GA · verified 2026-10-21
Marietta, GA
Short answerYes: the City of Marietta code allows up to 4 birds; roosters are banned; the cited code does not mention a permit; and the coop setback is 20 ft.
Buying notes for backyard hens inside the City of Marietta corporate limits. HOA covenants and county rules outside city limits can differ.
Heads up: These rules apply inside the City of Marietta 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: Zoning Ordinance 708.01 to 708.04 (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 single-family districts), chickens
At a glance
- Hen cap
- Up to 4 hens
- Roosters
- Banned
- Permit & fee
- Code does not mention a permit
- Setback
- 20 ft
Code cite: Zoning Ordinance 708.01 to 708.04 (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 single-family districts), chickens
The rule, quoted
Word for word from Zoning Ordinance 708.01 to 708.04 (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 single-family districts), chickens
How many hens
“The maximum number of chickens allowed on any property shall not exceed 4.”
Lots must be at least 15,000 sq ft and zoned R-1, R-2, R-3 or R-4.
Zoning Ordinance 708.01 to 708.04 (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 single-family districts), chickens
Roosters
“No roosters shall be allowed.”
Permit and fee
Code does not mention a permit. Ask the city whether a permit is needed before you buy birds.
You must give the city a scaled sketch showing the coop, fences and their distances to the property lines.
Setback / screening
“Chickens must be kept in a fenced area in the rear yard at least 20 feet from any property line and 10 feet from the principal structure.”
Coop and run size
“Chicken coops may be no more than 8 feet in height.”
Also in this section
Coop and run size
“Chicken coops and the enclosed "run area" shall not be more than 100 square feet in area.”
“The minimum lot size for the keeping of chickens is 15,000 square feet.”
“The minimum fenced area for chickens shall be 25 square feet per chicken.”
“An accurately scaled sketch of the property must be provided that shall indicate the location of all existing and proposed structures, including coops and fences, as well as their distances from surrounding property lines.”
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 Zoning Ordinance 708.01 to 708.04 (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 single-family districts), chickens at https://library.municode.com/ga/marietta/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_ZOOR_DIV708DISTPEUS_708.02SIMIRE2UNAC. Read the live code before you build or order birds.