Sugar Land, TX Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)

Sugar Land handles backyard birds and farm animals in two short sections of Article II (Animal Services) of Chapter 3 of the Code of Ordinances: Sec. 3-17 for livestock and Sec. 3-18 for fowl. Both were last amended by Ord. No. 2330 on 5-7-2024.

The fowl rule is a flat ban. Sec. 3-18(a) makes it unlawful to keep fowl on any property, so a household cannot keep even one hen, and there is no coop standard, flock cap or permit tier to apply for. The only exception covers fowl that inhabit public lakes or ponds, and private lakes or ponds that are managed and maintained by an organization, company or corporation. Sec. 3-18(b) then puts a duty on the property owner or organization in control of any lake or pond where fowl are allowed: it must provide care and maintenance for the fowl and the property, and it must remove or otherwise control any fowl that become a nuisance to the residents of the surrounding area or community.

Livestock is governed by a land-area formula. Under Sec. 3-17(a), the number of livestock, except swine, may not exceed one animal for the first two acres and two animals per acre for each additional acre over two acres of a single tract of land. A minimum of two acres is required for the first animal, which means a lot smaller than two acres cannot hold any livestock at all. The count applies to a single tract, so acreage is measured per tract and not added up across separate parcels.

Swine are handled separately and more harshly. Sec. 3-17(b) states that it is unlawful for a person to keep swine within the city, and swine are also left out of the acreage formula in subsection (a), so no amount of land qualifies.

Sec. 3-17(c) requires any enclosure or other restrictive area for livestock to be of sufficient strength and construction to keep the livestock confined. Sec. 3-17(d) and Sec. 3-18(c) let the animal services manager waive certain requirements of the section in cases involving a scientific program, a nonprofit organization show or humane activity.

Related sections in the same article close nearby gaps. Sec. 3-31 makes it unlawful to sell, offer for sale, barter, or give away as toys, premiums, or novelties baby chickens or ducklings, or other fowl under three weeks old, unless the animal services manager first approves the manner or method of display. Sec. 3-30 bans changing the natural color of any fowl or rabbit. Rabbits have their own rule in Sec. 3-19: no more than two rabbits and one litter less than six weeks old on property under one acre, kept in a secure pen at least 30 feet from any adjoining property line.

The Land Development Code defines the ranching use as an area used for raising poultry and farm animals such as horses, cattle, and sheep, with accessory housing, and directs readers back to the Code of Ordinances for additional regulation of livestock. The Chapter 3 limits above therefore control the animal count.