Backyard chickens in Burleson, Texas

Yes, Burleson allows residents to keep a small number of hens in residential zones, but the rules are stricter than in many neighboring cities. Under Burleson's Code of Ordinances § 6-8(d), "Exceptions for keeping of certain fowl," the city defines the permitted "fowl" narrowly: for the purposes of this subsection, fowl shall be limited to female chickens, hens. This subsection does not apply if the land upon which the animals are maintained is zoned "A—agricultural."

Within that exception, a person commits an offense if they knowingly keep more than four hens (1) Keeps or maintains more than four ... fowl, so the practical cap in a standard residential lot is 4 hens. Roosters are separately and specifically prohibited under § 6-8(d)(7) of the code, which independent chicken-law trackers confirm: Hen Limit: Up to 4 hens | Roosters: Not allowed ... Source: burlesontx.com.

Coops/runs for the permitted hens must sit at least 25 feet from any occupied building: Keeps or maintains fowl in an adequate fowl shelter, including the fenced run, at a distance closer than 25 feet of an "occupied building" as defined in subsection 6-8(c); ... Fails to keep or maintain fowl within a fowl shelter, pen, coop or hutch as defined in section 6-1. Notably, a fenced yard shall not qualify as a pen, coop or hutch. This 25-foot hen exception is tighter than the city's general 100-foot livestock/fowl nuisance setback that otherwise applies to other fowl and livestock; some secondary sources still describe the older, broader rule: In the city of Burleson, chickens are allowed as long as they are kept in an enclosure at least 100 feet from an occupied building. The current codified hen-specific exception (25 ft) controls for backyard hens.

Selling eggs is not allowed — Sells eggs for profit. Any eggs produced by fowl permitted under this section shall be for personal use only. Keeping fowl in a manner that creates odors, fly breeding, or other nuisance conditions is also an offense.

No separate chicken permit or fee is described in the ordinance for keeping up to 4 hens that meet all these conditions; however, anyone who cannot fully meet the requirements (e.g., wants more than 4 hens, a closer setback, or a rooster) may file a written variance request with the city manager, triggering a public hearing and City Council vote (§ 6-8(e)).

Burleson sits in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area of North Central Texas, with hot, humid summers (frequently 95-100°F+) and generally mild, short winters with occasional hard freezes. Coops should prioritize shade, cross-ventilation, and ample fresh water in summer, along with simple wind-blocking and supplemental heat-free insulation for the occasional winter cold snap.

Burleson's mix of suburban development, greenbelts, and nearby rural/ranch land supports a healthy population of raccoons, opossums, and snakes that target coops at night, as well as red-tailed hawks and other raptors that hunt free-ranging hens by day. Coyotes and foxes are also regularly reported in and around North Texas suburbs, especially near creeks and undeveloped lots, so secure, buried-wire fencing and a fully enclosed run are strongly recommended in addition to the city's own coop and setback requirements.