Franklin, TN Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)

Inside Franklin city limits, animal husbandry is governed by Title 10 of the Franklin Municipal Code (Animal Control) and the Franklin Zoning Ordinance, administered by the Building and Neighborhood Services Department (615-794-7012). Title 10's running-at-large provision (originating in the 1976 Code and restated by Ordinance 2011-16, adopted July 12, 2011) makes it unlawful for any person owning or being in charge of cows, swine, sheep, horses, mules, goats, chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, or other domestic fowl or livestock to knowingly or negligently permit them to run at large in any street, alley, or unenclosed lot within the corporate limits. Per City Zoning Administration guidance ('Animal Husbandry'), backyard chicken keeping is allowed on residential lots but roosters are not permitted, owners must prevent the birds from roaming on streets or public spaces, and coops must be maintained to avoid creating nuisances. The City does not impose a specific numeric hen cap by ordinance, but lot size, setbacks from neighboring dwellings, and sanitation rules in the Zoning Ordinance and Title 10 apply. Larger livestock (cattle, horses, sheep, goats, swine) is not authorized on standard city residential lots; agricultural-scale livestock requires sufficient acreage and is typically only feasible on properties zoned Agricultural (AG) under the Franklin Zoning Ordinance, which is intended to provide for farming and single-family residential on significant acreage. Outside city limits, the Williamson County Zoning Ordinance (adopted May 14, 2012, as amended) generally permits agricultural use including poultry and livestock, except within the Grassland Village (GV), Leiper's Fork Village (LFV), and Triune Village (TV) overlay districts. The Williamson County Ag Park (4215 Long Lane, College Grove) offers UT Extension classes on poultry and small livestock husbandry.