New Braunfels allows backyard hens through a permit program: up to five hens (no roosters) in R-1 through R-4 zoning on lots of at least 5,000 square feet. A separate general rule allows fowl on large tracts (40,000+ sq ft, up to 50 fowl per 40,000 sq ft), kept at least 100 feet from any neighboring residence.
New Braunfels regulates poultry and livestock under Chapter 6 (Animals). Through a backyard-hen permit program, the city permits up to five (5) hens in the R-1, R-2, R-3, and R-4 residential zoning districts, provided the lot is at least 5,000 square feet. A 'hen' is defined as a female chicken (gallus domesticus), so roosters are not allowed under the hen program. The program was created as a pilot allowing a capped number of permits (reported at 25), so prospective keepers should confirm current permit availability and application requirements with the city. Separately, the city's general fowl rule (in the keeping-of-animals provisions, Sec. 6-77 area) allows fowl to be kept in any zoning district on a tract of at least 40,000 square feet (roughly an acre), with up to 50 fowl per 40,000 square feet; under that rule, fowl may not roam, graze, or be housed within 100 feet of any residence on adjacent property. Chapter 6 also caps household dogs/cats at four over three months of age per address (Sec. 6-77(a)). Because the hen program is a permit-based pilot and the general fowl rule applies to large lots, the path you use depends on your lot size and zoning. Confirm current rules and permit status with Animal Welfare & Rescue (830-608-2183) before acquiring birds.
Keeping hens without the required permit, exceeding the allowed number of hens, keeping roosters under the hen program, or violating the 100-foot setback or per-acre fowl limits under the general rule can result in citations under Chapter 6. Exceeding the four-dog/cat household limit is also enforceable.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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New Braunfels treats persistently barking or noisy animals as a public nuisance under Chapter 6, Animals. An animal that unreasonably annoys people or substa...
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New Braunfels regulates sound under Sec. 82-9 of its Code of Ordinances. Within 100 feet of residential zoning, sound may reach 85 decibels from 10 a.m. to 1...
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New Braunfels bans parking, standing, or storing oversized vehicles - including RVs - on residential streets and on private property in residential districts...
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All fences and walls in New Braunfels require a building permit under Sec. 144-5.3-2, and must meet all permit and plan-review submittal requirements, includ...
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Under Sec. 144-5.3-2, fences and walls in New Braunfels may be up to 8 feet tall in residential, multifamily, non-residential, and park areas. In a required ...
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