Can you keep backyard chickens in Alabama?
Each Alabama municipality may zone its land and adopt ordinances (Ala. Code 11-52-70), so your city or town's code is the first place to check. Whether keepers must register with the state wasn't established.
Read from 11 official sources29 passages quotedChecked October 24, 2026
At a glance
Registering your flock
Where hens can live
Bird-flu housing orders
Welfare rules
Who decides where hens can live
The state law we read gives a named local body its own powers over where hens can live. What the checked sources say:
- Each Alabama municipality may divide its territory into business, industrial and residential zones, set the kind, character and use of structures and improvements in each, and adopt ordinances to carry this into effect.
No statewide permission or prohibition on keeping chickens is established by this finding. Your municipality may zone its land and adopt ordinances, so check with it. This page names the state law, not its own rules, and doesn't cover county powers or HOA, rooster or setback rules.
Registration: not established in the state sources we read.
The law's own words are quoted under state rules on keeping poultry below.
How to check: Look up the local rules where you live (the ordinances, bylaws or zoning of the body named here), or ask that office, before you get hens.
A sourced reading of Alabama's state law, not legal advice. Local ordinances and zoning, HOA rules, and any local rooster or coop limits aren't covered here yet: check your local code before you get hens.
Keeping your flock
These findings cover the national or state scope stated below. They do not determine whether chickens are allowed at a particular home. City zoning, property restrictions and other local rules are outside this research.
Registering as a poultry keeper
Not established from the sources checked
Jurisdiction: Alabama
Applies to: Alabama’s poultry and livestock disease-control laws (Code of Alabama title 2, chapters 15 and 16), as checked on 24 October 2026.
Outside this finding's scope
- Whether Alabama requires backyard poultry keepers to register was not established. No keeper registration duty was found in the sections read (Ala. Code 2-4-1, 2-15-150, 2-15-153, 2-15-170, 2-16-1, 2-16-21 and 2-16-23) or in the section lists of title 2, chapter 15, article 7 and chapter 16; the rest of chapters 15 and 16 and the Department of Agriculture and Industries' animal industries rules were not read.
What the checked sources say
- The Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, with the State Board of Agriculture and Industries’ approval, may adopt and run a program to prevent, eradicate and control infectious and contagious poultry diseases, carried out by the Department of Agriculture and Industries, and may make rules with the full force and effect of law to control and eradicate contagious livestock diseases.
Authority: Not established from the sources checked.
Fee: Not established from the sources checked.
The official wording
The Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, with the approval of the State Board of Agriculture and Industries, is hereby authorized to adopt, conduct and carry out a program or plan designed to prevent, eradicate and control infectious and contagious diseases of poultry in the State of Alabama,
and such program shall be carried out by the Department of Agriculture and Industries.
The commissioner, with the approval of the State Board of Agriculture and Industries, shall have the power and authority to promulgate all necessary rules and regulations for the control and eradication of all infectious, contagious or communicable diseases of livestock. These rules and regulations shall have the full force and effect of law.
Ala. Code 2-15-170 · Checked
Bird-flu housing orders
Current status needs rechecking
Check the official current-status pageOrders can change between checks. A missed check or an expired order does not establish that no order applies.
Housing-order finding as checked on 2026-10-24
The scope and conditions below are a dated record, not confirmation of today's position.
Conditions apply to this finding
Uses housing orders in this scope: Yes, according to the checked evidence, within the limits listed under “Outside this finding’s scope” below.
Jurisdiction: Alabama
Applies to: Quarantine powers of Alabama’s State Veterinarian, assistant veterinarians and state livestock inspectors over places where livestock, defined as any animal maintained in captivity for any reason, are infected or exposed, under Ala. Code 2-15-150 and 2-15-153.
Outside this finding's scope
- These powers do not in terms require birds to be kept indoors, and this finding does not establish that any quarantine or housing order applies now.
What the checked sources say
- For this part of Alabama’s livestock law, livestock means any animal maintained in captivity for any reason. The State Veterinarian, an assistant veterinarian or a state livestock inspector must quarantine a stall, lot, yard, pasture, field, town, city, township, county or any part of Alabama on finding that livestock there are infected with a contagious, infectious or communicable disease, are infested or infected with carriers of such a disease, or have been exposed to one, and must serve written or printed notice of the quarantine on the owners or keepers of the livestock.
- The State Veterinarian exercises the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries’ powers in enforcing the state livestock laws on the care of livestock and the control of contagious and infectious livestock diseases. Knowingly or wantonly violating laws or State Board of Agriculture and Industries regulations made to prevent or eradicate avian influenza is a Class C felony.
- As checked on 24 October 2026, the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries’ avian influenza page told owners who see signs of illness in their birds to report it immediately; its Animal Industries division lists (334) 240-7100.
- Current mandatory housing status remains unconfirmed.
