Can I keep chickens in Plano, TX?
Yes — Plano allows backyard chickens with a required permit/registration. Roosters are prohibited, and coops must be at least 20 ft from neighboring lines/homes. (Plano Code Sec. 4-185 (Keeping of backyard hens); Sec. 4-81 (permit / animal cap); Sec. 4-29 (enclosure setbacks), verified July 2026)
The full rules
| Chickens allowed | Yes |
|---|---|
| Roosters | Prohibited |
| Permit required | Yes ($15) |
| Coop setback | 20 ft |
| Coop rules | Secure housing behind a 6-ft fence; 10+ inches roosting space per hen; 1 nesting box per 4 hens; enclosures with under 5 animals 20 ft from adjacent buildings, 5+ animals 50 ft. |
| Code section | Plano Code Sec. 4-185 (Keeping of backyard hens); Sec. 4-81 (permit / animal cap); Sec. 4-29 (enclosure setbacks) |
Backyard hens are permitted with a city permit; roosters and all other fowl are prohibited. There is no hen-specific numeric cap. Instead a property may harbor no more than 10 adult animals total (of which no more than 4 may be intact dogs or cats), so hens count against a shared multi-species cap. Enclosures housing fewer than 5 animals need a 20-foot setback from adjacent buildings; 5 or more animals need 50 feet.
Common questions
Can I keep chickens in Plano?
Yes — chickens are allowed in Plano (Plano Code Sec. 4-185 (Keeping of backyard hens); Sec. 4-81 (permit / animal cap); Sec. 4-29 (enclosure setbacks)).
How many chickens can I keep in Plano?
It depends on your lot. No hen-specific cap. Sec. 4-81 caps a property at 10 adult animals total including dogs and cats, so the number of hens depends on other pets kept. Enclosure setback is 20 ft for fewer than 5 animals, 50 ft for 5 or more. Permit required; roosters prohibited..
Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Plano?
Yes — Plano requires a permit or registration before keeping chickens (fee: $15).
Are roosters allowed in Plano?
No — roosters are prohibited in Plano.
How far must a chicken coop be from the property line in Plano?
20 feet minimum. Secure housing behind a 6-ft fence; 10+ inches roosting space per hen; 1 nesting box per 4 hens; enclosures with under 5 animals 20 ft from adjacent buildings, 5+ animals 50 ft.
What law covers backyard chickens in Plano?
Plano Code Sec. 4-185 (Keeping of backyard hens); Sec. 4-81 (permit / animal cap); Sec. 4-29 (enclosure setbacks). Read the official text at the source linked on this page.
The actual law
Plano Code Sec. 4-185 (Keeping of backyard hens); Sec. 4-81 (permit / animal cap); Sec. 4-29 (enclosure setbacks) — read the official code
“An individual property with one legal dwelling unit shall harbor no more than ten (10) adult animals, no more than four (4) of which may be intact dogs and cats. The keeping of roosters or any other fowl is prohibited; only chicken hens shall be permitted.” source
“shall harbor no more than ten (10) adult animals, no more than four (4) of which may be intact dogs and cats” source
“A person desiring to keep poultry pursuant to this section must first apply for a backyard hen permit from the department.” source
“Enclosures housing fewer than five (5) animals must be at least twenty (20) feet from any adjacent building. Enclosures housing five (5) or more animals must be at least fifty (50) feet.” source
Last verified July 26, 2026. Always confirm with your municipality — HOA rules can be stricter than city code. How we verify →
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