Austin Chicken Laws

Are chickens allowed in Austin?Yes
How many chickens can you have?No limit specified (check with city)
Can you have roosters in Austin?Likely no (check with local officials)
Chicken coop placement rules:30 feet from adjacent structures
Application process:A permit may be required
More information:Austin City Code

Curious about raising chickens in Austin? Gain valuable insights into the essential guidelines and regulations for a successful urban farming experience.

  • Number of Chickens: The city allows residents to keep chickens but doesn’t specify the numbers allowed in its ordinance. Therefore, before keeping chickens, please check with your local authority for the numbers allowed.
  • Restrictions on Roosters: An owner or handler may not keep an animal that makes frequent or long, continuous noise disturbing to a person of normal sensibilities. This implies that the city doesn’t allow the keeping of roosters; check with neighbors and the city before purchasing a rooster.
  • Coop Size: Chickens must be kept in adequately sized coops for the number of chickens in the structure.
  • Sanitary Maintenance: The coops must be maintained in a sanitary condition that does not allow flies to breed or cause an odor offensive to an adjacent residence or business.
  • Distance from Residences/Businesses (Without Health Hazard): An enclosure used to keep fowl must be located at least 30 feet from an adjacent residence or business structure, excluding the residence or business of the fowl’s owner or handler.
  • Distance from Residences/Businesses (With Health Hazard): An enclosure to keep fowl must be located at least 50 feet from an adjacent residence or business structure if the fowl or the enclosure creates a health hazard.

Stay up-to-date on Austin’s backyard chicken regulations—consult officials for current details.

See other Texas chicken ordinances.

Last updated: 4/24/24