The "chicken laws" for some cites in Texas
by Pat on 09/22/11
Here is some useful info about the laws regarding chicken-keeping in your own back yard.
If you see your city, and notice that the chicken laws are outdated, please help us to update them (by clicking "Comments"). Thank you.
Arlington, TX. You must have a lot that is larger than a half an acre to lawfully keep hens (no roosters) here. Even so, you may only keep four hens. If you have a lot over 1/2 acre, then you must still keep the chickens 50 ft. away from neighboring houses, and you must keep them penned.
Austin, TX. Up to 10 fowl per household, but keep in enclosure that's 50 ft.
away from neighbors. Other soucres say there is currently no limit on the
number of chickens you can keep here. The city is considering banning roosters.
Baytown, TX. Chickens allowed, but they have to be 100 ft. from neighbors, and
many lots aren’t big enough to meet that requirement.
Dallas TX. The ordinances for this city do not appear to address keeping
poultry.
Fort Worth, TX. Can have up to 12 chickens within the city limits on a
residentially zoned lot. They have to be in a chicken coop and the coop has to
be at least 50 feet away from any house. That includes your own house and any
neighbors' houses.
Garland, TX. Limit 2 hens.
Grand Prairie, TX. You have to be able to keep your chickens 150 feet away from
any neighboring structures that house people, which is pretty difficult to do
on a city or suburb lot.
Houston, TX. Chickens may be kept on a lot which measures at least 65 feet X
125 feet: 30 chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, peafowl, rabbits or guinea pigs
or 40 of any combination of the above.
Irving, TX. According to the Parks & Rec department here, "In
recognition of changing demographics, we no longer have restrictions on
livestock."
Laredo, TX. If you keep 6 or fewer chickens, set-backs are not restricted. If
you keep more than 6 chickens, you must keep the pen 100 ft. from any occupied
building, besides your own.
Lewisville, TX. Up to five individual fowl per each one-fourth acre of land may
be kept upon the premises. Fowl must be kept in a pen or other enclosure
located at least 150 feet from any residential dwelling, office building,
school building, church, business, or other structure under separate ownership
which is intended for human habitation or use. Such pen or enclosure must
provide at least 100 square feet of exercise area for each bird kept therein.
In order to minimize the potential for noise nuisances to adjacent or nearby
premises, roosters capable of crowing shall not be allowed to be kept within
1,500 feet of any residential dwelling, office building, school building,
church, business, or other structure under separate ownership which is intended
for human habitation or use.
Longview, TX. Ordinance #3141.3, Sec. 13-27: "Regulations relating to
keeping of poultry and birds," an unlimited number of chickens may be kept
in any structure that has a secure top, sides, and bottom, and provides shelter
from rain. This structure must sit 100 feet from any neighboring property.
Mansfield, TX. Your lot must be 20,000 square feet in order to keep chickens.
Murphy, TX. Limit 2 hens.
Plano, TX. Chickens prohibited.
Richardson, TX. Chickens are allowed, barring offensive noises or smells.
Round Rock, TX. Up to 5 fowl if your chicken pen is 25 ft. away from neighbor's
residences. If the pen is 50 ft. away, you can have 10 fowl.
San Antonio, TX. Up to 5 of any kind of fowl, any gender, per household. Must
keep in a pen, 20 feet from any other dwelling. The laws in this city have been
recently updated (2010): Residents now allowed to have up to 3 chickens, any
gender, but must remain in an enclosure. Permits may be issued if you want more
than 3 chickens.
Sachse, TX. Limit 15 small livestock.
St. Paul. TX. The topic of chickens is not covered in the city ordinance.
Victoria, TX. No person shall keep, feed, raise, or maintain fowl within the
city except under the following conditions: Such fowl shall be kept in a pen or
enclosure at least one hundred (100) feet from every dwelling other than that
of the owner of such fowl. Such enclosure shall be kept sanitary so as to
prevent the development of health hazards or offensive. No more than
twenty-five (25) poultry may be raised within such enclosure.
Waco, TX. Livestock is allowed inside the City of Waco as long as the pen is
located at least 200 feet from the nearest neighbor in a straight line at the
closest points.
Wylie, TX. Chickens banned.
