NC · verified 2026-10-21
Goldsboro, NC
Short answerYes: the City of Goldsboro code allows up to 10 birds; roosters are banned; a permit is required, but the code lists no fee; and the coop setback is 15 ft.
Buying notes for backyard hens inside the City of Goldsboro corporate limits. HOA covenants and county rules outside city limits can differ.
Heads up: These rules apply inside the City of Goldsboro 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: § 91.50 Domestic fowl.
At a glance
- Hen cap
- Up to 10 hens
- Roosters
- Banned
- Permit & fee
- Permit required, fee not listed in the code
- Setback
- 15 ft
Code cite: § 91.50 Domestic fowl.
The rule, quoted
Word for word from § 91.50 Domestic fowl.
How many hens
“It shall be unlawful to keep, house or possess more than ten chickens on a property currently occupied as a single-family dwelling or located adjacent to a property occupied by a single-family dwelling or other residential structure.”
§ 91.50 Domestic fowl.
Roosters
“Roosters are expressly prohibited unless they are located on a bona fide farm and meet the 200 yard spacing requirement as defined in § 91.02.”
Permit and fee
“The owner shall be required to pay an annual license fee as set by the City Council.”
You need a license from the Animal Control Officer before any fowl arrive. The fee is set by City Council; ask the city for the current amount.
Setback / screening
“All fowl enclosures must be located in the rear yard and be located at least 15 feet from all adjoining property lines.”
Coop and run size
“The enclosure shall have a minimum of ten square feet of area for each fowl.”
Also in this section
License
“A license shall be required to be issued by the Animal Control Officer prior to any fowl being located in the city limits.”
“All domestic fowl enclosures must be fully enclosed and fowl kept in it at all times.”
What to buy
Named products and shops are real. Confirm stock, shipping, and that the vet still sees poultry before you spend money.
Shared Goldsboro, NC area 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 — Goldsboro West (#481)
Goldsboro — 1308 West Grantham St, Goldsboro, NC 27530. (919) 580-7030. 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
No verified poultry vet yet
We have not confirmed a clinic here that says it treats chickens. Call local vets and ask before you need one.
Verified 2026-10-21 against § 91.50 Domestic fowl. at https://library.municode.com/nc/goldsboro/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITIXGERE_CH91AN_OTAN_S91.50DOFO. Read the live code before you build or order birds.