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Backyard chickens have become increasingly popular with families interested in fresh eggs, gardening, food independence or simply raising a small flock at home.
But before bringing home a box of chicks, residents in Seagoville and Crandall need to know that the rules are very different depending on where they live.
In Seagoville, residents on lots smaller than one acre can generally keep as many as six hens if they meet the city’s enclosure and setback requirements. Crandall allows as many as 10 hens, but only in specified zoning districts and with a city permit that must be renewed every year.
And in either community, city approval may not be the only hurdle. HOA rules and private deed restrictions should also be checked before someone spends hundreds or even thousands of dollars building a coop.
For residents completely new to backyard poultry, The First-Time Chicken Keepers provides a beginner-oriented checklist covering planning, coop setup, breeds, feeding, daily care and other basics that should be considered before purchasing chickens.
Seagoville: Six Hens Are Allowed on Lots Under One Acre
Seagoville’s animal-control ordinance specifically allows backyard chickens on residential property smaller than one acre.
A resident on a lot of less than one fenced acre may keep up to six hens.
Roosters are prohibited on properties smaller than one acre.
The hens must be housed in a structure or enclosure located at least 25 feet from the nearest private residence building or public building.
The city also has fairly detailed requirements for the chicken enclosure.
For properties smaller than one acre, the coop must have at least one square foot of covered roosting area per hen. Each bird must also have access to at least 10 square feet of outdoor ground area.
The structure must provide protection from the weather, be predator-proof and properly ventilated. It must also be designed so standing water does not accumulate.
Fresh water must be available at all times, and enough food must be provided to maintain the health of the birds.
Cleaning the Coop Is Part of the Law
Keeping chickens legally in Seagoville involves more than building a fence and putting birds in the backyard.
City code requires pens and enclosures to be maintained so they do not become unsanitary, offensive to nearby residents or breeding grounds for flies.
For backyard hens on properties smaller than one acre, droppings, uneaten food, feathers and other waste must be removed at least weekly — and more frequently when necessary to prevent foul odors.
The city’s animal ordinance also prohibits owners from allowing animals to run at large or onto somebody else’s property.
Noise can become an enforcement issue as well. Seagoville prohibits keeping an animal that creates an unreasonable disturbance for neighbors and provides a process for requiring the problem to be corrected after notice.
For a backyard flock, that means good chicken keeping is also good neighbor management.
What If You Own an Acre or More in Seagoville?
The rules change substantially for larger properties.
On property of at least one fenced acre, the city allows up to 20 chickens total per acre.
Roosters can also be kept under certain conditions. The code permits up to one rooster for every six hens, within the overall 20-chicken-per-acre limit.
Chickens on these larger properties must be kept more than 100 feet from the nearest private residence building or public building.
That distance requirement is important. Owning an acre does not automatically mean every part of that acre is suitable for a chicken enclosure.
Crandall: First Check Your Zoning
Crandall’s rules are more restrictive in one important way: whether you can keep chickens depends on the zoning classification of your property.
Under the city’s current ordinance, chickens may be kept only in the following zoning districts:
SF-E, SF-20, SF-12.5, SF-9, SF-6.5, Old Town Crandall and Agricultural.
Chickens are prohibited in zoning districts not included on that list.
This is particularly important because an older Crandall ordinance limited chickens to Old Town Crandall. The city amended its regulations in 2024 to expand the number of zoning districts where they are permitted.
Residents should therefore verify their property’s current zoning rather than relying on an old ordinance, an online discussion or what a neighbor was told several years ago.
Crandall Allows Up to 10 Hens — But No Roosters
For qualifying properties, Crandall allows no more than 10 hens for each single-family dwelling.
Roosters are prohibited.
The chicken coop or cage must be located at least 25 feet from the door or window of any dwelling or occupied structure other than the chicken owner’s dwelling.
It must also be at least five feet from a side property line and at least 18 inches from a rear property line.
Chicken coops cannot be located in the front yard.
Crandall requires a covered, predator-proof and well-ventilated coop providing at least two square feet per hen.
The hens must also have access to a fenced outdoor enclosure that keeps the chickens on the owner’s property while helping keep predators out.
Chickens generally must remain within those enclosures unless a responsible person at least 18 years old is directly supervising them and can immediately return them to the enclosure.
For beginners trying to determine how large a coop should be, what equipment is actually necessary and how to prepare before bringing birds home, the First-Time Chicken Keepers checklist can provide additional guidance beyond the minimum requirements established by city ordinances.
Crandall Requires a $50 Annual Chicken Permit
Unlike Seagoville’s chicken provisions, Crandall has a specific permit process for backyard chickens.
The city’s current permit fee is $50, and the permit must be renewed annually.
The application asks for the number of hens, property address, zoning classification and information about the proposed coop or enclosure.
Applicants must provide details showing the dimensions and location of the enclosure in relation to property lines and neighboring properties.
Crandall’s ordinance also gives the city authority to revoke a chicken permit if the owner does not comply with its conditions, fails to maintain the chickens and enclosure in a clean and sanitary condition, or if the city receives complaints regarding the permit holder’s chickens.
The city also prohibits outdoor slaughtering of chickens.
That makes checking the rules before constructing the coop especially important.
Don’t Forget the HOA
Complying with a city ordinance does not necessarily settle the issue for someone living in a subdivision governed by private deed restrictions or a homeowners association.
Texas lawmakers considered legislation in 2025 that would have restricted the ability of some property owners associations to prohibit chickens when a municipality allows them. Those proposals did not become law.
Current Texas Property Code provisions listing certain activities that HOAs generally cannot prohibit do not provide a blanket statewide protection for keeping backyard chickens.
That means residents should review their subdivision’s declaration, restrictive covenants, rules and architectural guidelines before purchasing chickens or building a coop.
An HOA may have rules concerning livestock or poultry, accessory structures, fencing, setbacks, appearance or nuisance conditions that are separate from the city’s requirements.
Even homeowners who do not currently pay HOA dues should consider checking for recorded deed restrictions affecting their property.
A Crandall Mailing Address Doesn’t Always Answer the Question
Another issue is location.
A person can have a mailing address associated with a nearby city without necessarily living inside that city’s corporate limits.
Before relying on either city’s ordinance, residents should determine whether the property is actually located within Seagoville or Crandall city limits.
Properties outside municipal limits may fall under different regulations and private restrictions.
The same principle applies when purchasing property specifically because you want chickens, goats or other animals: confirm the legal jurisdiction and restrictions before closing on the property rather than assuming a rural-looking lot automatically allows them.
Before Buying Chicks, Check Five Things
For someone considering a first backyard flock, the legal questions should come before the trip to the feed store.
Start by determining whether the property is inside city limits and checking its zoning. Then review the city’s current chicken ordinance, confirm that the proposed coop can meet required setbacks, check HOA or deed restrictions and determine whether a permit is required.
After those questions are answered, new chicken keepers still need to plan for the practical side: coop size, predator protection, feed, North Texas heat, cleaning, health care and the daily responsibility of maintaining a flock.
A resource such as The First-Time Chicken Keepers guide can help new owners work through those practical decisions before spending money on chicks, supplies and a coop.
The City of Seagoville and City of Crandall both allow backyard chickens under certain circumstances.
But “chickens are legal” does not mean chickens are legal on every property.
For Seagoville residents, lot size and enclosure requirements are major factors. For Crandall residents, zoning and the annual permit are critical.
Checking those details before buying the first chick can prevent an expensive mistake later.
