1. Nashville, TN
You may keep backyard chickens in the Metro Nashville/Davidson County area in such a manner as not to create a nuisance. By the Metropolitan Code, you're required to obtain an annual permit from the Department of Health prior to acquiring the birds. However, this requirement does not apply to property zoned for agricultural uses. Under the permit, roosters, chicken breeding, and the slaughtering of hens are prohibited.
2. Knoxville, TN
The City of Knoxville's municipal code allows its residents to own a limited number of female chickens on a noncommercial basis. An annual permit is required to keep up to six hens in the city. You're allowed to keep no more than 6 hens on any lot, regardless of how many dwelling units are on the lot. Under the permit, hens must be kept for personal use only.
The permit does not authorize you to sell eggs or engage in chicken breeding for commercial purposes. Also, the slaughtering of hens is not permitted in the city. Hens must be provided with a henhouse and a fenced enclosure, neither of which may be located less than 10 feet from any abutting property line.
3. Clarksville, TN
In Clarksville, TN, you may keep chickens in the following residentially zoned districts: E-1, R-1, R-1A, R-2, and R-2A. By Ordinance 56-2014-15, only hens are allowed. The keeping of roosters, ducks, geese, quail, pigeons, or turkeys is prohibited in those zoning districts. Also in those zoning districts, hen breeding and on-site slaughtering are prohibited. You may keep up to 6 hens on any parcel or tract of property after obtaining a chicken-keeping permit.
4. Murfreesboro, TN
You don't need a permit to keep female chickens, ducks, geese, or turkeys in the City of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The City Code does not restrict the number of hens, ducks, geese, or turkeys you can own either. However, you must not allow your birds to run at large or trespass upon the property of another in the City. You're required to confine your birds within an enclosure so secure as to prevent them from escaping your property.
5. Franklin, TN
An Animal Husbandry permit is required to keep a limited number of chickens in your backyard in Franklin, TN. Once granted a permit, you must not keep chickens in such a condition as to become a nuisance. You're also not allowed to knowingly or negligently permit any of your chickens to run at large. The permit application process includes:
- Reading the city's animal-keeping ordinance
- Signing that you have read the ordinance
- Providing your contact information
- Submitting your application to Building and Neighborhood Services for review
6. Hendersonville, TN
In Hendersonville, TN, you're not required to obtain a permit to keep chickens. The City's Animal Code does not restrict the number of chickens you can own either. However, it does require that all livestock kept in the city be confined by a fence. Technically, the keeping of roosters is prohibited, as the city code does not allow the keeping of noisy animals.
7. Spring Hill, TN
The City of Spring Hill allows residents to keep up to 4 female chickens with a Hen Permit in their backyards. Backyard hens may only be kept at single-family residences. People living in townhomes, multi-family, and similar units are not permitted to keep hens in the city. Hens must be kept in a covered henhouse and fenced pen area located in the rear yard and be setback 20 feet from any adjacent residence.
8. Collierville, TN
In Collierville, TN, you may keep chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, or guinea fowl on your property as long as they have not become a nuisance to your neighbors. Allowing your chickens or other legal birds to run at large is declared to be a nuisance in the town. The Town Code requires that you confine your birds to a backyard coop and run, which must be kept clean and free from offensive odors.
9. Gallatin, TN
An annual license is required to keep a maximum of 6 female chickens in Gallatin, TN. In addition, a building permit is required for the construction of chicken coops and pens. Under the license and permit, hens must be kept for personal use only; you must not sell eggs or engage in chicken breeding. The slaughtering of hens is also not allowed in the city of Gallatin. Hens must be provided with a predator-resistant henhouse attached to a fenced enclosure. Both structures may not be located less than 10 feet from any abutting property line.
10. Cleveland, TN
You may keep up to 6 hens for personal use in your residential backyard in Cleveland, TN. However, multifamily residential units are not allowed to have chickens. The keeping of roosters and peacocks is specifically prohibited by the Cleveland Chicken Ordinance. You may not sell eggs, engage in chicken breeding, or slaughter chickens on your premises.
