Animal Ordinances in Franklin, TN: What Residents Actually Need to Know

If you live in Franklin or are thinking about moving there, animal ordinances are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Franklin has 7 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of animal ordinances, and some of them might surprise you.

Breed Restrictions

The City of Franklin does not have a breed-specific dog ban. Pit bulls, Rottweilers, and other commonly-restricted breeds are legal to own in Franklin. Tennessee currently has no statewide preemption of breed-specific legislation - cities and counties retain home-rule authority to enact local BSL under Title 6, but Franklin and Williamson County have chosen not to do so. Dangerous-dog issues are handled on an individual, conduct-based basis under Title 10 of the Franklin Municipal Code and Tennessee state law (TCA 44-8-413 strict liability for dogs at large; TCA 39-17-1363 'vicious dog' criminal offense after a serious injury or kill).

Key details: Franklin BSL: None - no breed-specific ban or permit. Williamson County BSL: None. State Preemption: None - TN cities/counties may enact local BSL under home rule. Other TN Cities With BSL: South Pittsburg, Rogersville, Selmer, Manchester, Paris, Mt. Juliet, Lafayette, others. Dangerous Dog Standard: Conduct-based (TCA 39-17-1363).

Franklin has no breed-specific permit, registration, muzzle, or enclosure rule to violate. A dog that injures a person while running at large exposes the owner to strict civil liability under TCA 44-8-413 regardless of breed. A second unprovoked attack, or a single attack causing serious bodily injury or death, may result in criminal charges under TCA 39-17-1363 ('Offense of owning, possessing, or having custody or control of a potentially vicious dog or a vicious dog') - up to Class A misdemeanor or felony in aggravated cases. Williamson County Animal Control (615-790-5590) investigates dangerous-dog complaints in Franklin.

Franklin is more permissive than most cities when it comes to breed restrictions. That said, there are still limits.

Dog Leash Laws

Title 10 of the Franklin Municipal Code (Animal Control) prohibits dogs from running at large within the corporate city limits. State law reinforces this: Tennessee Code Annotated Section 44-8-408 (Dogs not allowed at large) makes it an offense for a dog owner to allow the dog to run at large in a populated area or upon another person's property. Animal control services for Franklin are provided by Williamson County Animal Control (615-790-5590), operating out of the Williamson County Animal Center at 1006 Grigsby Hayes Court in Franklin.

Key details: Governing Code: Franklin Municipal Code Title 10; TCA 44-8-408; TCA 44-8-413. Running At Large: Prohibited - Class C misdemeanor on first offense (TCA 44-8-408). Strict Civil Liability: Owner liable for injury by dog at large (TCA 44-8-413). Rabies Vaccination: Required for all dogs 3+ months (TCA 68-8-108). Animal Control Provider: Williamson County Animal Control - 615-790-5590.

Allowing a dog to run at large within Franklin violates Title 10 of the Franklin Municipal Code and TCA 44-8-408 (Class C misdemeanor on first offense). Failure to vaccinate a dog 3 months or older against rabies violates TCA 68-8-108. The owner of a dog that injures a person while running at large is also subject to strict civil liability under TCA 44-8-413, regardless of any prior knowledge of viciousness. Enforcement and impoundment is handled by Williamson County Animal Control (615-790-5590); impounded animals are held at the Williamson County Animal Center, 1006 Grigsby Hayes Court, Franklin.

Chickens & Livestock

The City of Franklin Municipal Code Title 10 (Animal Control), as restated by Ordinance 2011-16, makes it unlawful for any person owning chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, or other domestic fowl, cattle, or livestock to knowingly or negligently permit them to run at large in any street, alley, or unenclosed lot within the corporate limits. Backyard hens are allowed on residential properties subject to the City of Franklin Zoning Ordinance and the City's animal-husbandry guidance, which prohibits roosters and requires coops to be maintained to prevent nuisances. Outside city limits in unincorporated Williamson County (except the Grassland Village (GV), Leiper's Fork Village (LFV), and Triune Village (TV) overlay districts), poultry and broader agricultural use is generally permitted under the Williamson County Zoning Ordinance, subject to HOA and deed restrictions.

