Austin, TX Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Chicken Limit
- Up to 10 hens, no permit
- Coop Distance
- 50 ft from neighbor dwelling
- Roosters
- Legal but noise rules apply
- Livestock Acreage
- Goats 1 acre, cattle 2 acres minimum
- Rebate Program
- $75 Austin Resource Recovery
Summary
Austin City Code Chapter 3-2 allows up to 10 chickens on most residential lots with setbacks of 50 feet from neighboring dwellings for coops. Roosters are allowed but subject to noise enforcement. Livestock (goats, pigs, cattle) require minimum lot sizes.
Sec. 161.001. DEFINITIONS. (a) In this chapter: (1) "Animal" includes livestock, exotic livestock, domestic fowl, and exotic fowl. (2) "Commission" means the Texas Animal Health Commission. (4) "Exotic livestock" means grass-eating or plant-eating, single-hooved or cloven-hooved mammals that are not indigenous to this state and are known as ungulates, including animals from the swine, horse, tapir, rhinoceros, elephant, deer, and antelope families. (5) "Exotic fowl" means any avian species that is not indigenous to this state. The term includes ratites.
Full Breakdown
Austin Chapter 3-2 (Animal Services Code) permits up to 10 hens or other fowl on lots zoned SF-1 through SF-6 without a permit, provided the coop is at least 50 feet from any dwelling not owned by the chicken keeper (reduced to 20 feet if enclosed). Roosters are legal but their crowing is subject to Chapter 9-2 noise enforcement and frequently generates complaints. Austin Resource Recovery also offers a $75 rebate to backyard-chicken keepers who complete a composting/chicken-keeping class. Goats and miniature livestock require a minimum lot size of 1 acre with setbacks of 100 feet.
Cattle, horses, and hogs require 2-acre minimums and agricultural-zoned land (typically outside Full Purpose jurisdiction, in Limited Purpose or ETJ). Roosters and livestock in SF zones are commonly grandfathered where pre-existing. Slaughter of livestock within city limits is prohibited except for poultry at permitted Texas Department of State Health Services facilities. Stray livestock are captured by Travis County Animal Services in ETJ, Austin Animal Services within city.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have a rooster?
Can I keep pygmy goats?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Austin
How Austin compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Texas rules heatmap·Compare Austin to another location·View the Texas animal ordinances overview
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Chickens & Livestock in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Travis County handle chickens & livestock.