GA · verified 2026-10-21
Alpharetta, GA
Short answerYes: the City of Alpharetta code allows up to 6 birds; roosters are banned; the cited code does not mention a permit; and the coop setback is 25 ft.
Buying notes for backyard hens inside the City of Alpharetta corporate limits. HOA covenants and county rules outside city limits can differ.
Heads up: These rules apply inside the City of Alpharetta corporate limits only. An HOA or neighborhood covenant can still ban hens. Those private rules are usually not public, so HenCheck does not look them up.
Primary source: UDC Section 2.3. Supplementary Regulations (backyard chickens)
At a glance
- Hen cap
- Up to 6 hens
- Roosters
- Banned
- Permit & fee
- Code does not mention a permit
- Setback
- 25 ft
Code cite: UDC Section 2.3. Supplementary Regulations (backyard chickens)
The rule, quoted
Word for word from UDC Section 2.3. Supplementary Regulations (backyard chickens)
How many hens
“Backyard chickens on minimum 1-acre properties with a single-family detached dwelling, limited to no more than 6 chickens and no roosters allowed.”
Only lots of at least 1 acre with a single-family detached house can keep chickens.
UDC Section 2.3. Supplementary Regulations (backyard chickens)
Roosters
“Backyard chickens on minimum 1-acre properties with a single-family detached dwelling, limited to no more than 6 chickens and no roosters allowed.”
Permit and fee
Code does not mention a permit. Ask the city whether a permit is needed before you buy birds.
Setback / screening
“Associated structures (chicken coop, run, etc.) shall maintain a minimum 25' setback from the rear and side property lines.”
Coop and run size
“Chicken coop and run shall not exceed 9' in height.”
Also in this section
“No chickens shall be permitted within any undisturbed water buffers, wetlands, or regulated floodplain.”
What to buy
Named products and shops are real. Confirm stock, shipping, and that the vet still sees poultry before you spend money.
Shared Atlanta, GA metro list: same stores for every city in this metro.
Hatchery
Cackle Hatchery
Ships live chicks to Georgia via USPS Priority Mail. Cackle's FAQ lists Georgia among the states it ships to, with chicks going out Mondays and Wednesdays from February to August and Wednesdays only from August to late October. Order sexed pullets if your city bans roosters or does not address them.
Feed store
Tractor Supply — Fairburn (#2627)
Fairburn — 8015 Senoia Rd, Fairburn, GA 30213. (770) 964-2082. Has a Feed Center. Store page lists livestock feed and farm supplies, including chicken coops, waterers and feeders.
Coop
OverEZ Medium Chicken Coop with Wooden 8 ft Chicken Run
Dimensions: Coop 50¼ in L × 52½ in W × 62¼ in H (includes nesting box), sized by OverEZ for up to 10 chickens; Wooden 8 ft run 8 ft W × 8 ft L × 6 ft 3 in H
Price: Coop $1,699.00 (Classic or Coastal finish; the Farmhouse finish was out of stock); Wooden 8 ft run $1,899.00. Prices as shown on overezchickencoop.com on 2026-10-21. OverEZ lists its smaller 5-chicken coop as out of stock.
The coop footprint is about 4.2 ft × 4.4 ft and the run is 8 ft × 8 ft, so with the coop at the end of the run plan on roughly 8 ft × 12.5 ft. Measure your setback from the cited code before you pick a spot, and check any height limit: the run is 6 ft 3 in tall. OverEZ ships coops and runs by tractor-trailer freight to the end of your driveway; homes on islands or on roads a truck cannot reach may need to pick up at a freight terminal.
Vet
Shepherd's Heart
Atlanta (mobile, house calls) — Mobile vet serving Atlanta and metro Atlanta, with no clinic address. Its services page says it sees chickens, ducks and other farm animals. Book through its website.
Verified 2026-10-21 against UDC Section 2.3. Supplementary Regulations (backyard chickens) at https://library.municode.com/ga/alpharetta/codes/unified_development_code?nodeId=ARTIIUSLAST_S2.3SURE. Read the live code before you build or order birds.