Key details: Governing Code: Franklin Municipal Code Title 10 (Animal Control); Ord. 2011-16. Run At Large: Prohibited - fowl/livestock cannot be in street, alley, or unenclosed lot. Backyard Hens: Allowed on residential lots subject to zoning/nuisance rules. Roosters: Not permitted inside city limits. Numeric Hen Cap: No specific numeric cap in city code.

Allowing chickens, fowl, or livestock to run at large in any street, alley, or unenclosed lot within Franklin's corporate limits is a violation of Title 10 of the Franklin Municipal Code (Ordinance 2011-16) and may be cited by the City's Building and Neighborhood Services Department and/or Williamson County Animal Control (615-790-5590). Keeping a rooster or maintaining a non-conforming coop in a city residential zoning district is enforceable as both an animal-control violation and a zoning violation, with abatement orders and per-day civil penalties available under Title 1 of the Municipal Code.

Livestock

Title 10 of the Franklin Municipal Code (Animal Control), restated by Ordinance 2011-16, makes it unlawful to allow cattle, horses, mules, sheep, goats, swine, or domestic fowl to run at large in any street, alley, or unenclosed lot in the corporate city limits. Larger livestock (cattle, horses, sheep, goats, swine) is not authorized on standard city residential lots; agricultural-scale livestock keeping is only permitted in the AG (Agricultural) zoning district, which is intended for farming and single-family residential on significant acreage. Outside city limits, the Williamson County Zoning Ordinance generally permits agricultural use except in the Grassland Village (GV), Leiper's Fork Village (LFV), and Triune Village (TV) overlay districts.

Key details: Governing Code: Franklin Municipal Code Title 10 + Franklin Zoning Ordinance. Cattle / Horses / Sheep / Goats / Swine: Only in AG (Agricultural) zoning district inside city. Run At Large: Prohibited in any street, alley, or unenclosed lot (Ord. 2011-16). Backyard Hens: Allowed in residential zones (no roosters). Outside City Limits: Williamson County allows ag use except in GV/LFV/TV overlays.

Allowing cattle, horses, sheep, goats, swine, or fowl to run at large in any street, alley, or unenclosed lot in Franklin's corporate limits is a violation of Title 10 of the Franklin Municipal Code (Ord. 2011-16). Keeping cattle, horses, sheep, goats, or swine on a city residential lot outside the AG zoning district is also a violation of the Franklin Zoning Ordinance, enforceable by Building and Neighborhood Services through stop-work orders, abatement orders, and per-day civil penalties under Title 1 of the Municipal Code. Williamson County Animal Control (615-790-5590) handles field response and impoundment, with impounded animals held at the Williamson County Animal Center.

Compared to other cities, Franklin takes a harder line on livestock. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Beekeeping

The City of Franklin Municipal Code does not contain a beekeeping-specific ordinance. Beekeeping in Franklin is governed by the Tennessee Apiary Act of 1995 (TCA 44-15-101 through 44-15-122), administered by the State Apiarist within the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA). All beekeepers in Tennessee must register their apiaries with TDA at no charge, and re-register every three (3) years. Hives are inspected by the State Apiarist for American foulbrood and other diseases. Franklin's broader policy encourages pollinator-friendly practices in line with its Planning & Sustainability Department's pollinator initiatives.

Key details: City Beekeeping Ordinance: None - no hive cap, setback, or city permit. Governing Statute: Tennessee Apiary Act of 1995 - TCA 44-15-101 through 44-15-122. State Authority: Tennessee Department of Agriculture / State Apiarist. Registration: Required (free) - re-register every 3 years. Inspection Authority: TCA 44-15-103 - State Apiarist may inspect any colony.

