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

Part 5 of Chapter 2 splits animals into classes in § 2-501. A large animal is any wild or domestic animal of the bovine, equine or sheep family. A small animal is any wild or domestic animal such as a rabbit, hare, guinea pig, rat, mouse or chinchilla, plus any wild or domestic fowl such as a chicken, turkey, goose, duck or pigeon, with homing pigeons excepted. Chickens are therefore small animals under the Bristol Borough Code.

Section 2-502 bars one species completely: it is unlawful for any person to keep any pigs, hogs or swine at any place within the Borough of Bristol.

Section 2-503 makes it unlawful to keep any domestic animals other than household pets except as the section allows. Large animals must be confined in quarters no part of which is closer than 100 feet from the exterior limits of any dwelling or of any property line. Small animals must be confined in quarters no part of which is closer than 25 feet from the exterior limits of any dwelling or of any property line. The distance is measured from every dwelling and every property line, so a coop must clear the neighbor's house and the lot line alike.

The keeper must also confine each animal in an enclosure sufficient to prevent it from running at large, of a size and construction conducive to the animal's health, with adequate sanitary drainage. Litter and droppings must be collected daily in a container that is rat-proof and fly-tight when closed, and that container must stay closed after each collection. At least twice a week the keeper must dispose of the collected litter so that fly larvae cannot develop. All feed must be stored in a rat-proof and fly-tight building, box, container or receptacle.

Under § 2-505, a violation that would also violate state law is prosecuted under the state law and not under Part 5. Zoning district rules in Chapter 27 apply separately.