Spring Hill, TN Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)

Title 10, Chapter 1 treats chickens and other fowl alongside cats, cows, swine, sheep, horses, mules, goats, cattle and livestock. Section 10-101 makes it unlawful to knowingly or negligently let any of them run at large in any street, alley or unenclosed lot within the corporate limits. Section 10-102 sets the permit rule: no person keeps any enumerated animal or fowl within 1,000 feet of any residence, place of business or public street without a permit from the Health Officer. The Health Officer issues a permit only when, in his or her sound judgment, the keeping of the animal in a yard or building under the circumstances set out in the application will not injuriously affect the public health.

The Health Officer is whichever municipal, county or state officer the Board of Mayor and Aldermen appoints or designates (§ 10-109). Housing standards follow. The building, structure, corral, pen or enclosure must be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition at all times (§ 10-103). Food, water, shelter and ventilation must be adequate and sufficient for the animal's health, and all feed must be stored in a rat-proof and fly-tight building, box or receptacle (§ 10-104). No animal or fowl can be kept in a place or condition that becomes a nuisance because of noise, odor, contagious disease or other reason (§ 10-105), and unnecessarily beating or abusing any animal or fowl is unlawful (§ 10-106).

The Health Officer or an authorized representative can enter any premises at any reasonable time where there is reasonable cause to believe an animal or fowl is kept in violation (§ 10-108). These sections set no flock-size number and do not mention roosters; the controls are the 1,000-foot permit and the sanitation and nuisance standards. The sections carry Ord. 13-30, passed 12-16-2013, in their history notes.