Waco, TX Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)

Section 5-98(a) requires all fowl and rabbits to be kept within a pen, coop, or hutch, and specifies that a fenced yard alone does not qualify. Subsection (b) requires that pen, coop, hutch, or other housing for any animal other than livestock to sit at least 50 feet from any residence, not counting the residence of the person keeping the animal. Section 5-99(a) separately bans pasturing, herding, staking, or tying livestock in any street, alley, park, or public place, bans tying or staking livestock on someone else's property without consent, and bans leaving livestock secured by only a stake overnight instead of in a pen, corral, or barn.

Subsection (b) sets the core setback: it is unlawful to harbor livestock in a pen closer than 200 feet to any residence other than the owner's, unless the property is five acres or larger, in which case the setback does not apply. An owner facing a 200-foot violation gets notice of the right to request a variance from the Animal Welfare Board within ten days, the board must hold a hearing within 30 business days, and a denial can be appealed to the city council.

Subsection (c) sets a minimum enclosure size on top of the setback: no livestock pen may hold less than 600 square feet of area for each animal kept in it.