- Checked
- Recheck due
Historical evidence, as checked
These quotations record what was checked on the dates shown. They do not confirm an order's current status.
(5) LIVESTOCK. Any animal maintained in captivity for any reason.
Ala. Code 2-15-150(5) · Checked
When used in this article, the following terms shall have the following meanings, respectively, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
Ala. Code 2-15-150, opening · Checked
The State Veterinarian or an assistant veterinarian or state livestock inspector shall quarantine a stall, lot, yard, pasture, field, town, city, township, county or any part of the State of Alabama when he shall determine the fact that livestock in such place or places are infected with a contagious, infectious or communicable disease
or when said livestock are infested or infected with the carrier or carriers of a contagious, infectious or communicable disease or when exposed to any such disease.
The State Veterinarian or an assistant veterinarian or livestock inspector shall issue written or printed notice of the establishment of said quarantining to the owners or keepers of said livestock
he or she shall exercise all the powers vested in the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries in the administration and enforcement of the provisions of the state livestock laws relating to the care of livestock or the control of contagious and infectious diseases in livestock and rules promulgated thereunder.
Ala. Code 2-4-1, last sentence, closing · Checked
(b) Any person knowingly or wantonly violating any laws or regulations duly promulgated by the State Board of Agriculture and Industries which were enacted for the prevention or eradication of the disease avian influenza shall be guilty of a Class C felony.
Ala. Code 2-16-23(b) · Checked
If you see signs of illness in your birds, report it immediately.
ADAI Animal Industries avian influenza page, introduction · Checked
1445 Federal Drive Montgomery, Alabama 36107 (334) 240-7100
ADAI Animal Industries avian influenza page, footer contact block · Checked
Small-flock welfare minimums
Conditions apply to this finding
Jurisdiction: Alabama
Applies to: Anyone who, recklessly or with criminal negligence, subjects any animal to cruel mistreatment or an animal in his or her custody to cruel neglect, or without good cause kills or injures another person's animal, under Alabama's cruelty statute, Ala. Code 13A-11-14.
Outside this finding's scope
- For this offence, cruelty does not include actions taken in reasonable fear of imminent attack, or conduct otherwise permitted under the agricultural or animal husbandry laws, customs or practices of Alabama or the United States, including those for poultry and other farm animals. It also excludes conduct permitted under fishing, hunting and trapping laws, customs or practices; conduct permitted for training, conditioning and using animals for rodeos, equine activities, livestock shows, field trials and similar activities, or dogs for hunting, service work or similar activities; conduct licensed or lawful under the Alabama Veterinary Practice Act, or by a licensed veterinarian meeting accepted standards, including euthanasia; lawful activities of research and education facilities; and conduct prohibited under section 13A-12-4.
- The sections read do not define “animal”, “cruel mistreatment” or “cruel neglect”, and set no numerical space standard or property permission.
What the checked sources say
- Except as otherwise authorized by law, a person commits cruelty to animals by recklessly or with criminal negligence subjecting any animal to cruel mistreatment, subjecting an animal in his or her custody to cruel neglect, or killing or injuring someone else’s animal without good cause.
- Cruelty to animals is a Class A misdemeanor; a first conviction can bring a fine of up to $3,000, up to one year in the county jail, or both.
The official wording
(a) A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if, except as otherwise authorized by law, he or she recklessly or with criminal negligence: (1) Subjects any animal to cruel mistreatment; or (2) Subjects any animal in his or her custody to cruel neglect; or (3) Kills or injures without good cause any animal belonging to another.
Ala. Code 13A-11-14(a) · Checked
(b) Cruelty to animals is a Class A misdemeanor and on the first conviction of a violation of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than three thousand dollars ($3,000) or imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year, or both fine and imprisonment;
Ala. Code 13A-11-14(b), first clause · Checked
(c) For purposes of this section and Section 13A-11-14, the terms torture and cruelty do not include the following:
Ala. Code 13A-11-14.1(c), opening · Checked
(1) Actions taken if there is a reasonable fear of imminent attack, or conduct which is otherwise permitted under the agricultural or animal husbandry laws, customs, or practices of this state or the United States, including, but not limited to, catfish, cattle, goats, horses, pigs, hogs, poultry, sheep, pen-raised game, rodeo stock, and other farm animals.
Ala. Code 13A-11-14.1(c)(1) · Checked
(2) Conduct which is permitted under the fishing, hunting, and trapping laws, customs, or practices of this state or the United States.
Ala. Code 13A-11-14.1(c)(2) · Checked
(3) Conduct that is permitted under the laws, customs, or practices of this state or the United States related to the training, conditioning, and use of animals for rodeos, equine activities, livestock shows, field trials, and similar activities, or the use of dogs for hunting, service work, or similar activities.
