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Backyard Chickens

Austin, TX · City rule · Reviewed 2026-09-28

Yes, you may keep chickens in Austin if you follow the city's enclosure, distance, and property-specific requirements.

Official source: Austin Ordinance 20221013-030Source checked 2026-09-26

More about this rule

The rule in plain language

Austin requires chickens to be kept in a secure enclosure with four sides and an overhead cover. The enclosure must be at least 30 feet from an adjacent residence or business, excluding the owner’s or handler’s own residence or business, and at least 50 feet away if the birds or enclosure create a health hazard.

What to keep in mind

The enclosure must also comply with Austin City Code Section 3-2-11 and applicable fence-height restrictions. These requirements do not establish that every property qualifies, so check the complete current city rules and property-specific restrictions before keeping chickens or building an enclosure.

Official source

Austin Ordinance 20221013-030

City rule: City of Austin · sha256-e05c3be55edae813 · Source checked 2026-09-26 · Reviewed 2026-09-28

Civic education, not legal advice. Rules can change.

Comments

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