NC · verified 2026-10-21
Durham, NC
Short answerYes: the City of Durham code allows up to 10 birds; roosters are banned; the cited code does not mention a permit; and the coop setback is 15 ft.
Buying notes for backyard hens inside the City of Durham corporate limits. HOA covenants and county rules outside city limits can differ.
Heads up: These rules apply inside the City of Durham 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: UDO Sec. 5.4.12. Domestic Chickens (City Only)
At a glance
- Hen cap
- Up to 10 hens
- Roosters
- Banned
- Permit & fee
- Code does not mention a permit
- Setback
- 15 ft
The rule, quoted
Word for word from UDO Sec. 5.4.12. Domestic Chickens (City Only)
How many hens
“The maximum number of chickens allowed is 10 per lot, regardless of how many dwelling units are on the lot.”
UDO Sec. 5.4.12. Domestic Chickens (City Only)
Roosters
“Only female chickens are allowed.”
Permit and fee
Code does not mention a permit. Ask the city whether a permit is needed before you buy birds.
UDO 5.4.12 does not list a permit for chickens. The coop must meet the accessory-structure rules in UDO 5.4.1, so ask Durham Planning whether your coop needs a building permit.
Setback / screening
“Notwithstanding the location requirements of paragraph 5.4.1, Accessory Structures, chicken coops shall be located at least 15 feet from any property line or public right-of-way, and chicken pens shall be located at least five feet from any property line or right-of-way.”
Coop and run size
“The coop shall be enclosed with solid material on all sides and have a solid roof and door(s).”
Also in this section
“Chickens shall be secured in the chicken coop during non-daylight hours.”
“The pen shall be covered with wire, aviary netting, or solid roofing.”
“Eggs, chicks, adult chickens, and processed chickens shall not be sold.”
What to buy
Named products and shops are real. Confirm stock, shipping, and that the vet still sees poultry before you spend money.
Shared Research Triangle, NC metro list: same stores for every city in this metro.
Hatchery
Cackle Hatchery
Ships live chicks to North Carolina via USPS Priority Mail. Cackle's FAQ lists North Carolina 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 — Hillsborough (#1849)
Hillsborough — 1701 NC Hwy 86 South, Hillsborough, NC 27278. (919) 245-0522. 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
NC State Veterinary Hospital — Avian service
Raleigh — 1052 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC 27607. Its avian page says it sees all pet birds including backyard poultry, and that no referral is needed. Call 919-513-6999 (emergencies 919-513-6911).
Verified 2026-10-21 against UDO Sec. 5.4.12. Domestic Chickens (City Only) at https://udo.durhamnc.gov/udo/5_04_Accessory%20Uses%20and%20Structures.htm. Read the live code before you build or order birds.