Can I keep chickens in my garden?
Yes, keeping a few chickens in your garden is generally possible without a permit — as long as it stays a hobby, you care for the animals well and you cause no nuisance to neighbours. For personal use and fewer than 200 chickens, you in principle need not register with the FAVV (food safety agency) or obtain a professional approval. However, the municipal police regulation may set a maximum number of animals, a minimum distance to the plot boundary or a ban on a rooster (because of the crowing) — so always check your municipality. You must house your chickens in an animal-friendly way: enough space, a night coop, water and feed, and protection from predators. During an outbreak of bird flu, the authorities can impose a confinement or screening duty; this measure is switched on or off depending on the situation. In mid-2026 the confinement is not in force; only the general precaution of feeding your poultry shielded from wild birds remains advised. Nuisance (smell, vermin, noise) can be tackled by your neighbours via the justice of the peace or a GAS fine.
📋 The rules
- Hobby and < 200 chickens for personal use: in principle no FAVV registration needed
- The municipal police regulation may set a max number, a distance rule or a rooster ban
- You must keep the chickens in an animal-friendly way: space, night coop, water, feed and protection
- No nuisance for neighbours: smell, vermin and noise (crowing rooster) can be acted on
- During bird flu, a confinement/screening duty can apply (varies with the situation; not in force mid-2026)
- From 200 animals or on sale: FAVV registration/approval is mandatory
🔓 Exceptions
- Some municipalities even hand out free chickens to cut waste — check your municipality
- In a flat or without suitable space, animal welfare can be an obstacle in itself
- From 200 animals, or as soon as you sell eggs or meat, registration or approval with the FASFC does become compulsory
⚠️ Penalties & fines
If you break the municipal rules (too many animals, a banned rooster, too close to the boundary), you risk an administrative fine of up to 500 euros. If you neglect the animals, the Animal Welfare service steps in, with fines, seizure of the animals and a possible ban on keeping them. Ignoring a housing order during bird flu brings a fine from the FASFC. Persistent nuisance (smell, vermin, a crowing rooster) can also lead the justice of the peace to make you stop or scale back, at your neighbours' request.
📎 Official sources
- FAVV · private individuals and hobby keepers (poultry) →
- Flanders · animal welfare, keeping animals →
- FAVV · bird flu, measures for hobby keepers →
❓ Frequently asked
May I keep chickens in my garden?
Yes, as a hobby and for your own use you can usually keep fewer than 200 chickens without a permit or FASFC registration. Do check the municipal rules for the maximum number and any distance requirements.
May I keep a rooster?
That depends on your municipality: some police regulations ban a rooster because of the crowing, or impose limits. Even without a ban, persistent crowing can be tackled as neighbour nuisance before the justice of the peace.
Do I have to register anywhere?
For fewer than 200 chickens for your own use, in principle no. From 200 animals, or if you sell eggs or meat, you must register with or be approved by the FASFC: that is no longer a hobby.
What about bird flu?
During an outbreak the authorities can impose a housing or screening order, switched on and off as the situation demands. In mid-2026 it is not in force, but always follow the current FASFC measures.
What are the requirements for the coop?
You must house your chickens in an animal-friendly way: enough space, a night coop, water and feed, and protection against predators. If you fall short, the Animal Welfare service can intervene.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “keeping chickens garden belgium”
- “number of chickens permit”
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- “chickens fasfc registration”
- “bird flu housing order 2026”
- “chickens distance from neighbours”