West Virginia is a backyard chicken-friendly state with many cities allowing chickens in residential areas. Some cities, however, prohibit chickens, so you should check your local animal ordinances before keeping any chickens. In some cities, a permit or license is required to have backyard chickens. In others, you don't need a permit to keep a limited number of chickens in your backyard. To determine whether or not you need a permit and how many chickens are allowed per lot in your city, contact your local animal control or city clerk's office. Check out the chicken-keeping laws in the West Virginia cities listed below.
1. Charleston, WV
In Charleston, WV, you may keep a limited number of female chickens (hens) on your residential property. According to the city's Zoning Code, a maximum of 6 hens may be kept on a residential lot. However, health regulations may further restrict the number and/or manner of the keeping of hens on a residential lot. The Zoning Code strictly prohibits the keeping of roosters on residential lots. Henhouses may be located in side or rear yards. Keeping 6 or fewer hens closer than 25 feet of any residence is not prohibited by the Zoning Code.
2. Huntington, WV
Backyard chickens, ducks, geese, or turkeys are permitted in Huntington, WV. However, you can't keep any chickens or other legal domestic birds without first obtaining from the health officer a permit to do so. The permit is subject to revocation whenever the health officer deems such revocation necessary for the public health or welfare. The City Code requires all chickens, ducks, geese, or turkeys to be confined on your premises and not be permitted to pass from or off such premises.
3. Morgantown, WV
The City of Morgantown allows residents to keep geese, ducks, turkeys, and chickens in their backyards. Morgantown's municipal code requires that you keep your chicken coop more than 80 feet from neighboring residences. But with the written consent of your neighbor, this setback requirement may be reduced. The setback requirement does not apply to the keeping of 2 chickens in a coop. You must not allow your chicken coop or enclosure to become offensive, noxious, or deleterious to health.
4. Wheeling, WV
In Wheeling, WV, you can have backyard chickens but not without first securing a permit from the City Manager. The City Manager is the one who will prescribe the number and type of chickens you may own, according to the city code. He or she may inspect the conditions under which chickens are kept within the City. As a permit holder, you must not allow your chickens to run at large within the City, otherwise, your permit may be revoked.
5. Fairmont, WV
In Fairmont, WV, chickens are considered livestock, the keeping of which is regulated by the city's municipal code. According to the regulation, you may not keep chickens within 50 yards of any dwelling or public street. This setback requirement may be reduced if the Board of Adjustment determines that such numbers of chickens will not create a health hazard. And if the chicken enclosure is kept in a clean and sanitary condition and free from all refuse.
6. Beckley, WV
In Beckley, WV, you may keep chickens in your backyard, as long as they are confined to your property. The city code makes it unlawful for you to permit your chickens to run at large within the city, except on your premises. The keeping of crowing roosters in the city is declared a public nuisance.
7. Clarksburg, WV
The City of Clarksburg allows you to have as many as 20 backyard chickens under certain conditions. Per the City Code, you may not keep your chickens within 30 feet of any structure owned by another. Chicken coops are required to be cleaned at least once or twice a week, and more often if necessary.
8. Oak Hill, WV
In Oak Hill, WV, you need a Fowl Permit to keep a limited number of chickens in your backyard. The permit, which is issued by the Zoning Officer, allows residents in the R-1, R-2, R-3, B1, B2, B3, RR, BR, and IND zoning districts to own chickens for non-commercial use. As a permit holder, you may keep no more than 6 hens or ducks or any combination of both not exceeding a total of 6. The keeping of roosters over four months of age is not permitted. Furthermore, you may not keep your chicken less than 25 feet from any neighboring structure.
9. Moundsville, WV
The keeping of chickens is permitted as an accessory use to a dwelling in Moundsville, West Virginia. Per the city's Urban Agriculture Code, a maximum of 6 chickens may be kept on a property of less than one acre. On properties of one acre or more, no more than 12 chickens are permitted. A permit, which may be obtained from the City Clerk, is required for the keeping of chickens within the City. The City will grant you a permit after application to the Zoning Officer and an inspection performed by the Zoning Officer.
10. Charles Town, WV
The City of Charles Town's municipal code allows residents to keep up to 20 chickens on a property of at least one-half acre. By ordinance, you're prohibited from keeping your chickens within 30 feet of any street, sidewalk, or structure owned by another. The ordinance requires chicken coops to be cleaned at least once or twice a week and oftener if necessary or so ordered by the City Inspector.
