Where in Texas can you keep backyard chickens and how many chickens can you keep in these Texas cities? Read on to discover the many Texas cities in which you can have backyard chickens. High egg prices in the United States have prompted many Texans to skip the middleman and get their eggs directly from the source. According to statistics from the American Pet Producers Association, approximately ten million US households have backyard chickens. So in this article, you will discover some Texas cities that contribute to that number.
Where in Texas Can You Have Chickens?
Houston, Texas
According to KHOU, residents can keep up to 30 chickens in the city of Houston if certain requirements are met. You must keep your chickens in a coop that must be kept at least 100 feet away from any neighboring homes. The city of Houston does not allow roosters because of noise and cockfighting.
San Antonio, Texas
According to the San Antonio government website, you are allowed to have 8 or more backyard chickens in the city of San Antonio. However, your chicken coop must be at least 50 feet away from any dwelling. If your chicken coop contains less than 8 chickens, you can place it anywhere on your property. Furthermore, you may keep one rooster in San Antonio.
Dallas, Texas
The city of Dallas allows backyard chickens but not roosters. Dallas does not state the number of backyard chickens a resident can keep.
Austin, Texas
You can have backyard chickens in Austin, Texas. Your chicken coop must be at least 30 feet away from adjacent residences or businesses. There is no current ordinance that limits the number of chickens you can keep in the city of Austin.
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth allows backyard chickens but the number of chickens you can keep depends on your property size. For instance, you may not own more than 50 chickens if you reside on a property of one acre or more in the city of Fort Worth. You may keep two roosters in the city. If you reside on a one-half-acre property, you can have up to 12 backyard chickens. Fort Worth residents on properties of more than one-half acre but less than one acre are allowed to keep up to 25 chickens. You must keep your chickens in a coop or pen in Fort Worth.
El Paso, Texas
You can have backyard chickens if you live in El Paso, Texas. The city allows the keeping of more than six chickens with a permit. You are allowed to have three roosters in El Paso. Earlier this year, an El Paso couple explained how they care for their chickens at home. The couple told Kfoxtv they have been raising chickens in their east El Paso home since the beginning of the pandemic. Wilfredo and his wife Myriam Andino told the outlet that in addition to becoming part of their family, the chickens have blessed them with fresh eggs.
Arlington, Texas
You can keep chickens in Arlington, Texas. However, the number of chickens you can have depends on the size of your property. Arlington allows four chickens on 1/2 acre properties, ten chickens on more than 1/2 acre properties, and twenty-five chickens on more than one-acre properties. All backyard chickens must be contained in a coop or pen in the city of Arlington.
Corpus Christi, Texas
In the city of Corpus Christi, you can keep up to seven chickens in your backyard but roosters are prohibited. According to Kristv, you can't share or sell your eggs in the city of Corpus Christi.
Plano, Texas
On September 27, 2021, during the pandemic, with soaring egg prices and shortages, city leaders in Plano voted in favor of an ordinance that permitted residents to raise chickens in their backyards. However, only hens are allowed, no roosters. Furthermore, Plano residents who wish to keep backyard chickens must obtain a permit. You are not permitted to have more than ten adult animals on your property in the city of Plano. This number includes backyard chickens, cats, dogs, and all other pets. See the general requirements for backyard chickens in Plano.
Lubbock, Texas
You may keep six backyard chickens without a permit in Lubbock, Texas. Lubbock residents must not allow their chickens to leave their yards, nor can they allow them to be flying over the fence. So, you need a coop in which you can keep your backyard chickens.
Irving, Texas
Backyard chickens are allowed in the city of Irving but the number of chickens you can have depends on your property size. Irving residents are allowed to keep 24 hens plus one rooster on properties of one acre or less. There is no limit to the number of hens you can keep if you reside on a property of more than one acre. However, there is a required ratio of six hens per rooster.
Other Texas cities that allow backyard chickens include:
- Garland, TX: 4 Chickens
- Amarillo, TX
- Grand Prairie, TX
- Frisco, TX
- McKinney, TX: 12 Chickens
- Pasadena, TX: 10 Chickens
- McAllen, TX: 6 Chickens
- Denton, TX: 8 Chickens
- Waco, TX
- Carrollton, TX: 6 Chickens
- Abilene, TX
- Round Rock, TX: 10 Chickens
- Richardson, TX
- The Woodlands, TX: 6 Chickens
- Lewisville, TX
- Tyler, TX: 6 Chickens
- Allen, TX: 4 Chickens
- Wichita Falls, TX
