Katy vs Stafford
How do chickens & livestock rules compare between Katy, TX and Stafford, TX?
Stafford has fewer restrictions than Katy.
Katy, TX
Fort Bend County
Katy prohibits keeping chickens, fowl, or livestock on tracts smaller than one acre, caps the number per acre, and bans swine within city limits except for limited FFA or 4-H exemptions.
View full Katy rules →Stafford, TX
Fort Bend County
Stafford regulates the keeping of livestock and fowl within city limits under Chapter 10 of the Code of Ordinances, requiring a permit from the city health officer for enclosures and imposing sanitation and setback conditions on residents.
View full Stafford rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Katy | Stafford |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum lot | One acre | - |
| Chicken limit | 25 per acre | - |
| Swine | Prohibited citywide | - |
| Use | Personal noncommercial only | - |
| Impound fee | $25 plus $5/day | - |
| Code chapter | - | Chapter 10, Animals |
| Permit issuer | - | City health officer |
| Enforcement | - | Code Compliance Division |
| Platform | - | Municode Library |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Katy FAQ
Can I keep backyard chickens in Katy?
Only on a tract of at least one acre and capped at 25 chickens or other fowl. Birds must be kept in closed pens and may not wander the premises. Smaller residential lots cannot keep fowl at all.
Are pigs allowed in Katy city limits?
No. Swine are banned within Katy. The only exception is for FFA or 4-H members who obtain signed waivers from all landowners within 100 feet of the proposed pen.
Stafford FAQ
Can I keep backyard chickens in Stafford?
Stafford requires a permit from the city health officer to keep fowl in an enclosure. State law also protects keeping six or fewer hens on single-family residential lots, but HOA deed restrictions may still apply.
Are roosters allowed in Stafford?
Stafford's livestock and fowl permit conditions address noise and nuisance. Roosters often create complaints under noise and sanitation provisions, so check with Code Compliance before acquiring one.
Do I need a permit for goats or pigs?
Yes. Any livestock kept in a stable, pen, shed, or other enclosure within Stafford requires a permit from the city health officer under Chapter 10.
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