Pharr, TX Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Livestock
- Prohibited citywide
- Chicken/fowl cap
- 10 per residential premises
- Fowl housing
- Must be caged or penned
- Livestock penalty
- Up to $500/day
- Fowl penalty
- $1–$1,000/day
Summary
Horses, cattle, hogs, sheep and goats cannot be kept anywhere within Pharr city limits. Chickens and other domestic fowl are treated separately: they're allowed but must stay caged or penned, capped at ten birds per residential property.
It shall be unlawful to raise, keep or pen any livestock or any type of reptiles upon any premises within the city.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 44).
Full Breakdown
City Code Sec. 18-3 flatly bans raising, keeping or penning any livestock, defined to include horses, mules, hogs, sheep, goats and cattle, on any premises in Pharr. Fowl is defined and regulated apart from livestock: under the Property Maintenance Code amendment at Sec. 22-496, domesticated fowl like roosters and chickens must be kept in a clean, sanitary cage or pen, with a hard cap of ten birds per premises in residential zoning districts.
Violations & Fines
Livestock violations fall under the Code's general penalty (Sec. 1-6): up to $500 per day, each day a separate offense. Exceeding the ten-bird fowl cap or failing to cage/pen fowl draws a fine of $1 to $1,000 under Sec. 22-497, with each day of violation charged separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep a horse or goat in Pharr?
How many chickens can I have in Pharr?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pharr
How Pharr compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Texas rules heatmap·Compare Pharr to another location·View the Texas animal ordinances overview
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Chickens & Livestock in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Hidalgo County handle chickens & livestock.