LA · verified 2026-10-28
New Orleans, LA
Short answerYes: the City of New Orleans code allows up to 6 birds; roosters are banned; the cited code does not mention a permit; and the coop setback is 10 ft.
Buying notes for backyard hens inside the City of New Orleans corporate limits. HOA covenants and county rules outside city limits can differ.
Heads up: These rules apply inside the City of New Orleans 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: Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance § 21.6.I Chicken Coop (Ord. 29278 MCS, 2019).
At a glance
- Hen cap
- Up to 6 hens
- Roosters
- Banned
- Permit & fee
- Code does not mention a permit
- Setback
- 10 ft
Code cite: Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance § 21.6.I Chicken Coop (Ord. 29278 MCS, 2019).
The rule, quoted
Word for word from Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance § 21.6.I Chicken Coop (Ord. 29278 MCS, 2019).
How many hens
“No person may keep more than six (6) chickens on any property at one time.”
Up to six chickens on any property. More than six is treated as an agricultural use under CZO § 20.3.C, which has its own license and space rules.
Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance § 21.6.I Chicken Coop (Ord. 29278 MCS, 2019).
Roosters
“Roosters are not permitted. However, if the gender of a chick cannot be determined at hatching, a chick of either gender may be kept on the property for no more than six (6) months.”
No roosters. An unsexed chick may stay up to six months.
Permit and fee
Code does not mention a permit. Ask the city whether a permit is needed before you buy birds.
CZO § 21.6.I lists no permit for six or fewer chickens. City Code Chapter 18 (Animals) was not checked for a separate permit.
Setback / screening
“Chicken coops and runs are permitted to locate only in the rear yard and shall be located at least ten (10) feet from all lot lines and ten (10) feet from any dwelling.”
Coop and run in the rear yard only, at least 10 ft from every lot line and 10 ft from any home.
Also in this section
Confined unless you are home
“Chickens shall be kept in coops and fenced runs when property owner or agricultural operator is not present.”
Manure 20 ft from lot lines
“No storage of chicken manure is permitted within twenty (20) feet of any lot line.”
No slaughter
“Slaughtering of chickens on-site is prohibited.”
What to buy
Named products and shops are real. Confirm stock, shipping, and that the vet still sees poultry before you spend money.
Shared New Orleans, LA metro list: same stores for every city in this metro.
Hatchery
Cackle Hatchery
Ships live chicks to Louisiana via USPS Priority Mail. Cackle's FAQ lists Louisiana 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 — LaPlace (#2142)
LaPlace — 2335 West Airline Hwy, LaPlace, LA 70068. (985) 652-8808. Store page lists a livestock department.
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, Farmhouse or Coastal finish); Wooden 8 ft run $1,899.00. Prices as shown on overezchickencoop.com on 2026-10-22.
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 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 2026-10-28 against Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance § 21.6.I Chicken Coop (Ord. 29278 MCS, 2019). at https://czo.nola.gov/print.aspx?printpath=/Article-21/21-6/21-6-I&classname=nola.ordinance. Read the live code before you build or order birds.