NC · verified 2026-10-21
Hillsborough, NC
Short answerYes: the Town of Hillsborough code allows up to 8 birds; roosters are banned; the cited code does not mention a permit; and the coop setback is 5 ft.
Buying notes for backyard hens inside the Town of Hillsborough corporate limits. HOA covenants and county rules outside city limits can differ.
Heads up: These rules apply inside the Town of Hillsborough 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. 10-2. - Keeping farm animals inside city limits.
At a glance
- Hen cap
- Up to 8 hens
- Roosters
- Banned
- Permit & fee
- Code does not mention a permit
- Setback
- 5 ft
Code cite: Sec. 10-2. - Keeping farm animals inside city limits.
The rule, quoted
Word for word from Sec. 10-2. - Keeping farm animals inside city limits.
How many hens
“The maximum number of female fowl (hens) allowed is eight per lot.”
Sec. 10-2. - Keeping farm animals inside city limits.
Roosters
“(b) No person may cause, suffer or permit roosters to be kept on any property situated within the corporate limits of the town.”
Permit and fee
Code does not mention a permit. Ask the city whether a permit is needed before you buy birds.
Setback / screening
“(4) All fowl must be kept in fenced enclosures at least five feet from the side and rear property lines.”
Also in this section
“(2) The minimum lot size for keeping fowl is 15,000 square feet.”
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 Sec. 10-2. - Keeping farm animals inside city limits. at https://library.municode.com/nc/hillsborough/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH10RECOAN_S10-2KEFAANINLI. Read the live code before you build or order birds.