Hendersonville's Animal Ordinances: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles animal ordinances a little differently. In Hendersonville, Tennessee, there are 7 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Breed Restrictions

The City of Hendersonville does not have a breed-specific dog ban. Pit bulls, Rottweilers, and other commonly-restricted breeds are legal to own in Hendersonville. Tennessee has no statewide preemption of breed-specific legislation - cities and counties retain home-rule authority under Title 6 of the TCA to enact local BSL, and roughly 35-40 Tennessee municipalities have done so - but Hendersonville and Sumner County have chosen not to. Dangerous-dog issues are handled on an individual, conduct-based basis under Title 10 of the Hendersonville 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).

Key details: Hendersonville BSL: None - no breed-specific ban or permit. Sumner County BSL: None. State Preemption: None - TN cities/counties may enact local BSL under home rule. Nearby Middle-TN Cities WITH BSL: Mt. Juliet, Lafayette, Greenbrier, Springfield, Watertown. Dangerous Dog Standard: Conduct-based (TCA 39-17-1363).

Hendersonville 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. Hendersonville Animal Control (615-264-5355) investigates dangerous-dog complaints inside the city.

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

Livestock

Title 10 of the Hendersonville Municipal Code (Animal Control) follows the standard MTAS Tennessee municipal pattern: it is 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 and is functionally limited to the largest RR (Residential Rural) tracts inside Hendersonville. Outside the city, the Sumner County Zoning Resolution administered by the Sumner County Planning Department generally permits agricultural use including livestock in most rural districts. Field enforcement is performed by Hendersonville Animal Control (615-264-5355) inside the city and by Sumner County Animal Control (Gallatin) in unincorporated areas.

Key details: Governing Code: Hendersonville Municipal Code Title 10 + Hendersonville Zoning Ordinance. Cattle / Horses / Sheep / Goats / Swine: Only in RR (Residential Rural) zoning district inside city. Equestrian: Limited use also permitted in ER (Estate Residential) on appropriate acreage. Run At Large: Prohibited in any street, alley, or unenclosed lot. Backyard Hens: Allowed in RR/ER/SR-1/SR-2 - no roosters, 1 per 3,000 sq ft, 15 ft setback.

Allowing cattle, horses, sheep, goats, swine, or fowl to run at large in any street, alley, or unenclosed lot in Hendersonville's corporate limits is a violation of Title 10 of the Hendersonville Municipal Code. Keeping cattle, horses, sheep, goats, or swine on a city residential lot outside the RR (or limited ER) zoning district is also a violation of the Hendersonville Zoning Ordinance, enforceable by the Building & Codes Department through stop-work orders, abatement orders, and per-day civil penalties under Title 1 of the Municipal Code. Hendersonville Animal Control (615-264-5355) handles field response and impoundment inside city limits.

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

Chickens & Livestock

The City of Hendersonville Municipal Code Title 10 (Animal Control) governs running-at-large of poultry and livestock inside the corporate limits. Backyard hens are allowed as a residential accessory use in RR (Residential Rural), ER (Residential Estate), SR-1 (Single-Family Residential 1), and SR-2 (Single-Family Residential 2) zoning districts under the Hendersonville Zoning Ordinance, with a typical density limit of one (1) hen per 3,000 square feet of lot area and coops set back at least fifteen (15) feet from any property line. Roosters are not permitted in residential zones because of the noise nuisance. The Hendersonville Building & Codes Department administers chicken-related permits and coop reviews.

Key details: Governing Code: Hendersonville Municipal Code Title 10 + Hendersonville Zoning Ordinance. Hens Allowed In: RR, ER, SR-1, SR-2 residential zoning districts. Density Cap: Approx. 1 hen per 3,000 sq ft of lot area. Coop Setback: Minimum 15 ft from any property line. Roosters: Not permitted in residential zones (noise nuisance).

Allowing chickens, fowl, or livestock to run at large in any street, alley, or unenclosed lot within Hendersonville violates Title 10 of the Hendersonville Municipal Code and may be cited by Hendersonville Animal Control (615-264-5355). Keeping a rooster in a residential district, exceeding the one-hen-per-3,000-square-foot density, locating a coop closer than 15 feet to a property line, or operating without a Building & Codes permit are enforceable as zoning violations by the Hendersonville Building & Codes Department, with abatement orders and per-day civil penalties available under Title 1 of the Municipal Code.

Beekeeping

The City of Hendersonville Municipal Code does not contain a beekeeping-specific ordinance. Beekeeping in Hendersonville 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 regulated diseases. The Sumner County Beekeepers Association is the local Tennessee Beekeepers Association affiliate and offers a beginner short course for new Hendersonville-area beekeepers.

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 Hendersonville Code Enforcement under the general nuisance provisions of the Municipal Code.

Hendersonville is more permissive than most cities when it comes to beekeeping. That said, there are still limits.

Wildlife Feeding

The City of Hendersonville Municipal Code does not include a city-specific wildlife-feeding ordinance, and state-level Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) rules govern. Sumner County is NOT currently in the TWRA CWD Management Zone (which is limited to the 22 West Tennessee counties: Benton, Carroll, Chester, Crockett, Decatur, Dyer, Fayette, Gibson, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Henry, Lake, Lauderdale, Lewis, Madison, McNairy, Obion, Shelby, Tipton, Wayne, and Weakley). However, CWD was detected in nearby Williamson County in December 2025, and the statewide ban on bear-feeding (TCA 70-4-116) and on placing food to attract or congregate wildlife for the purpose of hunting still applies in Sumner County.

Key details: City Wildlife-Feeding Ordinance: None - TWRA state rules apply. CWD Management Zone Status: Sumner County is NOT in the CWD Zone (limited to 22 West TN counties). Residential Deer Feeding: Allowed in Sumner County - subject to TWRA baiting rules during hunting. Hunting Over Bait: Prohibited statewide under TWRA hunting regulations. Bear Feeding: Prohibited statewide (TCA 70-4-116).

Feeding bears anywhere in Tennessee, including Sumner County, is a TWRA violation under TCA 70-4-116. Hunting deer over bait anywhere in Tennessee violates TWRA hunting regulations. Sumner County is not currently a CWD-zone county, so the year-round residential deer-feeding ban does NOT apply (but residents should monitor the TWRA CWD map for status changes after the December 2025 CWD detection in adjacent Williamson and Dickson counties). Sanitation nuisances caused by wildlife attractants on residential property may additionally be cited by Hendersonville Animal Control or Hendersonville Code Enforcement under the Municipal Code.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Hendersonville gives residents more flexibility on wildlife feeding.

Dog Leash Laws

Title 10 of the Hendersonville 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 a Class C misdemeanor (on first offense) for a dog owner to allow the dog to run at large in a place where the public commonly gathers or to enter another person's property uninvited. Field enforcement and impoundment are handled by Hendersonville Animal Control at 1 Executive Park Drive (615-264-5355).

Key details: Governing Code: Hendersonville 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). City Animal Control: Hendersonville Animal Control - 615-264-5355.

Allowing a dog to run at large within Hendersonville violates Title 10 of the Hendersonville 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. Field enforcement, impoundment, and citations within Hendersonville city limits are handled by Hendersonville Animal Control (615-264-5355). Sumner County Animal Control in Gallatin handles the unincorporated balance of the county.

Exotic Pets

The City of Hendersonville 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: Hendersonville 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 Hendersonville 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 Hendersonville Animal Control under Hendersonville Municipal Code Title 10.

Compared to other cities, Hendersonville takes a harder line on exotic pets. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, Hendersonville gives residents more room on animal ordinances. 3 of the 7 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.

This guide is based on Hendersonville's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.