Topeka, KS Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Fowl setback
- 50 feet from other homes
- Fowl enclosure
- Fenced, fully enclosed pen
- Livestock setback
- 200 feet from property line
- Swine
- Banned (pot-belly pigs excepted)
- Horses
- 2 per 3 acres minimum
Summary
In Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas, domestic fowl must stay at least 50 feet from a neighbor's dwelling and inside a fenced enclosure; livestock can't be kept within 200 feet of the property line, and swine are banned outright.
It shall be unlawful for any person, with no requirement of a culpable mental state, to keep or maintain any domestic fowl or poultry upon any private premises in the City (when such keeping is lawful under other ordinances of the City) within 50 feet of any dwelling other than that of the owner or tenant of the premises on which such fowl are kept or maintained, or to keep or maintain such fowl at any time on any premises in a manner or condition constituting a public nuisance.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 20671, passed July 14, 2026).
Full Breakdown
TMC 6.30.010 bars keeping domestic fowl or poultry within 50 feet of any dwelling other than the owner's or tenant's, and bans keeping fowl in a manner that creates a public nuisance; TMC 6.30.020 requires fowl to stay on the owner's property inside a fenced, fully enclosed pen: birds found at large are presumed violations. Separately, TMC 6.35.010 bars keeping livestock in a building or lot within 200 feet of the property line, TMC 6.35.020 bans swine outright (miniature pot-belly pigs excepted), and TMC 6.35.030 lets owners keep two horses per three acres, with 1.5 more acres required per additional horse.
Violations & Fines
Each is a strict-liability offense with no culpable-mental-state requirement; a fowl or livestock animal found at large is prima facie evidence of a violation, punishable under Title 6's general penalty: up to a $499 fine or 179 days in jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep backyard chickens in Topeka?
Can I keep a horse or other livestock in city limits?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Topeka
How Topeka compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare Topeka to another location·View the Kansas animal ordinances overview
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