NC · verified 2026-10-21
Holly Springs, NC
Short answerYes: the City of Holly Springs code allows up to 3 birds; roosters are banned; a permit is required, but the code lists no fee; and the coop setback is 12 ft.
Buying notes for backyard hens inside the City of Holly Springs corporate limits. HOA covenants and county rules outside city limits can differ.
Heads up: These rules apply inside the City of Holly Springs 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. 12-80. Horses, cattle, swine, chickens, and other animals and fowl. (1) Hens allowed by permit
At a glance
- Hen cap
- Up to 3 hens
- Roosters
- Banned
- Permit & fee
- Permit required, fee not listed in the code
- Setback
- 12 ft
Code cite: Sec. 12-80. Horses, cattle, swine, chickens, and other animals and fowl. (1) Hens allowed by permit
The rule, quoted
Word for word from Sec. 12-80. Horses, cattle, swine, chickens, and other animals and fowl. (1) Hens allowed by permit
How many hens
“In any residential or agricultural zoning district, a landowner of a lot exceeding 10,000 square feet may apply for a permit from the department of planning and zoning (the "department") to allow up to three female chicken (hens).”
Only lots over 10,000 sq ft qualify.
Sec. 12-80. Horses, cattle, swine, chickens, and other animals and fowl. (1) Hens allowed by permit
Roosters
“Livestock and domestic fowl of all descriptions are hereby prohibited in any area of the town except those areas zoned for agriculture purposes by the zoning ordinance.”
The only exception is the hen permit, which covers female chickens only.
Permit and fee
“The permit application shall be accompanied by 1) signed application approved by the department; 2) a permit fee established by the town's budget ordinance for accessory structures; and 3) a statement of approval from the homeowner's association that governs the property of the applicant, if any, or alternatively a statement by the owner that the property is not subject to restrictive covenants.”
The fee is the accessory-structure fee in the town budget ordinance; ask Planning and Zoning for the current amount. You also need an HOA approval statement, or a statement that no covenants apply.
Setback / screening
“The coop and pen shall be located so that it is entirely behind the rear lot line of the primary structure (i.e., house) on the property, and is a minimum of 12 feet from the side and rear property line.”
Also in this section
“One coop and one pen per residential lot shall be required to house chickens on a lot.”
“Hens shall be enclosed in a coop during non daylight hours.”
“Hens may be kept only for non commercial purposes.”
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. 12-80. Horses, cattle, swine, chickens, and other animals and fowl. (1) Hens allowed by permit at https://library.municode.com/nc/holly_springs/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH12PUSA_ARTIIIAN_DIV1GE_S12-80HOCASWCHOTANFO. Read the live code before you build or order birds.