Failure to register an apiary with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture under the Tennessee Apiary Act of 1995 (TCA 44-15-101 et seq.) is a violation enforceable by the State Apiarist and may result in citations and per-day penalties. Failure to permit a State Apiarist inspection, or movement of diseased bees or used equipment without compliance with TCA 44-15-112, is also enforceable by TDA. Maintaining an apiary that creates a public nuisance (e.g., aggressive bees stinging neighbors, swarming repeatedly onto adjoining property) may additionally be cited by Franklin Code Enforcement under the general nuisance provisions of the Municipal Code.

The rules around beekeeping in Franklin lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

Exotic Pets

The City of Franklin Municipal Code does not authorize keeping wild or exotic animals as personal pets within the corporate limits. Exotic-animal possession is governed at the state level by Tennessee Code Annotated Title 70, Chapter 4, Part 4 (Exotic Animals, TCA 70-4-401 through 70-4-418) and the rules of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) at 1660-01-18, which classify wildlife into Class I (inherently dangerous - prohibited as personal pets), Class II (native wildlife - TWRA permit required), Class III (no permit required), Class IV (white-tailed deer / black bear / wild turkey - only zoos/rehabbers), and Class V (special permit only).

Key details: City Code: Franklin Municipal Code Title 10 - no authorization for exotic pets. State Authority: TWRA - TCA 70-4-401 through 70-4-418; Rules 1660-01-18. Class I (Prohibited): Lions, tigers, bears, primates, hippos, elephants, large crocodilians, etc.. Class II: Native wildlife - TWRA Wildlife Possession Permit required. Class III: Common small mammals/reptiles - no TWRA permit.

Possession of any Class I (inherently dangerous) wildlife species in Franklin is a violation of TCA 70-4-401 et seq. and TWRA Rules 1660-01-18, punishable by criminal penalties (Class C misdemeanor on a first violation, escalating with aggravated facts) and seizure of the animal. Possession of a Class II native wildlife species without a current TWRA Wildlife Possession Permit is also a violation enforceable by TWRA. Keeping any wild or exotic animal in a manner that creates a sanitation, odor, or public-safety nuisance is independently enforceable by Williamson County Animal Control under Franklin Municipal Code Title 10.

This is one of the stricter rules in Franklin's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Wildlife Feeding

The City of Franklin Municipal Code does not include a city-specific wildlife-feeding ordinance, but state-level Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) rules apply citywide. Williamson County is currently inside the TWRA Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Unit / Surveillance Zone for west Middle Tennessee, which triggers a year-round prohibition on feeding deer and a ban on the use of any grain, salt, mineral, or other attractant within the county for the purpose of taking, congregating, or attracting wildlife. Bird feeders within the curtilage of the residence (immediate yard) remain permissible.

Key details: City Wildlife-Feeding Ordinance: None - TWRA state rules apply. CWD Status: Williamson County in TWRA CWD Unit / Surveillance Zone. Deer Feeding: PROHIBITED year-round in CWD zone (TCA 70-4-116 + TWRA Proclamation). Bird Feeders: Allowed if within residential curtilage and elevated 4+ ft. Bear Feeding: Prohibited statewide (TWRA rule + TCA 70-4-116).

Feeding deer in Williamson County (outside the limited exceptions for enclosed buildings, agricultural crops, and elevated bird feeders within the residential curtilage) violates the TWRA CWD Unit feeding prohibition under TCA 70-4-116 and the TWRA CWD Proclamation. Penalties for TWRA feeding-rule violations are typically a Class C misdemeanor with up to $50 fine and 30 days in jail per offense, plus loss of hunting privileges. Feeding bears anywhere in Tennessee is also a TWRA violation. Sanitation nuisances caused by wildlife attractants on residential property may additionally be cited by Williamson County Animal Control or Franklin Code Enforcement under the Municipal Code.

The Bottom Line

Franklin's animal ordinances rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Franklin is broadly strict or permissive.

These rules come from Franklin's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.