Bensalem, PA Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)

The R-A Rural district's statement of purpose, section 232-109, is written to protect existing agricultural, recreation and open-space uses and to discourage premature higher-density development. Its use list at section 232-110 permits one single-family detached dwelling plus 'agricultural or farm use, except piggery,' so pig farming is the one livestock use the township bars outright regardless of setback. The R-AA district's parallel use list at section 232-212(a)(2) goes further, permitting 'intensive agricultural or farm use' meaning the keeping or raising of livestock or poultry, again excluding piggeries and excluding on-site slaughtering or processing, and adding an annual soil-loss cap of three tons per acre to limit erosion from grazing or tilled land.

Outside these two districts, the residential use lists at sections 232-124, 232-138, 232-152, 232-166 and 232-226 (R-A-1, R-A-2, R-1, R-2 and R-11) permit only a single-family dwelling plus utility and municipal uses; none lists agricultural, livestock or poultry use, so a property owner there needs a use variance from the Zoning Hearing Board under section 232-781 before adding a coop or barn for animals. Anywhere the use is permitted, the Zoning Officer under section 232-762 still requires a use permit before construction begins and can issue a stop-work or cease-and-desist order and refer a violation to the district magistrate for a citation.

R-A lots also carry a one-acre-per-family minimum lot area and 150-foot minimum lot width under section 232-111, which in practice limits how small a parcel can be and still qualify for livestock keeping.