Tarrant County, TX Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- County Permit
- Not required
- Range Status
- Closed range
- Flock Limit
- None countywide
- Right to Farm
- TX Ag Code Ch. 251
Summary
Unincorporated Tarrant County allows chickens and livestock without permit or flock limit. The county is closed range, so owners must contain livestock. TX Right to Farm Act protects ag operations.
Sec. 161.001. DEFINITIONS. (a) In this chapter:(1) "Animal" includes livestock, exotic livestock, domestic fowl, and exotic fowl.(2) "Commission" means the Texas Animal Health Commission.(3) Repealed by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 604, Sec. 5.(4) "Exotic livestock" means grass-eating or plant-eating, single-hooved or cloven-hooved mammals that are not indigenous to this state and are known as ungulates, including animals from the swine, horse, tapir, rhinoceros, elephant, deer, and antelope families.(5) "Exotic fowl" means any avian species that is not indigenous to this state. The term includes ratites.(b) References in Subchapter A, C, D, E, or H of this chapter to "livestock," "domestic animals," "domestic fowl," or other specifically named animals shall be construed to include
Full Breakdown
Tarrant County does not zone or limit backyard chickens, roosters, goats, cattle, horses, sheep, or swine on private property in unincorporated areas. There is no county permit, no numeric cap, and no setback ordinance for coops or barns. The county is a closed range jurisdiction under a prior stock law election, meaning livestock owners must keep their animals contained with adequate fencing. Livestock that escape onto roadways or neighboring property create civil liability for the owner under Texas Agriculture Code Chapter 143. The Texas Right to Farm Act in Agriculture Code Chapter 251 shields bona fide agricultural operations from nuisance suits after one year of operation. HOA covenants in Tarrant County subdivisions frequently prohibit poultry and livestock, and cities such as Fort Worth, Arlington, Southlake, and Keller each have their own urban chicken and livestock rules.
Violations & Fines
No county poultry or livestock violations. Escaped livestock creates civil liability under closed range law. HOA enforcement is private. City violations handled by municipal code compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep backyard chickens in unincorporated Tarrant County?
Am I responsible if my cow escapes?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tarrant County
How Tarrant County compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Texas rules heatmap·Compare Tarrant County to another location·View the Texas animal ordinances overview
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