GA · verified 2026-10-21
Madison, GA
Short answerYes: the City of Madison code allows up to 3 birds; roosters are banned; the cited code does not mention a permit; and the coop setback is 100 ft.
Buying notes for backyard hens inside the City of Madison corporate limits. HOA covenants and county rules outside city limits can differ.
Heads up: These rules apply inside the City of Madison 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: Sec. 14-73. - Number of livestock, chickens and small mammals; acreage restrictions, setbacks.
At a glance
- Hen cap
- Up to 3 hens
- Roosters
- Banned
- Permit & fee
- Code does not mention a permit
- Setback
- 100 ft
Code cite: Sec. 14-73. - Number of livestock, chickens and small mammals; acreage restrictions, setbacks.
The rule, quoted
Word for word from Sec. 14-73. - Number of livestock, chickens and small mammals; acreage restrictions, setbacks.
How many hens
“One chicken per one third acre of fenced pastured high ground shall be permitted, provided, however, the maximum number of chickens permitted is three total, or six if three to ten acres.”
Only lots of 1½ to 10 acres: up to 3 hens, or 6 on 3 to 10 acres.
Sec. 14-73. - Number of livestock, chickens and small mammals; acreage restrictions, setbacks.
Roosters
“On lots of at least one and one half to ten acres, chickens (hens only, no roosters) may be kept for personal, non-commercial, purposes provided the following requirements are met:”
Permit and fee
Code does not mention a permit. Ask the city whether a permit is needed before you buy birds.
Setback / screening
“The minimum setback of the chicken habitat shall be 100 feet from any occupied building except the dwelling unit of the owner.”
100 ft from any occupied building other than your own 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 Covington, GA area 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 — Covington (#568)
Covington — 10161 Lochridge Blvd, Covington, GA 30014. (678) 342-2177. 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 Sec. 14-73. - Number of livestock, chickens and small mammals; acreage restrictions, setbacks. at https://library.municode.com/ga/madison/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH14ANCO_ARTIVFOLITONUALDOAN_S14-73NULICHSMMAACRESE. Read the live code before you build or order birds.