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

Chapter 6, Article III of the Laredo Code of Ordinances governs backyard fowl citywide. Sec. 6-41 makes it unlawful to keep any small animal or fowl within the city limits except under the conditions the article sets out. Sec. 6-42(a) then lays out the keeping practices: every keeper must confine fowl in an enclosure to stop them running at large, provide a shelter and area sized for good sanitation with adequate drainage, collect litter and droppings daily into a ratproof, flytight container, and store feed in a ratproof, flytight receptacle.

The rooster and density rule sits in Sec. 6-42(a)(5) and (6): keeping five or more small animals or fowl in any combination, or any number of male chickens at all, within 100 feet of a neighboring residence, structure, or business is unlawful, and keeping any small animal or fowl in any combination within 50 feet of a neighboring residence or business is unlawful regardless of number. In practice this bars roosters on most residential lots, since 100 feet from every adjoining home is rarely available on a standard city lot.

Sec. 6-42(a)(7) lets the assistant director grant a case-by-case exemption from the number or setback limits after inspecting the premises, but only if the director first finds the fowl will not unreasonably endanger life, health, or property, and will not become a nuisance. School-age FFA or 4-H students raising a project chicken can separately apply for an annual special permit under Sec. 6-69, which requires written consent from adjacent and across-the-road property owners and department inspection of the pens before the permit issues.