NC · verified 2026-10-21
Lincolnton, NC
Short answerYes: the City of Lincolnton code allows up to 5 birds; roosters are banned; the cited code does not mention a permit; and the coop setback is 15 ft.
Buying notes for backyard hens inside the City of Lincolnton corporate limits. HOA covenants and county rules outside city limits can differ.
Heads up: These rules apply inside the City of Lincolnton 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: § 90.02 FOWL AT LARGE.
At a glance
- Hen cap
- Up to 5 hens
- Roosters
- Banned
- Permit & fee
- Code does not mention a permit
- Setback
- 15 ft
Code cite: § 90.02 FOWL AT LARGE.
The rule, quoted
Word for word from § 90.02 FOWL AT LARGE.
How many hens
“(B) A maximum of five hens shall be permitted on a tract of land that is between one-third and one-half acre in size and a maximum of ten hens on a tract of land that is larger than one-half acre in size.”
5 hens on ⅓ to ½ acre, 10 on more than ½ acre.
§ 90.02 FOWL AT LARGE.
Roosters
“It shall be unlawful for any person to keep any ducks, geese, guinea, roosters or other domestic fowl in the city.”
Permit and fee
Code does not mention a permit. Ask the city whether a permit is needed before you buy birds.
Setback / screening
“(D) Such fowl house, coop or other enclosure must be situated at least 15 feet from all property lines, at least 50 feet from the nearest residence other than that of the owner and may not be located between the street and a line drawn parallel to the street facing walls of a residence.”
15 ft from property lines and 50 ft from any neighbor's home.
What to buy
Named products and shops are real. Confirm stock, shipping, and that the vet still sees poultry before you spend money.
Shared Lincolnton, NC area list: same stores for every city in this metro.
Hatchery
Cackle Hatchery
Ships live chicks to North Carolina via USPS Priority Mail. Cackle's FAQ lists North Carolina 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 — Lincolnton (#1637)
Lincolnton — 401 North Generals Blvd, Lincolnton, NC 28092. (704) 735-5029. 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
No verified poultry vet yet
We have not confirmed a clinic here that says it treats chickens. Call local vets and ask before you need one.
Verified 2026-10-21 against § 90.02 FOWL AT LARGE. at https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/lincolnton/latest/lincolnton_nc/0-0-0-2374. Read the live code before you build or order birds.