Backyard Chickens in Plano, Texas

Can you keep chickens in Plano?

Thinking about starting a backyard flock in Plano? The city legalized hen-keeping in 2021, but it comes with a formal permit process, strict coop and enclosure specifications, and a firm no-roosters rule. Here's what Peggy's Happy Chickens found in the actual city ordinance.

Yes – with conditions

Yes. Since a September 27, 2021 City Council vote (7-1), Plano allows residents to keep backyard hens under Chapter 4 (Animal Regulations) of the Plano Code of Ordinances, Section 4-185 ("Keeping of backyard hens"). Only hens are allowed and roosters are prohibited. The ordinance states roosters and other birds, such as peacocks and ducks, would still be prohibited within the city's residential zones. A permit from the Animal Services Department is required before keeping hens. The ordinance states residents must be approved for a permit with the Animal Services Department before owning chickens.

Read the ordinance ↗

The rules at a glance

Hens in city limits: Allowed
How many hens: No Set Limit
Roosters: No
Permit required: Yes
Setback from property line: 20 ft.

Peggy knows Plano

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

The city's ordinance allows for up to 10 adult animals total on a residential property (this shared cap covers dogs, cats, and hens combined, so there is no separate fixed numeric cap on hens alone) — the limit of 10 animals to a residence is still in effect: "If you have five dogs, you can't have more than five chickens."
Coops or enclosures must be located behind a fence at least 6 feet high and meet distance requirements from neighboring buildings (20 feet for enclosures of up to five animals, 50 feet for enclosures of up to 10).
Coops must have at least 4 square feet of space for each hen.
Enclosures must have an attached exercise yard with at least 8 square feet of space per hen.
Coops must have at least 10 inches of roosting space for each hen and one nesting box for every four hens.
Enclosures must protect hens from inclement weather, insect bites and attacks by other animals.
Hens may free-range in a fenced yard only during daylight hours under adult supervision; otherwise they must stay in the secure enclosure.
To get approved, an applicant must show proof of adequate chicken housing, have written authorization from the property owner, complete an educational course on backyard hen care and possibly comply with a home inspection.
Backyard hen owners with a permit can sell eggs if they abide by federal, state and local regulations.
Any restrictions by homeowner associations or contracts take precedence over the ordinance, so an HOA or deed restriction can still forbid hens even where the city allows them.

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Plano

🌡️ Climate

USDA Hardiness Zone 8a; humid subtropical climate

Plano experiences hot, humid summers (frequently 95°F+ with high humidity) and mild winters with occasional freezes. Coops should prioritize shade, cross-ventilation, and cool, fresh water in summer, and wind-blocking with supplemental heat only during rare hard freezes in winter.

🦝 Who's after your hens

RaccoonHawkCoyoteOpossumSkunk

Suburban Plano backyards border greenbelts and creek corridors that support raccoons, opossums, skunks, and coyotes, while red-tailed hawks and other raptors are common overhead predators. The city's required 6-foot fencing, fully enclosed coop/pen combination, and secured feed storage rules are designed in part to reduce nighttime predator access and rodent attraction.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Rhode Island Red, Australorp, Easter Egger, Plymouth Rock, Leghorn (heat-tolerant, hardy breeds well-suited to North Texas summers)

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

Questions people ask about Plano

▸Can I keep roosters in Plano?

No. Only hens are allowed; roosters are prohibited under the city's ordinance, along with other fowl such as ducks and peacocks.

▸Do I need a permit to keep backyard hens in Plano?

Yes. Residents must be approved for a permit with the Animal Services Department before owning chickens, which involves an application, site plan, proof of adequate housing, and typically an educational course and/or home inspection.

▸How many hens can I have?

The ordinance doesn't set a separate numeric hen cap; instead the city's ordinance allows for up to 10 adult animals total per property (hens count toward this shared limit along with dogs, cats, and other pets), and enclosure size/setback rules scale up once you exceed five animals.

▸Can I sell eggs from my backyard hens?

Backyard hen owners with a permit can sell eggs if they abide by federal, state and local regulations.

▸Does my HOA's rules matter if the city allows chickens?

Yes. Any restrictions by homeowner associations or contracts take precedence over the ordinance, so a neighborhood HOA or deed restriction can still legally prohibit hens even though the city permits them.

City rules change, and this page is a summary rather than legal advice. Please confirm with Plano or your HOA before you order – and call us on (559) 321-7271 if you'd like a hand. Last checked September 10, 2026.