Union County Chicken Dispute Heads to NC Supreme Court

At the center of the dispute is a Waxhaw family in Union County who argues their chickens are family pets and should be allowed under neighborhood rules.

close up on chicken in side coop in back yard — Source: xphotoz / Getty

The North Carolina Supreme Court is set to hear a case that could shape the future of backyard chicken ownership across the state.

At the center of the dispute is a Waxhaw family in Union County who argues their chickens are family pets and should be allowed under neighborhood rules. The family claims the animals offer companionship and are no different from cats or dogs.

Their homeowners association disagrees, classifying the chickens as livestock and saying they violate community restrictions.

A lower court sided with the HOA, but the family appealed, and the case has now reached the state’s highest court.

The decision could set a precedent for how pet versus livestock definitions are interpreted in North Carolina, especially for residents living under HOA guidelines.

Source: WCNC