Tennessee Right to Farm Act Livestock Protections

Under T.C.A. Title 43, Chapter 26, Tennessee broadly protects bona fide agricultural operations that have existed for at least one year from being declared nuisances by local governments. Cities may still regulate livestock and chickens within municipal limits via zoning, but they cannot apply new ordinances to terminate previously lawful farm activities. Nashville, Knoxville, and Memphis each set their own backyard chicken caps and rooster rules. State law does not impose a uniform poultry limit on residential parcels.

Local nuisance suits or ordinances against protected farms are barred; violators of municipal residential limits face local citations.