Abilene, TX Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Swine ban
- Prohibited citywide except in ag open-space zoning
- Required setback
- 600 feet from residential district, church, or school
- Chickens/fowl
- No lot-size or coop ordinance; noise rules apply
- Enforcing agency
- Abilene Animal Outreach
- Max fine
- $500 per offense, Sec. 1-9
Summary
Abilene's animal code doesn't single out backyard chickens, but it flatly bars keeping swine anywhere in the city except in an agricultural open-space zoning district, and even there a hog pen must sit at least 600 feet from any residential district, church, or school. Roosters and hens fall under the City's general animal-noise and nuisance rules instead.
(a)Except as provided herein or as otherwise allowed by law, no person who is the owner of any swine or any person who has any swine under his or her management or control shall keep the same or allow the same to remain in any pen or in any other place within the City.(b)This section shall not apply to or prohibit the keeping of swine by the following: ... (4)Any person, persons, organization, or corporation keeping swine in an agricultural open space district as provided by the City of Abilene zoning ordinance when said swine is kept no closer than six hundred (600) feet from any other residential district, church, or school.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 14).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 6, titled 'Animals and Fowl,' doesn't create a chicken-specific lot-size, coop-setback, or rooster ordinance; its only livestock-keeping restriction targets swine. Sec. ' The section carves out five narrow exceptions in Sec. ' Chickens, ducks, and other fowl aren't separately restricted in Chapter 6; a resident keeping backyard hens is instead governed by the chapter's general provisions on animal noise (Sec. 6-6), care and humane treatment (Sec. 6-16), and the requirement that dead animals or fowl not be left exposed as a nuisance (Sec. 6-13, Sec.
6-14). A rooster whose crowing rises to 'unreasonably loud or unnecessary noise' causing 'material distress' to neighbors can still be cited under the noise provision even without a fowl-specific ordinance. Abilene Animal Outreach enforces the swine ban and the general animal provisions alike.
Violations & Fines
Keeping swine outside an agricultural open-space district, or inside one but closer than 600 feet to a residential district, church, or school, is a citable violation under Sec. 6-10, punishable by up to $500 per offense under the Sec. 1-9 general penalty, with each day the swine remains a separate offense. A rooster or other fowl causing excessive noise can be separately cited under Sec. 6-6.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep backyard chickens in Abilene?
Is it legal to raise pigs in Abilene?
What's the penalty for keeping swine too close to a neighborhood?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Abilene
How Abilene compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Texas rules heatmap·Compare Abilene to another location·View the Texas animal ordinances overview
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