Dallas Texas Chicken Ordinance
NOTE: This information was submitted by a member of our chicken forum. Please make sure to double check that this information is accurate before you proceed with raising chickens. Learn more about local chicken laws and ordinances.
| Are Chickens Allowed in this location | Yes |
| Max Chickens Allowed | No limit found. Rooster must be confined at all times! |
| Roosters Allowed | NO!... for almost everyone... This is a direct quote from Dallas animal services FAQ: "Can I have chickens in my backyard? Yes. You may have chickens, but not roosters. Roosters are not allowed inside Dallas city limits." The following are a defense to owning a rooster: (c) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (b) that the rooster is: (1) kept on premises upon which animal production is permitted under Section 51A-4.201 of the Dallas Development Code; (2) being exhibited at the State Fair of Texas or at a special event conducted with written permission of the city; (3) owned by a governmental entity or participating in a health, research, educational, or similar program conducted by a governmental entity; (4) owned by a medical, educational, or research institution operating in compliance with all city ordinances and state and federal laws; or (5) being held for slaughter in a slaughterhouse or meat packing plant operating in compliance with all city ordinances and state and federal laws. If you do not meet one of these five.... the answer is NO... if you are confused, the answer is probably no. Many places in the city have lax enforcement that is basically based on who your neighbors are. |
| Permit Required | No |
| Coop Restrictions | If you meet one of the five defenses for keeping roosters in section (c) above, you must also meet these requirements for containment. (d) A person who owns a live rooster commits an offense if he: (1) fails to confine the rooster at all times within an enclosure that is of sufficient height and strength to retain the rooster; (2) confines the rooster in an enclosure that is wholly or partially located less than 20 feet from any adjacent property line; (3) maintains the enclosure in which the rooster is confined in a manner that creates offensive odors, fly breeding, or any other nuisance or condition that is injurious to the public health, safety, or welfare; or (4) allows the rooster to violate the noise restrictions of Section 7-7.4 of this chapter. (e) For the purpose of calculating the distance requirement of Subsection (d)(2) of this section, the width of alleys, street rights-of-way, and other public rights-of-way will be used. The distance between a rooster enclosure and an adjacent property line must be measured in a straight line, without regard to intervening structures or objects, from the nearest exterior wall of the enclosure to the nearest property line. (Ord. 26024) |
| City/Organization Contact name | Dallas Animal Services: 214-670-8246 |
| Additional Information | http://www.dallasanimalservices.org/city_code.html look at "sec. 7-7.3 " for roosters Hens are not addressed directly, so are by default allowed with no limit... but nuisance laws still apply, so don't get so many as to create a nuisance whether smell or runoff. |
| Link for more Information | http://www.dallasanimalservices.org/CityCode_Chapter7.html |
| Information Last Updated | 2010-05-02 00:05:04 |
NOTE: This information was submitted by a member of our chicken forum. Please make sure to double check that this information is accurate before you proceed with raising chickens. Learn more about local chicken laws and ordinances.
