Backyard Chickens in Pasadena, Texas

Can you keep chickens in Pasadena?

Thinking about raising backyard hens in Pasadena, Texas? The city's animal ordinance permits residential chicken-keeping with a straightforward 50-foot residence setback and sanitation rules, backed by a Texas state law that guarantees the right to keep at least six hens. Here's what Peggy's Happy Chickens found in the actual code.

Yes – with conditions

Yes, backyard chickens are allowed in Pasadena, Texas. The city's Code of Ordinances, Chapter 6 ("Animals and Fowl"), Article I, does not ban keeping hens on residential property.

Pasadena TX Chicken Ordinance Are Chickens Allowed in this location yes... Permit Required no, unless for commercial purposes Coop Restrictions Sec. 6-8. Keeping of fowl...

The ordinance requires that fowl not be allowed to run at large and that coops/pens be kept at least 50 feet from any residence (Sec. 6-8), and it does not set a specific numeric cap on the number of hens or expressly prohibit roosters. It also does not require a permit unless the fowl-keeping is a commercial enterprise (Sec. 6-10).

Separately, under Texas Agriculture Code § 251.007, no municipality — including Pasadena — may prohibit residents from keeping six or fewer chickens on a single-family residential lot. Texas Agriculture Code § 251.007 (The 6-Hen Guarantee): Cities may not impose a governmental requirement that prohibits the keeping of six or fewer chickens or the operation of a side-yard garden on a single-family residential lot. This state law sets a floor under Pasadena's local rules, meaning residents are guaranteed the right to at least six hens regardless of any local nuance.

Read the ordinance ↗

The rules at a glance

Hens in city limits: Allowed
How many hens: No Set Limit
Roosters: Not Specified
Permit required: No
Permit cost: Not specified
Setback from property line: 50 ft.

Peggy knows Pasadena

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

Pasadena's fowl ordinance (Chapter 6, Article I of the Code of Ordinances, originating from Code 1964 §§ 4-7 through 4-9) contains the following key provisions:

Sec. 6-7 – No running at large: Chickens, ducks, geese, guineas, or other domesticated fowl may not be permitted to run at large within the city; an animal not confined to the owner's premises is considered "at large."
Sec. 6-8 – 50-foot setback: It is unlawful to keep, harbor, or maintain any poultry, fowl, or rabbits within 50 feet of any residence in the city — this is the key coop-placement rule for backyard keepers.
Sec. 6-9 – Sanitation: Coops/enclosures must be scraped and cleaned at least once every 24 hours so no odors are emitted; interiors must be whitewashed at least every 6 months and disinfected on roosts at least monthly, with deep dry litter maintained to discourage pests. Unsanitary conditions can be declared a nuisance and abated by the city, with animals subject to impoundment if the nuisance is not corrected.
Sec. 6-10 – Commercial permit: A permit from the City Council is required only if fowl are kept for commercial purposes (i.e., beyond home consumption) — ordinary backyard/personal flocks for eggs do not need a permit.
Sec. 6-11 – Commercial enclosures: Permitted commercial operations must use elevated, washable enclosures with screened openings and daily disinfecting — this section does not apply to typical backyard hen-keepers.

Note: The ordinance text reviewed does not specify a maximum hen count or expressly address roosters, but Texas Agriculture Code § 251.007 guarantees residents the right to keep at least six chickens regardless of local silence on the topic, and municipalities may still impose reasonable rules such as setbacks or rooster limits under state law.

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Pasadena

🌡️ Climate

Humid Subtropical (USDA Hardiness Zone 9a/9b)

Pasadena, Texas sits in the humid Gulf Coast climate near Houston, with hot, humid summers (often 90s°F with high humidity), mild winters, and heavy seasonal rainfall/occasional flooding. Coops should prioritize ventilation and shade over insulation, and be built on slightly elevated or well-drained ground to handle tropical downpours and occasional tropical-storm remnants.

🦝 Who's after your hens

RaccoonHawkCoyoteOpossumSnake

In the Houston/Harris County area, raccoons and opossums are common nighttime coop raiders, hawks pose a daytime threat to free-ranging birds, coyotes are increasingly seen in suburban Harris County, and rat snakes frequently target eggs and chicks. Secure, buried hardware-cloth fencing and a fully enclosed run are strongly recommended given the mix of urban and wildlife-corridor predators in the area.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Easter Egger, Rhode Island Red, Australorp, Leghorn, Orpington, Plymouth Rock

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

Questions people ask about Pasadena

▸Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Pasadena, TX?

No. Under Sec. 6-10 of the city code, a permit is only required if you keep fowl for commercial purposes; ordinary backyard flocks kept for personal egg consumption do not need one.

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

Sec. 6-8 makes it unlawful to keep poultry or fowl within 50 feet of any residence in the city, so coops and runs should be placed accordingly.

▸Is there a maximum number of hens I can keep?

The Pasadena ordinance itself does not state a specific numeric cap. However, Texas Agriculture Code § 251.007 guarantees residents statewide the right to keep at least six chickens on a single-family lot regardless of local silence on the issue.

▸Are roosters allowed in Pasadena?

The fowl ordinance text does not specifically address roosters one way or the other, so this is best confirmed directly with Pasadena Animal Control before adding a rooster to your flock.

▸What sanitation rules apply to my coop?

Per Sec. 6-9, coops must be cleaned at least once every 24 hours to prevent odors, interiors whitewashed every six months, roosts disinfected monthly, and deep dry litter maintained to discourage pests — failure to do so can be declared a nuisance subject to city abatement.

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