Can you legally keep chickens in Charlotte? What about roosters?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- To keep fowl in Mecklenburg, residents need a permit.
- Coops should be clean, inspected, and sit at least 25 feet from the property edge.
- Permits cost $40, are renewed annually, and properties are inspected in Mecklenburg.
The rooster crow is probably better associated with farmland than suburban Charlotte, but a couple of Charlotte Observer staffers insist they have heard roosters crow in their neighborhoods in recent months. Should they have?
Some towns and cities have rules regarding livestock living within city limits. In Charlotte, someone could have both roosters and chickens; but if it bothers enough people, something might be done.
To have fowl at home, residents need permits. To get a permit, they must pass inspection. Coops should be clean and well maintained, and sit at least 25 feet from the edge of a property. There should be no more than 20 fowl per acre.
“In the last 10 years or more, everybody wants their fresh eggs, so we are seeing the increase of permitting going up. More people do have their coops,” Melissa Knicely, a public information officer with Animal Care and Control said. “I would say that if the calls have gone up, it’s because the amount of people that own and have chicken coops and resources has gone up too.”
Can you have chickens in Mecklenburg Co?
Knicely said Charlotte and Mecklenburg rules mirror each other closely.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care and Control also has interlocal agreements with towns within Mecklenburg. Some may have their own regulations regarding livestock, but many do animal control through Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care and Control.
Charlotte Mecklenburg Animal Services answers calls for service in Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, Mint Hill, Pineville and Davidson. Matthews, Huntersville and Cornelius have their own Animal Services and Animal Services Officer. If you live in these towns and have questions, you can visit town websites.
- Matthews: matthewsnc.gov
- Huntersville: huntersville.org
- Cornelius: cornelius.org
Nuisance complaints
Knicely said that while someone can have a rooster, people can also lodge nuisance complaints against the owner by calling 311.
“Your friend would call in and say, ‘My next-door neighbor has a rooster and it’s really affecting my way of life. Could you investigate this?’ And then we’ll send an officer out there, start an investigation,” Knicely said.
Knicely recommends people who want to lodge nuisance complaints with the department document their issues with photo, video and timestamps. The more people in a neighborhood complain, the more likely the problem will be ruled a nuisance.
Charlotte Pet Applications
To keep fowl in Mecklenburg, you need a permit. The permits cost $40 and are renewed annually. Properties are inspected to make sure they are compliant. Permit applications are available online.
“Once your application is received, the inspector will contact you to advise the next steps,” The City of Charlotte website reads. “It is STRONGLY recommended you do not begin construction prior to being contacted by the inspector.”
Inspired by a story from the Lexington Herald-Leader in Kentucky.
