Coop Ready Texas
Texas backyard chicken laws
Usually yes, but it depends on the city or county. Of the 8 places in Texas we have checked, 8 allow backyard hens on a typical home lot.
In Texas, chicken rules are set by each city, and by the county for land outside city limits. Find your place below for its hen limit, rooster rule, permit and coop distance, each linked to the code we read.
Places checked
8
Hens on a typical lot
8 of 8
Ban roosters
3 of 8
Need a permit or approval
1 of 8
State law in Texas: Texas's right-to-farm law (Agriculture Code ch. 251, as changed by HB 1750 from September 1, 2023) limits city rules on agricultural operations and counts raising or keeping poultry as one. Dallas Animal Services says this overrides its rooster ban. Texas A&M AgriLife says no court has yet decided whether backyard hens are covered, so city chicken limits in Texas are legally unsettled. Check with your city.
Chicken laws by city in Texas
| Place | Verdict | Hen limit | Roosters | Permit | Coop placement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arlington, TX | Hens allowed | 4 (more on bigger lots) | Banned | No | None for 4 hens; 50 ft for 5 or more |
| Austin, TX | Hens allowed | No set limit | Allowed (noise rules apply) | No | 30 ft from a neighbor's building (50 ft if a health hazard exists) |
| Dallas, TX | Hens allowed | No set limit | Allowed (state law) | No | None stated |
| El Paso, TX | Hens allowed | 5 (more with a permit) | Up to 3 | 6 or more birds | 30 ft for permitted flocks |
| Fort Worth, TX | Hens allowed | 12 (lots of half an acre or less) | Up to 2, counted in the limit | No | 50 ft from other homes |
| Houston, TX | Hens allowed | 30 in city code | Banned in city code (Sec. 6-38) | No | 100 ft from any home in city code |
| Plano, TX | Allowed with a permit | Counts toward 10 animals per lot, pets included | Banned | Yes: a yearly backyard hen permit and a hen care course | Coop 20 ft from adjacent buildings (fewer than 5 animals); 50 ft for 5 or more |
| San Antonio, TX | Hens allowed | 8 | 1 allowed | Only over 8 birds | None stated for 8 or fewer |
Will your coop fit?
Draw your lot, your house and your neighbor's house on a satellite map, drop in a coop, and Coop Ready checks the distances against your Texas city's rules. Then share the plan or print a free permit site plan.
Texas backyard chicken questions
Can you have backyard chickens in Texas?
Usually yes, but it depends on the city or county. Of the 8 places in Texas we have checked, 8 allow backyard hens on a typical home lot. Check your exact city or county, because the rules differ a lot from place to place.
Who sets chicken rules in Texas?
Each Texas city sets its own animal and zoning rules. Texas counties have limited zoning power, so outside city limits deed restrictions and HOA rules usually matter most.
Is there a Texas state law on backyard chickens?
Texas's right-to-farm law (Agriculture Code ch. 251, as changed by HB 1750 from September 1, 2023) limits city rules on agricultural operations and counts raising or keeping poultry as one. Dallas Animal Services says this overrides its rooster ban. Texas A&M AgriLife says no court has yet decided whether backyard hens are covered, so city chicken limits in Texas are legally unsettled. Check with your city.
Are roosters allowed in Texas?
3 of the 8 places we checked in Texas ban roosters on typical home lots. Check your city's page for its exact rule.
Can an HOA in Texas ban chickens?
Texas Property Code 202.007 lists things an HOA cannot ban, such as composting and rain barrels, but chickens are not on the list. A 2025 bill (HB 2013) to add chickens passed the Texas House but stalled in a Senate committee and did not become law.
Keeping a healthy Texas flock
The Texas Animal Health Commission asks owners to report unusual deaths or illness to their vet or to TAHC at 1-800-550-8242. Visit the official page ↗
More from Coop Ready
- Rooster laws by city
- Cities that ban chickens
- HOA chicken rules
- Arizona chicken laws
- California chicken laws
- Florida chicken laws
- Georgia chicken laws
See every city on Coop Ready →
Coop Ready is a free planning aid from Cooped Up Life, not legal advice. Codes change, and zoning, HOA rules and your exact parcel can change what is allowed. Confirm with your city or county before you build.
