Backyard Chickens in Longview, Texas

Can you keep chickens in Longview?

Thinking about raising backyard chickens in Longview, Texas? The Piney Woods city allows hens and roosters alike within city limits — no permit, no numeric flock cap — but there's one big rule to plan around: keeping your coop at least 100 feet from every neighboring property line, including the street.

Yes – with conditions

Yes. The City of Longview permits residents to keep chickens, turkeys, geese, and other poultry within city limits, provided the birds are confined in a proper enclosure at all times (§ 13-28, Longview Code of Ordinances). The city's Animal Control department confirms that chickens, roosters, and other fowl may be legally kept as long as they are confined at all times and the enclosure is at least 100 feet from the nearest property line, which includes the street.

Read the ordinance ↗

The rules at a glance

Hens in city limits: Allowed
How many hens: No Set Limit
Roosters: Yes
Permit required: No
Permit cost: Not specified
Setback from property line: 100 ft.

Peggy knows Longview

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

Under § 13-28 of the Longview Code of Ordinances, anyone keeping chickens, turkeys, geese, or other poultry must keep them in an enclosure on their own premises at all times. The ordinance defines an 'enclosure' as a house or building, or in the case of a fence, structure, or pen, one that has secure sides, a secure top, and a secure bottom, and that provides protection from the weather. No such enclosure may be located within 100 feet of any adjoining property, other than the building or dwelling occupied by the animals' owner — a distance the city clarifies includes the street right-of-way. Birds that create excessive noise (crowing roosters, etc.) may also be cited as a public nuisance under separate nuisance provisions.

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Longview

🌡️ Climate

USDA Hardiness Zone 8b

Longview sits in the humid subtropical climate of East Texas (USDA Zone 8b, 15°F to 20°F minimum), with hot, humid summers and mild, generally short winters. Coops should prioritize ventilation and shade to help hens cope with long, sweltering summer stretches, while insulation needs are minimal in winter.

🦝 Who's after your hens

RaccoonHawkFoxCoyoteSnakeOpossum

East Texas backyards near wooded lots and creek bottoms attract raccoons, opossums, and snakes seeking eggs, along with hawks patrolling from above and foxes or coyotes on the prowl at dusk and dawn. A fully enclosed run with a secure top and buried or apron-style hardware cloth around the base will help meet the city's 'secure sides, top, and bottom' requirement while deterring digging and climbing predators.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Heat-tolerant, dual-purpose breeds do best in Longview's hot, humid summers — consider Buff Orpington, Rhode Island Red, Australorp, Easter Egger, and Leghorn.

Our package comes with two Rhode Island Reds – hardy in heat and cold, and friendly with kids.

Questions people ask about Longview

▸Are backyard chickens legal in Longview, TX?

Yes. Longview's municipal code allows residents to keep chickens and other poultry as long as the birds are confined in a secure enclosure at all times (§ 13-28).

▸How many hens can I keep in Longview?

The ordinance does not set a numeric cap on the number of hens — instead, it regulates keeping through enclosure and setback requirements.

▸Are roosters allowed in Longview?

Yes. The city's Animal Control FAQ confirms that roosters, along with chickens and other fowl, may be legally kept as long as they are confined at least 100 feet from the nearest property line.

▸Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Longview?

No permit is mentioned in the city ordinance or the Animal Control FAQ for keeping a residential flock of chickens.

▸How far must my coop be from my neighbor's property?

At least 100 feet from any adjoining property line, which the city clarifies includes the street, unless the enclosure is within the owner's own dwelling or building.

City rules change, and this page is a summary rather than legal advice. Please confirm with Longview or your HOA before you order – and call us on (559) 321-7271 if you'd like a hand. Last checked September 21, 2026.