Animal Ordinances in Hendersonville, TN (2026)
9 verified animal ordinances for Hendersonville, Tennessee, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Hendersonville limits horses, ponies, and goats to the RR, ER, and SR-1 zones at one animal per 30,000 square feet, and restricts all other livestock to RR/ER parcels of at least 10 acres.
Hendersonville Backyard Livestock Rules
Significant RestrictionsHendersonville Zoning Ordinance § 10.4.18(4) and (8), Ord. 2025-19 (rev. 4 Feb 2026)
4. Horses, ponies, goats, and similar large animals are permitted in RR, ER, and SR-1 zones under the following conditions: A. One per 30,000 square feet of lot area... C. Shall be located at least 50 feet from all property lines except where adjacent to other such animals... 8. Livestock and all other animal keeping and raising is restricted to RR and ER zones on parcels of land containing a m...
Dog Leash Laws
It's unlawful for a Hendersonville owner to let a dog or cat run off-leash and off their own property; any pet found at large may be seized and impounded under Municipal Code § 10-203.
Hendersonville Pets Running at Large
Some RestrictionsHendersonville Municipal Code §§ 10-201, 10-203
"Pet." All members of the dog and cat families. ... "At large." A pet is considered to be running "At Large" when the pet is off of the premises of the owner and not on a leash. ... It shall be unlawful for any owner or person harboring a pet to allow the animal to run at large. Any pet found running at large may be seized and impounded by any person or officer.
Beekeeping
Hendersonville permits backyard beehives in its lowest-density residential zones, capped by lot area and set back 20 feet from property lines.
Hendersonville Backyard Beekeeping Rules
Some RestrictionsHendersonville Zoning Ordinance § 10.4.18, item 6 (Ord. 2025-19, rev. Feb. 4, 2026)
Beekeeping of one or more beehive colonies is allowed as a residential accessory use in RR, ER, and SR-1 zones under the following conditions: 1. One beehive colony per 5,000 square feet of lot area. 2. Conformance with State law... 3. Must be located in the rear lot area and no closer than 20 feet to any property line. 4. Must have a fresh water and mineral water source on site for the colony.
Exotic Pets
Hendersonville allows exotic animals as a residential accessory pet in most zones, but only at low density and only if confined at all times.
Hendersonville Exotic Pet Rules
Some RestrictionsHendersonville Zoning Ordinance § 10.4.18, item 5 (Ord. 2025-19, rev. Feb. 4, 2026)
Exotic animals are allowed as a residential accessory use in RR, ER, SR-1, SR-2, SR-3 and DN zones under the following conditions: A. One per 20,000 square feet of lot area. B. The animals are confined at all times. 6. Beekeeping of one or more beehive colonies is allowed as a residential accessory use in RR, ER, and SR-1 zones under the following conditions: 180 | P a g e City of Hendersonv...
Wildlife Feeding
Hendersonville bans placing grain, salt licks, fruit, nuts, or hay where it may intentionally feed deer, with exceptions for enclosed bird feeders, erosion-control materials, and permitted trapping.
Hendersonville Deer Feeding Ban
Significant RestrictionsHendersonville Municipal Code § 10-602
No person shall place or permit to be placed on the ground or within five (5) feet above the ground surface any grain, fodder, salt or mineral licks, fruit vegetables, nuts, hay, or other edible materials, which may be reasonably expected to intentionally result in deer feeding, unless items are screened or protected in a manner that prevents deer from feeding on them. Living fruit trees and ot...
Pet Limits
Hendersonville caps dogs, cats, and rabbits combined at one animal per 3,000 square feet of lot area in every zoning district, on top of the city's separate Animal Control Ordinance.
Hendersonville Dog and Cat Household Limit
Some RestrictionsHendersonville Zoning Ordinance § 10.4.18(1), Ord. 2025-19 (rev. 4 Feb 2026)
Dogs, cats, and rabbits are allowed as a residential accessory use in all zones under the following conditions: A. One per 3,000 square feet of lot area. B. Subject to Animal Control Ordinance. 2. Chickens, ducks, and similar fowl are allowed as a residential accessory use in RR, ER, SR-1, SR-2, SR-3 and DN zones under the following conditions: A. One per 10,000 square feet of lot area. B. S...
Coyote Management
Hendersonville has no coyote ordinance, but runs a Deer Monitoring and Control Committee that oversees an official cull. USDA-certified sharpshooters remove deer after a herd survey, funded only if the Board approves.
Hendersonville Urban Deer Cull Program
Some RestrictionsHendersonville Municipal Code § 10-503
The City's Public Works Department, with assistance from the City's Police Department and the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency, shall implement a deer control program with USDA-certified deer management personnel to remove deer through sharpshooting techniques designed to maximize safety, humaneness, discretion, and efficiency. Prior to implementation of the cull, there shall be a survey cond...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Hendersonville's Zoning Ordinance defines veterinary clinics as "Animal Hospital," a listed Service Use permitted only in specific residential and commercial districts under the Table 3 and Table 5 use tables, and expressly separate from Kennel.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning in Hendersonville, TN
Some RestrictionsHendersonville Zoning Ordinance § 16.3 ("Animal Hospital" definition), Ord. 2025-19, rev. 4 Feb 2026
An establishment for the care and treatment of the diseases and injuries of animals and where animals may be boarded during their convalescence. Includes veterinary clinics. An Animal Hospital shall not include Kennel. ANTENNA SUPPORT STRUCTURE Any building or structure other than a Tower which can be used for location of Telecommunications Facilities. APPLICANT Any person who applies for a p...
Bird Protection
Hendersonville designates its entire corporate limits a Bird Sanctuary under Municipal Code § 10-301, and § 10-302 makes it unlawful to trap, shoot, or molest any bird, wildfowl, or their nests anywhere in the city. Only the city itself, acting through its health authorities and the Chief of Police, may destroy nuisance birds such as congregating starlings, and violators face up to a fifty-dollar fine per offense under § 10-305.
Hendersonville Bird Sanctuary Protection Law
Heavy RestrictionsHendersonville Municipal Code §§ 10-301, 10-302, 10-303, 10-305
10-301. - Designated. The entire area embraced within the corporate limits of the City of Hendersonville, Tennessee is hereby designated as a Bird Sanctuary... 10-302. - Unlawful to trap, shoot or molest birds. It shall be unlawful to trap, shoot or molest in any manner any bird or wildfowl or to rob bird nests or wildfowl nests... 10-303. - Birds creating nuisance. If starlings or similar bird...
Looking for Sumner County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Hendersonville city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Sumner County →