To determine whether urban chicken keeping is allowed where you live, contact your city's Zoning Office or local Animal Control. Alternatively, you may contact your city clerk's office or search for your city's animal ordinances online. Meanwhile, the following Virginia cities allow residents to engage in urban chicken keeping.
1. Chesapeake, VA
If you live in a single-family residential zoning district within the City of Chesapeake, you're permitted to keep up to 6 female chickens in your backyard. An accessory structure permit is required for the keeping of 6 hens as an accessory use in all single-family residential zoning districts within the City. The City's Zoning Code requires all hens to be housed in a fully enclosed accessory structure that must be located in the rear yard. The code prohibits the slaughtering of chickens on residentially zoned properties. On lots zoned RE-1, Residential Estate District, the keeping of chickens is permitted as an accessory but under different rules.
2. Arlington, VA
Currently, a permit isn't required to keep backyard chickens in Arlington, Virginia. Per the Arlington County Code, the keeping of chickens, guineas, ducks, geese, and turkeys is permitted within the county. However, the code prohibits you from permitting your birds to run at large. If you intend on raising chickens or other legal domestic birds for commercial purposes, the Arlington Zoning Ordinance requires that you keep your chicken enclosure no less than 100 feet from any street or lot line.
3. Norfolk, VA
To raise backyard chickens in Norfolk, VA, you must first obtain a Chicken Permit from the Department of Public Health. To be granted a permit, your property must be 5,000 square feet or more in area. Additionally, it must be improved with a single-family residential use. Two-family or multiple-family residential properties aren't allowed to have backyard chickens. As a permit holder, you may keep no more than 6 hens and no rooster on your property. The City Code prohibits the selling of eggs and chicken meat on residential properties. You're required to keep your henhouse at least 15 feet from any property line and any occupied building.
4. Richmond, VA
The City of Richmond permits urban chicken keeping and this brochure explains the details. According to the brochure, which contains a guide to owning chickens in Richmond, the keeping of up to 6 hens is permitted in all residential districts of the city. But prior to keeping any hen, you must obtain an annual permit from Richmond Animal Care & Control. To be issued a permit you must either be a property owner or obtain the written approval of the property owner. The keeping of roosters is not permitted in the City of Richmond.
5. Newport News, VA
The City of Newport News allows you to have a maximum of 6 backyard chickens under certain conditions. For starters, you need to obtain a permit from the Department of Codes Compliance prior to acquiring the birds. Under the permit, you may keep no more than 6 female chickens, ducks, or geese. The keeping of roosters is not allowed under the permit. Your henhouse or chicken pen must be situated in the rear yard only and at least 25 feet from adjoining property lines. Furthermore, hens must be raised for domestic purposes, not commercial.
6. Hampton, VA
In Hampton, VA, you may keep up to 6 chickens on a lot with a single-family residence as the primary use. The City Code prohibits the keeping of chickens on lots with a primary use of townhouses, duplexes, or multifamily dwellings. By ordinance, only female chickens are allowed to be kept at single-family residences. The keeping of roosters and slaughtering of chickens for consumption or otherwise aren't allowed. Before keeping any hen, you're required to obtain a permit from the Treasurer for the City of Hampton and Hampton Animal Control.
7. Roanoke County, VA
With a Zoning Permit, you may keep chickens in a residential zoning district (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4) within Roanoke County, VA. To be granted a permit, the principal use of your property must be a single-family dwelling. In addition, you must reside on the property on which you intend to keep the chickens. Your chicken coop and enclosure must be situated at least 10 feet from the side and rear property lines and 35 feet from any neighboring dwelling.
Roosters are banned and the number of hens you can keep is restricted based on lot size. For example, you may keep a maximum of 6 hens on a lot of 20,000 square feet or less. Up to 9 hens are permitted on lots from 20,001 square feet to 1 acre. A maximum of 12 hens may be kept a lot greater than 1 acre.
8. Roanoke, VA
In Roanoke City, you may keep up to 10 chickens in your residential backyard. The City Code allows parcels with less than 20,000 square feet to have 10 chickens. On parcels with 20,000 square feet or more, up to 40 chickens may be kept. Aside from chickens, it is also legal the keep ducks, geese, swans, turkeys, guinea fowl, and pigeons in the city of Roanoke. Chickens and other legal domestic birds must be kept in a securely and suitably fenced area located no closer than 50 feet to any neighboring building.
9. Lynchburg, VA
Currently, you're not required to obtain a permit to own backyard chickens in Lynchburg, VA. Under the City's Animal Ordinance, the type and number of chickens you can own aren't restricted. But the ordinance prohibits you from allowing your chickens to go at large in the city. A violation of this law is punishable by a fine of up to $250. Also, the ordinance prohibits the keeping of animals that frequently or for a continued duration make excessive or untimely sounds. To avoid being in violation of this law, it is best not to keep roosters.
10. Blacksburg, VA
In Blacksburg, VA, it's legal to own chickens in the R-4, RR-1, and RR-2 zoning districts. However, only single-family detached dwelling residents are allowed to have backyard chickens in those districts. The Town Code prohibits the keeping of chickens on townhouse, duplex, and apartment properties. For each single-family dwelling, a maximum of 6 chickens (no roosters) is allowed. Henhouses must be located in the rear yard. In addition, they must be situated at least 15 feet from all property lines and 50 feet from neighboring dwellings.
