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

Backyard poultry regulation in Bucks County varies by municipality. Central Bucks townships (Doylestown, Buckingham, Warrington, Warwick) generally allow 4-6 hens on lots of 10,000 square feet or larger with coop setbacks of 25-50 feet from neighboring dwellings. Lower Bucks municipalities (Bensalem, Bristol, Middletown) with denser housing often have stricter limits or prohibit poultry entirely in R-1 single-family zones. Upper Bucks townships (Nockamixon, Tinicum, Bridgeton) with rural character generally permit more flexible poultry keeping. Roosters are prohibited in nearly all Bucks residential zones due to noise; they are permitted in agricultural (AG) zones. Coop construction must comply with PA UCC accessory structure rules — coops under 200 square feet typically exempt from building permits but zoning setbacks still apply. Larger livestock (goats, sheep, pigs, horses, cattle) are restricted to agricultural zones with minimum lot sizes usually starting at 2-10 acres. The PA Right to Farm Act (3 P.S. §951-957) protects bona fide agricultural operations from nuisance suits after one year of operation. PA Bee Law (3 P.S. §2101) requires apiary registration but does not preempt local beekeeping rules. The Bucks County Conservation District offers agricultural conservation easements and guidance. Poultry owners should consult PA Department of Agriculture avian health advisories, particularly during HPAI (bird flu) outbreaks.