Ala. Code 13A-11-14.1(c)(3) · Checked
(4) Conduct that is licensed or lawful under the Alabama Veterinary Practice Act or conduct by any licensed veterinarian that complies with accepted standards of practice of the profession within the State of Alabama, including, but not limited to, euthanasia.
Ala. Code 13A-11-14.1(c)(4) · Checked
(5) Conduct that is lawful under the laws of this state or the United States relating to activities undertaken by research and education facilities and institutions. (6) Conduct that is prohibited under Section 13A-12-4.
Ala. Code 13A-11-14.1(c)(5)-(6) · Checked
National or state rules on keeping poultry
Conditions apply to this finding
Jurisdiction: Alabama
Applies to: Alabama municipalities’ zoning power and the nuisance protection for farming operation facilities.
Outside this finding's scope
- No statewide permission or prohibition on keeping chickens is established by this finding. Your municipality may zone its land and adopt ordinances, so check with it. This page names the state law, not its own rules, and doesn't cover county powers or HOA, rooster or setback rules.
- Ala. Code 6-5-127, the only nuisance section read, does not define a farming operation facility; whether a backyard flock qualifies was not established. The protection does not apply where a nuisance results from negligent or improper operation, and does not defeat damages claims for stream pollution or overflow of land.
What the checked sources say
- Each Alabama municipality may divide its territory into business, industrial and residential zones, set the kind, character and use of structures and improvements in each, and adopt ordinances to carry this into effect.
- A farming operation facility that has operated for more than one year without being found a nuisance by a court does not become a public or private nuisance because conditions in its locality change, and municipal ordinances that would make it a nuisance in those circumstances are void.
The official wording
Each municipal corporation in the State of Alabama may divide the territory within its corporate limits into business, industrial and residential zones or districts and may provide the kind, character and use of structures and improvements that may be erected or made within the several zones or districts established
Ala. Code 11-52-70, opening · Checked
and may also adopt such ordinances as necessary to carry into effect and make effective the provisions of this article.
Ala. Code 11-52-70, closing · Checked
shall be or become a nuisance, private or public, by any changed conditions in and about the locality thereof after the same has been in operation for more than one year
Ala. Code 6-5-127(a), middle · Checked
its appurtenances or the operation thereof has not been found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be a nuisance;
Ala. Code 6-5-127(a), middle, continued · Checked
(a) No agricultural, manufacturing, or other industrial plant or establishment, farming operation facility,
Ala. Code 6-5-127(a), opening · Checked
provided, that the provisions of this subsection shall not apply whenever a nuisance results from the negligent or improper operation of any such plant, establishment, farming operation facility, or racetrack, or any of its appurtenances.
Ala. Code 6-5-127(a), proviso · Checked
(b) The provisions of subsection (a) shall not affect or defeat the right of any person, firm, or corporation to recover damages for any injuries or damage sustained by them on account of any pollution of, or change in the condition of, the waters of any stream
Ala. Code 6-5-127(b), opening · Checked
or on account of any overflow of the lands of any person, firm, or corporation.
Ala. Code 6-5-127(b), closing · Checked
which purports to make the operation of any such plant, establishment, farming operation facility, or racetrack, or its appurtenances a nuisance or providing for an abatement thereof as a nuisance in the circumstances set forth in this section are, and shall be, null and void;
Ala. Code 6-5-127(c), middle · Checked
Bird flu right now? PoultryPal's bird-flu tracker for Alabama has the latest we've checked.
Next door
Every state on the map →Common questions
- Do I have to register backyard chickens in Alabama?
- Registration: not established. The finding covers: Alabama’s poultry and livestock disease-control laws (Code of Alabama title 2, chapters 15 and 16), as checked on 24 October 2026. Outside this finding's scope: Whether Alabama requires backyard poultry keepers to register was not established. No keeper registration duty was found in the sections read (Ala. Code 2-4-1, 2-15-150, 2-15-153, 2-15-170, 2-16-1, 2-16-21 and 2-16-23) or in the section lists of title 2, chapter 15, article 7 and chapter 16; the rest of chapters 15 and 16 and the Department of Agriculture and Industries' animal industries rules were not read.
- Can I keep chickens in my backyard in Alabama?
- The state law we read gives a named local body its own powers over where hens can live. Each Alabama municipality may divide its territory into business, industrial and residential zones, set the kind, character and use of structures and improvements in each, and adopt ordinances to carry this into effect. No statewide permission or prohibition on keeping chickens is established by this finding. Your municipality may zone its land and adopt ordinances, so check with it. This page names the state law, not its own rules, and doesn't cover county powers or HOA, rooster or setback rules. Look up the local rules where you live (the ordinances, bylaws or zoning of the body named here), or ask that office, before you get hens.
- Do I have to keep my hens indoors for bird flu in Alabama?
- Housing orders come and go, so we never show one as current. This page links the official status page to check today. PoultryPal's bird-flu tracker page for Alabama has the latest we've checked.
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