Backyard Chickens in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Can you keep chickens in Winston-Salem?

Thinking about keeping hens in Winston-Salem? The City Code allows up to five backyard hens (no roosters) with the right permit, coop setup, and a 20-foot setback from your neighbor's property line. Here's everything Peggy's Happy Chickens found in the actual ordinance so you can raise a happy, legal flock in the Twin City.

Yes – with conditions

Yes. Winston-Salem's City Code allows residents to keep backyard hens under Section 6-6, "Keeping Chickens or Other Fowl and Pigeons" (Chapter 6, Animals and Fowl), most recently revised by Ordinance #2022-18 (approved August 15, 2022). Up to five hens may be kept, but roosters are prohibited. A zoning permit from the Inspections Division is required before building or erecting the coop/run, and the enclosure must sit at least 20 feet from any adjacent property line in the rear yard.

Read the ordinance ↗

The rules at a glance

Hens in city limits: Allowed
How many hens: 5
Roosters: No
Permit required: Yes
Setback from property line: 20 ft.

Peggy knows Winston-Salem

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

Under § 6-6(b) of the Winston-Salem City Code, chickens must be housed as follows:

Enclosed run: Chickens or other fowl shall be kept in an enclosed run. Said enclosure shall be a minimum of four feet in height and must be enclosed on all sides and the top with wire mesh fencing. The enclosed run shall provide at least ten square feet of run area per chicken or other fowl. Access gates must be self-closing, self-latching, and lockable.
Coop: The coop shall be constructed of solid material... The coop shall provide a minimum of three square feet of floor area per chicken and shall be a minimum of two feet in height per floor or level where chickens or other fowl are housed.
Number/type: The maximum number of chickens or other fowl that can be kept on any residentially zoned property within the corporate limits of the city shall be five. All chickens shall be hens; no roosters are permitted.
Materials: Run and coop materials must be moisture-resistant and easy to clean (e.g., pressure-treated wood, painted wood, metal/vinyl siding, asphalt shingle or metal roofing, galvanized or vinyl mesh fencing).
Placement/setbacks: The enclosed run... shall be located in the rear yard and shall be no closer to the street than the rear yard of the dwelling or principal structure and at no time may be closer than 20 feet from any adjacent property line. If placed closer than 100 feet to a neighboring property, a notarized statement of approval from that adjacent property owner must accompany the permit application.
Permit: A zoning permit issued by the inspections division is necessary prior to constructing and/or erecting the enclosed run and/or coop. Applicants must submit a scaled site plan, distances to property lines, a design sketch/elevation, and a materials list. The permit shall automatically renew annually, but is automatically revoked after two confirmed ordinance-violation notices within a two-year span (with a two-year re-application ban afterward).
Sanitation: Any person who keeps, feeds, or maintains chickens or other fowl and pigeons... shall provide a bin or pit which shall be watertight and so arranged that it is fly-proof, or a watertight barrel with a close-fitting lid, with manure/feed removed every 5 days in warm months and weekly in cooler months.
Slaughter: The slaughter of chickens or other fowl for personal use is allowed only on the property where the chickens or fowl are kept, must not be visible from public areas/right-of-way/adjacent property, and must be done sanitarily.

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Winston-Salem

🌡️ Climate

USDA Hardiness Zone 7b/8a (Humid Subtropical, Piedmont North Carolina)

Winston-Salem has hot, humid summers (highs often in the upper 80s–90s°F) and mild-to-cool winters with occasional freezes and light snow. Good ventilation, shade, and fresh water are essential in summer, while draft-free but ventilated coops help hens handle winter cold snaps. Humidity also means coop bedding and runs need regular attention to prevent mold, mites, and ammonia buildup.

🦝 Who's after your hens

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Backyard flocks in Winston-Salem's wooded, suburban lots are most at risk from raccoons and opossums raiding at night, hawks (especially red-tailed and Cooper's hawks) striking during the day, and foxes or coyotes testing perimeter fencing. Rat snakes are also known to target eggs and chicks. The city's required 4-foot, fully-enclosed wire-mesh run with a secured top and self-latching gate (per § 6-6(b)(1)) is specifically aimed at keeping these predators out.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Rhode Island Red, Plymouth Rock, Buff Orpington, Australorp, Easter Egger — all cold-hardy yet heat-tolerant dual-purpose breeds well suited to the Piedmont's humid subtropical swings.

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

Questions people ask about Winston-Salem

▸How many chickens can I keep in Winston-Salem?

Up to five hens per residentially zoned property. The maximum number of chickens or other fowl that can be kept on any residentially zoned property within the corporate limits of the city shall be five.

▸Are roosters allowed in Winston-Salem?

No. All chickens shall be hens; no roosters are permitted.

▸Do I need a permit to keep chickens?

Yes. A zoning permit issued by the inspections division is necessary prior to constructing and/or erecting the enclosed run and/or coop, including a site plan, distance measurements, design sketch, and materials list.

▸How far from my property line does the coop need to be?

The run/coop must be in the rear yard and at no time may be closer than 20 feet from any adjacent property line. If it's closer than 100 feet to a neighbor, a notarized approval statement from that neighbor is required with the permit.

▸Can I slaughter chickens at my home in Winston-Salem?

Personal-use slaughter is allowed on your property, but the slaughter shall not be visible from public areas, the public right-of-way, or any adjacent property and must be done sanitarily with proper waste disposal.

City rules change, and this page is a summary rather than legal advice. Please confirm with Winston-Salem or your HOA before you order – and call us on (559) 321-7271 if you'd like a hand. Last checked September 11, 2026.