Shelby County, TN Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Running at large
- Barred by Sec. 4-171
- Fine range
- $10 to $50 (Sec. 4-175)
- Damage liability
- Owner liable, lien on animal
- State mirror
- T.C.A. 44-8-401
- Where kept
- Zoning district controls
Summary
Shelby County Code Sec. 4-171 makes it unlawful for owners of livestock to willfully allow them to run at large, mirroring Tennessee's Sec. 44-8-401. Owners are liable for damage caused, and where livestock may be kept in the unincorporated county depends on the parcel's zoning district.
It shall be unlawful for the owners of any livestock, as the same are commonly known and defined, to willfully allow the same to run at large.
Full Breakdown
Article IV of the animal Code governs livestock. Sec. 4-171 makes it unlawful for owners of any livestock to willfully allow them to run at large, tracking T.C.A. 44-8-401. Under Sec. 4-172, an owner whose livestock runs at large is liable for damage to another's property, and the injured landowner gets a lien on the animal. Sec. 4-173 lets a landowner take up and confine trespassing livestock for reasonable food and care costs. Violations are fined $10 to $50 under Sec. 4-175, credited to the county school fund. The Code does not set where livestock may be kept; that is a zoning question under the joint Memphis and Shelby County zoning code, with agricultural districts most permissive.
Violations & Fines
Willfully allowing livestock to run at large violates Sec. 4-171 and is fined $10 to $50 under Sec. 4-175. The owner is separately liable under Sec. 4-172 for property damage, secured by a lien on the animal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to let livestock roam in Shelby County?
Am I liable if my cattle damage a neighbor's property?
Where can I keep livestock in the unincorporated county?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Shelby County
How Shelby County compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare Shelby County to another location·View the Tennessee animal ordinances overview
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