Unincorporated Travis County has no chicken or poultry limits. No zoning means no coop setbacks, flock caps, or rooster bans apply countywide. Austin ETJ and HOA rules may restrict in some subdivisions.
Texas counties cannot zone (TX Local Gov't Code §231), so Travis County has no authority to cap flock size, require coop setbacks, or ban roosters in unincorporated areas including Spicewood, Manor, Pflugerville ETJ, Garfield, and Webberville. TX HB 1750 (2023) further classifies backyard chickens as 'agricultural operations,' requiring cities to prove an 'imminent health danger' before restricting flocks. Keeping 50+ birds may trigger Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) reporting for avian disease surveillance. Inside Austin city limits, City Code §3-2-2 allows chickens with a 50-foot setback from neighbor residences, no flock cap, roosters permitted; an Austin chicken-keeping permit is NOT required. HOA covenants throughout Circle C, Steiner Ranch, and Lakeway-area subdivisions commonly ban poultry entirely and are enforceable civilly.
No county penalty. TX Health & Safety Code §822 applies only to dangerous/cruel conditions. HOA enforcement through civil deed restriction lawsuits, typically $50–$500 per-day fines in covenants.
See how Travis County's chickens & livestock rules stack up against other locations.
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