Several cities across the state of South Carolina have adopted ordinances that allow for backyard chickens. These cities recognize the numerous benefits of backyard chicken keeping and support sustainable urban agriculture by allowing residents to raise chickens in their backyards. However, these cities have established guidelines regarding coop requirements, zoning restrictions, and limits on the number of chickens allowed per household.
If you reside in South Carolina and are considering having backyard chickens, it is important to first check with your local authorities to find out if chicken-keeping is allowed in your neighborhood. Below are some South Carolina municipalities that allow the keeping of backyard chickens.
Charleston, SC
In Charleston, South Carolina, residents can legally keep up to 4 chickens in their backyards. However, the City Code requires that chickens be kept more than 150 feet from neighboring residences. Nevertheless, you can you chickens less than 150 feet from neighboring residences, provided you obtain written permission from your neighbors. In this case, you shall not allow your chickens to disturb the peace, comfort or health of your neighbors by reason of frequent, continual noise or unsanitary conditions.
Columbia, SC
If you reside in the City of Columbia, SC, you are allowed to keep a maximum of 4 chickens (hens only) on a single premise. However, you must first obtain a zoning permit from the planning and development services department and a certificate of inspection from the animal control division before keeping any chickens in the city.
The City Code requires that hens be confined to a backyard coop not less than 18 inches in height. In addition, the coop must be connected to a run and provide at least two square feet of space per hen over four months of age. On the other hand, the run is required to provide no less than nine square feet of space per hen.
Chicken coops must be located 25 feet away from the property line and/or 50 feet from the neighboring residences. The on-site slaughtering of chickens as well as the selling of eggs are prohibited within the city limits of Columbia, SC.
North Charleston, SC
It is legal to keep backyard chickens in the city of North Charleston, SC. The City does not regulate the number or type of chickens residents can keep. However, it does prohibit keeping animals in a manner that causes unsanitary or offensive conditions by virtue of the size or number of animals kept on a single premise. In addition, the City Code requires that chicken coops be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition so as to avoid offending other persons in the vicinity or constituting a public nuisance.
Mount Pleasant, SC
In the town of Mount Pleasant, SC, residents are allowed to keep as many chickens as they can properly care for. The City Code prohibits keeping chickens in a manner that causes noise, odors, or flies, thereby disturbing the peace and comfort of nearby residents. Chicken coops or other enclosures must be at least 18 inches in height and provide enough space for the chickens to move around freely therein.
Rock Hill, SC
If you live in the City of Rock Hill, SC, you can keep up to 10 chickens in your backyard, provided you comply with the city's chicken-keeping regulations. For starters, chickens are prohibited from being kept inside any building where food is exposed for sale. Instead, chickens may be kept in a backyard coop or pen. In addition, chickens must not be slaughtered within the area of any building where food is exposed for sale to the public. Furthermore, chickens must be maintained in a clean an sanitary manner so as to avoid creating a nuisance.
Greenville, SC
Greenville residents can keep as many chickens as they can properly care for in their backyards. However, the City Code prohibits keeping chickens in quantities or in a manner as to unreasonably disturb the peace and neighbors. Chickens must be kept in a coop or other enclosures that are at least 18 inches in height. The coop or enclosure must be well-ventilated and allow the chickens to move around freely therein.
Summerville, SC
If you reside in the town of Summerville, SC, you can keep chickens in your backyard, so long as you don't allow the birds to become a public nuisance. The Town Code prohibits owners from allowing their chickens to be at large within the corporate limits of the municipality, except on the owner's property. In addition to chickens, ducks and geese are also allowed to be kept in Summerville, SC.
Sumter, SC
In the City of Sumter, there is no limit to the number of chickens residents can keep in their backyards. However, the City Code prohibits keeping chickens in a manner that causes noise, odors or flies, thereby disturbing the peace and comfort of nearby residents or occupants of places of business. Failure to comply with this law will result in a health officer being sent to inspect the premises where the chickens are kept.
Moreover, keeping chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, pheasants, or pigeons within a distance of 30 feet from any dwelling house in the corporate limits of the city is deemed a misdemeanor offense. Also, you shall be guilty of a misdemeanor if you slaughter a chicken on your property in Sumter, SC.
Greer, SC
In Greer, SC, residents are required by law to obtain a Chicken Permit before keeping a maximum of 6 chickens in their backyards. In addition to the permit, Greer residents are also required to obtain permission from all adjoining property owners before keeping any chickens. Only female chickens (hens) are allowed, the keeping of roosters is strictly prohibited.
Other South Carolina Municipalities That Allow Backyard Chickens
- Florence, SC: Chickens must not constitute a public nuisance
- Spartanburg, SC: Allows six female chickens per residence
- Dillon, SC: Permits no more than 4 hens per lot
- Bluffton, SC: Chicken-keeping is allowed
- Aiken, SC: Chickens must be kept at least 40 feet from other residences
- Anderson, SC: Allows a maximum of 4 hens per lot
- Simpsonville, SC: Chickens must not be allowed to become a nuisance
- North Augusta, SC: Chickens must not disturb the peace of nearby residents
- Lexington, SC: Allows 4 chicken hens per residential lot
- Greenwood, SC: Chickens must not be at large
- James Island, SC: Allows a maximum of 12 hens per parcel
- West Columbia, SC: Allows only 4 chickens per single-family dwelling
- Port Royal, SC: Allows no more than 6 chicken hens per residence
- Moncks Corner, SC: Allows a maximum of 4 chickens per property
