GA · verified 2026-10-21
Brookhaven, GA
Short answerYes: the City of Brookhaven code allows up to 25 birds; roosters are banned; the cited code does not mention a permit; and the coop setback is 7.5 ft.
Buying notes for backyard hens inside the City of Brookhaven corporate limits. HOA covenants and county rules outside city limits can differ.
Heads up: These rules apply inside the City of Brookhaven corporate limits only. An HOA or neighborhood covenant can still ban hens. Those private rules are usually not public, so HenCheck does not look them up.
Primary source: Sec. 5-32. Keeping of animals. (b) Domestic fowl
At a glance
- Hen cap
- Up to 25 hens
- Roosters
- Banned
- Permit & fee
- Code does not mention a permit
- Setback
- 7.5 ft
The rule, quoted
Word for word from Sec. 5-32. Keeping of animals. (b) Domestic fowl
How many hens
“The maximum number of domestic fowl over four months old shall be 25 birds per lot.”
The cap is also one bird per 1,000 sq ft of lot, rounded down, so a 6,000 sq ft lot (the minimum) allows 6.
Sec. 5-32. Keeping of animals. (b) Domestic fowl
Roosters
“No roosters are allowed.”
Permit and fee
Code does not mention a permit. Ask the city whether a permit is needed before you buy birds.
Setback / screening
“Domestic fowl must be cooped at least seven feet six inches feet from any property line.”
Accessory-structure setbacks also apply, and the stricter rule controls.
Coop and run size
“Each domestic fowl shall be provided with a minimum four square feet floor or ground area in the coop where it is kept per fowl over four months old.”
Also in this section
“Furthermore, no owner shall have more than one domestic fowl per 1,000 square feet of lot area as depicted on the plat of the lot on file in the Superior Court of DeKalb County (with all fractions rounded down to the nearest whole number).”
Lot size
“The minimum lot size for the keeping of domestic fowl is 6,000 square feet.”
“The minimum fenced yard area for domestic fowl shall be 25 square feet per fowl.”
“Any structure housing domestic fowl must be located in the side or rear yard if a principal building exists.”
“All structures and enclosures for the keeping of animals must comply with setback requirements for accessory structures.”
What to buy
Named products and shops are real. Confirm stock, shipping, and that the vet still sees poultry before you spend money.
Shared Atlanta, GA metro list: same stores for every city in this metro.
Hatchery
Cackle Hatchery
Ships live chicks to Georgia via USPS Priority Mail. Cackle's FAQ lists Georgia among the states it ships to, with chicks going out Mondays and Wednesdays from February to August and Wednesdays only from August to late October. Order sexed pullets if your city bans roosters or does not address them.
Feed store
Tractor Supply — Fairburn (#2627)
Fairburn — 8015 Senoia Rd, Fairburn, GA 30213. (770) 964-2082. Has a Feed Center. Store page lists livestock feed and farm supplies, including chicken coops, waterers and feeders.
Coop
OverEZ Medium Chicken Coop with Wooden 8 ft Chicken Run
Dimensions: Coop 50¼ in L × 52½ in W × 62¼ in H (includes nesting box), sized by OverEZ for up to 10 chickens; Wooden 8 ft run 8 ft W × 8 ft L × 6 ft 3 in H
Price: Coop $1,699.00 (Classic or Coastal finish; the Farmhouse finish was out of stock); Wooden 8 ft run $1,899.00. Prices as shown on overezchickencoop.com on 2026-10-21. OverEZ lists its smaller 5-chicken coop as out of stock.
The coop footprint is about 4.2 ft × 4.4 ft and the run is 8 ft × 8 ft, so with the coop at the end of the run plan on roughly 8 ft × 12.5 ft. Measure your setback from the cited code before you pick a spot, and check any height limit: the run is 6 ft 3 in tall. OverEZ ships coops and runs by tractor-trailer freight to the end of your driveway; homes on islands or on roads a truck cannot reach may need to pick up at a freight terminal.
Vet
Shepherd's Heart
Atlanta (mobile, house calls) — Mobile vet serving Atlanta and metro Atlanta, with no clinic address. Its services page says it sees chickens, ducks and other farm animals. Book through its website.
Verified 2026-10-21 against Sec. 5-32. Keeping of animals. (b) Domestic fowl at https://library.municode.com/ga/brookhaven/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH5AN_S5-32KEAN. Read the live code before you build or order birds.