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

Section 8-4-1, in the chapter governing Livestock and Fowl, sets the baseline welfare and nuisance standard for keeping backyard chickens, ducks, and other fowl (defined at Section 8-1-2 as domesticated or undomesticated chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, or other birds the animal services director designates) alongside traditional livestock like cattle and goats. The section requires that water, shelter, ventilation, and food be sufficient for the animal's health and safe condition, and separately bars keeping any animal or fowl in a place or condition that becomes a nuisance because of odor or contagious disease, a standard animal services can enforce without a specific numeric limit, based on the actual condition of the coop or pen.

Section 8-4-2 adds that no one in charge of livestock may let it run at-large on a city street, alley, or unenclosed lot. Section 8-4-5 separately bars displaying, selling, bartering, or giving away chicks or ducklings as pets or novelties, a rule aimed at Easter- and fair-season impulse sales, though it doesn't stop the sale of chicks or ducklings by sellers in the business of supplying them to be raised for food. The same section bars dyeing, coloring, or otherwise artificially treating any fowl. None of these provisions require a permit simply to keep a small backyard flock; the distance-based permit requirement in Section 8-4-3 applies to livestock as separately defined, not fowl.