Backyard Chickens in McAllen, Texas

Can you keep chickens in McAllen?

Thinking about raising backyard chickens in McAllen, Texas? The city permits small flocks of poultry and fowl under its animal-control code, with a per-acre bird limit and rules aimed at keeping coops sanitary and quiet. Here's what Peggy's Happy Chickens found in the actual McAllen ordinance.

Yes – with conditions

Yes, keeping chickens and other fowl is allowed in McAllen, Texas, but it is technically framed as a general prohibition with an exception. Under the City of McAllen Code of Ordinances, Chapter 14, Article I, § 14-5(a), it is unlawful to keep poultry or fowl on any lot within the city except that no more than six such birds per acre are allowed, provided the requirements of § 14-5 and § 14-8 (running at large) are met.

The ordinance does not set a separate numeric limit for roosters specifically, but § 14-5(c) makes it unlawful to keep any poultry or fowl whose loud, frequent, or habitual crowing or other noise disturbs the peace of a person of ordinary sensitivities. In practice this nuisance/noise provision is used to prohibit roosters, since a police-chief nuisance finding and possible municipal court order to remove or impound the bird can follow a crowing complaint.

There is no permit application or fee described in the ordinance for keeping a small backyard flock — the birds simply must comply with the numeric limit, sanitary requirements, and noise/nuisance rules.

Read the ordinance ↗

The rules at a glance

Hens in city limits: Allowed
How many hens: 6
Roosters: conditional
Permit required: No
Permit cost: Not specified
Setback from property line: Not specified

Peggy knows McAllen

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

Under § 14-5(a), no more than six poultry or fowl are allowed per acre on any lot or parcel of land in the city.

Sanitary requirements (§ 14-5(b)): Every place used for feeding, harboring, or keeping poultry or fowl must be maintained in a sanitary manner at all times and kept free of offensive odors, flies, rodents, and other pests.
Noise/nuisance rule (§ 14-5(c)): It is unlawful to keep poultry or fowl whose loud, frequent, or habitual crowing or other noise disturbs the peace of a person of ordinary sensitivities. If the police chief finds a nuisance exists, the owner is notified in writing and may request a municipal court hearing within five days; the court can order removal of the birds from the city or impoundment for destruction, and failure to obey is a Class C misdemeanor.
Inspection (§ 14-7): Owners must permit the chief of police to access areas where poultry/fowl are kept for inspection during reasonable times (a search warrant can be obtained if entry is refused).
Agricultural exemption (§ 14-12): The six-bird-per-acre and sanitary requirements of § 14-5 do not apply to land zoned agricultural-open space, provided that land is more than 300 feet from any residence or residentially zoned district, and provided the use does not otherwise create a nuisance.
Impoundment (§ 14-9): Poultry or fowl found in violation of the chapter may be seized and delivered to the Palm Valley Animal Center.
Sale restrictions (§ 14-15): It is unlawful to sell poultry or fowl on public roadways, unimproved lots, parking lots, or at flea markets/farmers markets, except for the sale of an owner's own pet's offspring on the premises where that pet resides.

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in McAllen

🌡️ Climate

USDA Hardiness Zone 10a

McAllen sits in the Rio Grande Valley with a hot, semi-arid to subtropical climate. Winters are very mild while summers are long, hot, and humid, so heat stress is a bigger day-to-day risk to flocks than cold. Provide ample shade, ventilation, and cool water year-round, and choose heat-tolerant breeds.

🦝 Who's after your hens

RaccoonHawkFoxCoyoteSnakeOpossumSkunk

Backyard flocks in the Rio Grande Valley/South Texas region commonly face raccoons, hawks, snakes (including rat snakes that target eggs and chicks), opossums, skunks, coyotes, and foxes. Secure coops with raccoon-proof latches, 1/2-inch hardware cloth (not standard chicken wire), and covered runs to deter aerial predators like hawks are strongly recommended.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Rhode Island Red, Golden Comet, Leghorn, Easter Egger, Australorp

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

Questions people ask about McAllen

▸How many chickens can I legally keep in McAllen?

Up to six poultry or fowl per acre are allowed on any lot or parcel of land in the city, per § 14-5(a) of the McAllen Code of Ordinances.

▸Are roosters allowed in McAllen?

The ordinance doesn't ban roosters by name, but § 14-5(c) makes it unlawful to keep any poultry or fowl whose loud, frequent, or habitual crowing disturbs the peace of a person of ordinary sensitivities, which can lead to a nuisance finding and removal order against a crowing rooster.

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

The ordinance does not describe a permit application or fee for keeping a small residential flock within the six-birds-per-acre limit; owners must simply comply with the sanitary and nuisance provisions of § 14-5.

▸What happens if my neighbors complain about my chickens?

If the chief of police finds a noise nuisance under § 14-5(c), the bird's owner is notified in writing and has five days to request a municipal court hearing; the court can then order the birds removed from the city or impounded, and disobeying that order is a Class C misdemeanor.

▸Are there different rules for agricultural land in McAllen?

Yes. Under § 14-12, land zoned agricultural-open space is exempt from the § 14-5 bird-density and sanitary requirements, but only if the property is more than 300 feet from any residence or residentially zoned district and the use doesn't otherwise create a nuisance.

City rules change, and this page is a summary rather than legal advice. Please confirm with McAllen or your HOA before you order – and call us on (559) 321-7271 if you'd like a hand. Last checked September 13, 2026.