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

Leander's animal ordinance (Chapter 2) regulates backyard fowl directly because Texas has no statewide law governing chickens within city limits. Under Sec. 2.03.008 (as amended in 2019), all fowl and rabbits must be kept within a coop or hutch, and a fenced yard does not qualify as a pen or coop. If the birds are chickens or other fowl, they are limited to no more than 10. A rooster is prohibited from a backyard coop on a property of less than 3 acres, which effectively bans roosters on typical residential lots. The city's Animal Services guidance also notes coops cannot be kept within 50 feet of other residences. These rules sit alongside Leander's broader keeping-of-animals requirements for sanitation and to prevent nuisance to neighbors. Because the state defers to municipalities here, Leander's coop, count, setback, and rooster rules are the controlling law for residents inside the city limits. Owners on larger acreage (3 acres or more) have more latitude, including the ability to keep a rooster in a backyard coop.