobile city limits?

Only in limited circumstances. The city will not issue a permit for a rooster in a residentially zoned area unless that area is specifically zoned residential-agricultural (R-A). In standard residential zones, roosters are not permitted.

▸Is there a maximum number of hens allowed in Mobile?

The current code text does not set a specific numeric cap on hens; instead, fowl must be kept in a house, coop, ark, or yard meeting requirements set by the Director. Prospective keepers should contact Mobile Animal Services to confirm any administrative limits tied to permit approval.

▸Are there required setbacks for a chicken coop in Mobile?

The ordinance does not list a fixed setback distance specifically for fowl enclosures (that applies to livestock corrals/stables, which are a separately defined category). Coop placement and construction standards for fowl are instead set administratively by the Director of Animal Services.

▸Where in the code are Mobile's chicken rules located?

They are found in Chapter 7 (Animals and Fowl) of the City of Mobile Code of Ordinances, which covers permitting, rooster restrictions, and general keeping requirements for domestic fowl.

City rules change, and this page is a summary rather than legal advice. Please confirm with Mobile or your HOA before you order – and call us on (559) 321-7271 if you'd like a hand. Last checked September 8, 2026.