Franklin, TN Chicken Laws: Hens, Roosters, Permit

Coop Ready Tennessee Franklin

Allowed with a permit

Possibly, but only with a discretionary Animal Husbandry permit, because nearly every Franklin home lot is within 1,000 ft of a house or street.

Almost every lot in town is within 1,000 ft of a home or street, so in practice you need a permit, which the health officer grants only if the birds will not harm public health. Pens must be kept clean, feed stored in rat-proof containers, and birds may not roam or become a noise or odor nuisance.

Hen limit

Not stated

Roosters

Not named in the code (treated like other fowl)

Permit

Yes: an Animal Husbandry permit if birds are within 1,000 ft of any home, business or public street

Coop placement

No fixed coop distance once a permit is granted; the 1,000 ft rule decides whether you need the permit

Checked against city code We read the official code section linked below for every fact on this page.

Read the official Franklin rules ↗ Checked October 2026.

Will your coop fit in Franklin?

Draw your lot, your house and your neighbor's house on a satellite map, drop in a coop, and Coop Ready measures the distances and compares them with the Franklin rules above. Free, no account.

Plan my coop

Backyard chicken questions in Franklin

How many chickens can I have in Franklin?

The city rules we read do not state a hen limit. Ask the city before you buy chicks.

Are roosters allowed in Franklin?

The rooster rule in Franklin: not named in the code (treated like other fowl).

Do I need a permit for backyard chickens in Franklin?

Yes. Franklin requires an Animal Husbandry permit to keep chickens within 1,000 ft of any home, business or public street, which covers nearly every lot in town.