Harlingen, TX Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Livestock
- Banned citywide, any duration
- Fowl setback
- 250 ft from neighboring structures
- Fowl cap
- 20 birds maximum
- Own residence
- Exempt from setback rule
- Enforcement
- Nuisance abatement, impoundment, redemption fee
Summary
Harlingen bans keeping livestock anywhere in the city and limits fowl like chickens to locations at least 250 feet from neighboring homes, schools, or restaurants, capped at 20 birds.
(a) Livestock prohibited. It shall be unlawful for any person to keep, locate, or maintain any livestock within the city for any period of time. (b) Keeping of fowl restricted. ... Fowl may be kept, located, or maintained within the city only at locations no closer than 250 feet from the nearest private residence structure, school ... except for the family residential unit ... occupied by the person owning ... such fowl. ... no person shall ever keep, possess, or maintain more than 20 such fowl for any period of time.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4546847; v3 updated 2025-07-16).
Full Breakdown
Harlingen Code § 6-92 bans livestock, cattle, horses, mules, swine, sheep, goats, anywhere in the city for any period of time. Fowl (chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, guineas, peacocks, pheasants) may be kept only at locations at least 250 feet from the nearest private residence, school, hotel, boarding house, duplex, apartment house, restaurant, or food-selling business, except the coop owner's own family residence, which is exempt from that distance rule. No more than 20 fowl may be kept at any one time, and selling baby chicks or ducklings as seasonal gifts is banned outside licensed pet stores.
Violations & Fines
Violating fowl or livestock rules is declared a nuisance under § 6-91: the city can remove and impound the animals, charge a per-day fee to redeem them, or seek a court order (mandamus) to force removal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Harlingen residents keep chickens or ducks?
Can I keep a horse, goat, or other livestock in Harlingen?
What happens if I violate the fowl or livestock rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Harlingen
How Harlingen compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Texas rules heatmap·Compare Harlingen to another location·View the Texas animal ordinances overview
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Chickens & Livestock in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle chickens & livestock.