NC · verified 2026-10-21

Rutherfordton, NC

Q: How many hens can I keep in Rutherfordton, NC?

Up to 4 hens. The code says: “(2) No more than four hens may be kept on any lot, and no roosters may be kept.”

Q: Are roosters allowed in Rutherfordton, NC?

Banned. The code says: “(2) No more than four hens may be kept on any lot, and no roosters may be kept.”

Q: What is the coop setback in Rutherfordton, NC?

50 ft. The code says: “More than 50 feet from the boundary of any adjoining property unless under common ownership; and e.”

Short answerYes: the Town of Rutherfordton code allows up to 4 birds; roosters are banned; the cited code does not mention a permit; and the coop setback is 50 ft.

Buying notes for backyard hens inside the Town of Rutherfordton corporate limits. HOA covenants and county rules outside city limits can differ.

Heads up: These rules apply inside the Town of Rutherfordton 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. 4-10. - Keeping of chickens.

At a glance

Hen cap: Up to 4 hens
Roosters: Banned
Permit & fee: Code does not mention a permit
Setback: 50 ft

Code cite: Sec. 4-10. - Keeping of chickens.

The rule, quoted

Word for word from Sec. 4-10. - Keeping of chickens.

How many hens

“(2) No more than four hens may be kept on any lot, and no roosters may be kept.”

Sec. 4-10. - Keeping of chickens.

Roosters

“(2) No more than four hens may be kept on any lot, and no roosters may be kept.”

Permit and fee

Code does not mention a permit. Ask the city whether a permit is needed before you buy birds.

Setback / screening

“More than 50 feet from the boundary of any adjoining property unless under common ownership; and e.”

50 ft from adjoining property lines and 100 ft from any neighbor's home; also 50 ft from wells, streams and storm drains.

What to buy

Named products and shops are real. Confirm stock, shipping, and that the vet still sees poultry before you spend money.

Shared Spindale, 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.

Order chicks

Feed store

Tractor Supply — Spindale (#727)

Spindale — 1639 Us Hwy 74 A Byp Ste 200, Spindale, NC 28160. (828) 286-0760. Store page lists livestock feed and farm supplies, including chicken coops, waterers and feeders.

Store page

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.

Coop product · Runs

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. 4-10. - Keeping of chickens. at https://library.municode.com/nc/rutherfordton/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH4AN_ARTIIILIEQAN_S4-10KECH. Read the live code before you build or order birds.