Burleson, TX Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)

Section 6-8(d) of the Burleson Code of Ordinances is the backyard chicken rule. For its purposes fowl are limited to female chickens, hens, and it does not apply on land zoned A-Agricultural. Everywhere else, a person commits an offense by knowingly keeping more than four fowl; keeping the fowl, including the fenced run, closer than 25 feet to an occupied building; failing to provide an adequate fowl shelter; or keeping fowl in the front yard area.

The § 6-1 definition of FOWL SHELTER is a farm building or structure specifically designed and constructed to constrain fowl that provides adequate space for movement and exercise, adequate ventilation, shelter from sun, wind, cold, and moisture, and sufficient shade at all times, and that is cleaned and sanitized. A pen, coop or hutch qualifies, but § 6-8(d)(9) says a fenced yard does not. The remaining duties are fresh, clean water and food, feed stored in secure containers protected from rodents, insects and other animals, no offensive odors or fly breeding, and allowing an animal control officer to inspect the shelter and premises. Keeping or maintaining roosters, slaughtering fowl, and selling eggs for profit are each offenses; eggs from permitted hens are for personal use only.

An owner who cannot meet every requirement can ask for a variance. The request is written, states the nature and reason, and is filed with the city manager or a designee. The City Council holds a public hearing within 30 days after filing, with notice given by the 15th day before the hearing through publication in the city's official newspaper and written notice to owners of lots within 200 feet of the requesting lot. Council can approve or deny, can attach conditions, and its decision is final.

Larger livestock follow § 6-8(c). Livestock and fowl in a zoning classification that allows them become a nuisance if kept, fenced, stabled, or pastured within 100 feet of an occupied building, with exceptions for buildings constructed after the keeping began and for A-Agriculture land. Livestock and fowl are prohibited in SFE-Single Family Estate zoning except horses and mules, which are allowed at two head for the first full acre under fence plus one head per fenced acre thereafter on tracts under ten acres, behind pasture fencing at least five feet high, with a three-sided roofed shelter of at least 300 square feet per animal. Registered competition pigeons are excepted up to 100 birds, with enclosures at least 50 feet from adjacent residential or commercial structures.