Temple, TX Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Hens allowed
- Up to 6 per property
- Hen coop setback
- 50 feet from neighbor's house
- Other livestock/fowl setback
- 150 feet from neighbor's house
- Roosters
- No exception, still 150-foot setback
- Max fine
- Up to $2,000 per offense
Summary
Temple lets residents keep up to six hens in a backyard coop at least 50 feet from a neighbor's house, but roosters and other fowl still need a 150-foot setback under the city's livestock and fowl rule.
Notwithstanding Subsection (d)(1), a person may own no more than six (6) hens within the City if the pen, coop, or other enclosure for housing the hens is no less than fifty (50) feet from the nearest residence, excluding the residence of the animal's owner... The exception to the distance requirements required in Subsection (d)(1) for the keeping of hens under Subsection (d)(2) does not apply to roosters.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Reformat).
Full Breakdown
Temple's animal code bars keeping horses, cattle, goats, sheep, other livestock, or fowl such as chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, or pigeons within 150 feet of a neighbor's residence. Sec. 6-54(d) carves out an exception for hens only: residents can keep up to six hens if the coop sits at least 50 feet from the nearest neighboring residence, the hens stay in the backyard, the enclosure is clean, secure, ventilated, and large enough for the birds to move freely, and the site stays sanitary and free of health hazards. The 50-foot exception does not extend to roosters, which remain subject to the full 150-foot setback.
Violations & Fines
Keeping hens or fowl without meeting the setback and enclosure standards is a Chapter 6 offense, punishable by a fine up to $2,000 under Sec. 1-9.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep a rooster in Temple?
How many hens can I keep in my backyard?
Does the 150-foot setback apply to livestock like goats or cattle?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Temple
How Temple compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Texas rules heatmap·Compare Temple to another location·View the Texas animal ordinances overview
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Chickens & Livestock in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Bell County handle chickens & livestock.