Can I keep chickens or other farm animals in Bellaire?

What we searched for

We searched the whole code for "chicken," "poultry," "fowl," "livestock," "hen," "rooster," "goat" and "horse." This is what came back: - "Chicken," "poultry," "hen," "rooster" and "goat": no section about keeping them. - "Fowl": only in Chapter 6, which is titled "Animals and Fowl," and in its rules for owners and wild animals. - "Livestock": one hit, in the utilities chapter. It says "Livestock shall not be allowed within a 50-foot radius of the wells." That is a rule about the area around wells, not a rule for your yard in general. Rule: City Code Sec. 31-82. - "Horse": only in traffic rules. One bars anyone from driving or propelling a vehicle, or driving, riding or leading a horse or other animal other than dogs or cats, in, over or through any park, midway or esplanade (Sec. 30-21). The other lists a person on horseback in the roadway among the road users it protects (Sec. 30-35). Neither is a rule about keeping a horse.

What the animal chapter says

Chapter 6 is the animal chapter. It defines "animal" as "any living creature of whatever genus or species," so chickens count as animals under it. Rule: City Code Sec. 6-6.

Article III covers "keeping animals other than dogs and cats." It is short: veterinary exams, seizure of wild animals, and no liability for a seizure. It does not set a limit on chickens, and it does not say where a coop may go.

The article does not apply to "small birds such as parakeets, finches, and canaries, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, white mice, rabbits." Chickens are not on that list. The city manager can also add other animals to the list. Rule: City Code Sec. 6-51.

Any animal in town must see a veterinarian "at any time there exists a reasonable basis to suspect such animal is ill, diseased or likely to become diseased or ill." The city manager may also require an exam as a condition of keeping an animal. It is a violation to "knowingly keep or maintain a sick or diseased animal." Rule: City Code Sec. 6-52.

Wild animals are banned

A "wild animal" is a mammal, amphibian, reptile or fowl "which is wild by nature" and dangerous to people. The code lists lions, tigers, bears, wolves, raccoons, skunks, monkeys, foxes, alligators and poisonous reptiles. It says the term does not include "gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, mice or rabbits." Rule: City Code Sec. 6-6.

Keeping a wild animal is prohibited without "the express consent of the city manager." The police chief and city manager may seize wild animals kept in violation of the code. Rule: City Code Secs. 6-15 and 6-53.

What zoning says

Zoning is the part that matters most. The code says: "Any use not permitted by this chapter or approved as a specific use permit under the procedures hereinafter set out is prohibited." It also says: "No structure or land shall be used for any purpose except as specified herein." Rule: City Code Secs. 24-503 and 24-509.

We read the permitted-use lists for the residential districts: R-1 (Sec. 24-531), R-3, R-4 and R-5 (Secs. 24-532 to 24-534), R-M.2-O (Sec. 24-537a) and others. The items we found include single-family dwellings, public parks, and home occupations that meet Sec. 24-517. We did not find chickens, poultry, livestock or farm animals in those lists, and no zoning section we searched names them.

The zoning code also says accessory uses are "permitted in any zoning district in connection with any principal use lawfully existing within such district," as long as they meet the district's development rules. Rule: City Code Sec. 24-510. The code does not say whether keeping chickens counts as an accessory use. So we cannot tell you a flock is allowed, and we cannot tell you it is banned. Ask the city about your address.

Our reading, not the code's words: if the city treats a coop or pen as an accessory structure, zoning has a rule for it. It says: "All detached accessory structures and uses in any residential district shall be located in the rear or side yard of the residential unit," and "No accessory structure or use shall exceed the height of the principal structure to which it is accessory." Ask the city to be sure. Rule: City Code Sec. 24-510.

Rules that apply to any animal

• Noise. It is unlawful to keep any "animal, mammal, bird or any other creature" that causes "frequent, long continued, excessive or unusual noise which is audible by persons on adjoining property." A crowing rooster could fit this rule. Rule: City Code Sec. 6-3.
• Cleanliness. You must keep the place where an animal lives "in a clean and sanitary condition." Droppings must be removed "daily or more frequently if necessary." Rule: City Code Sec. 6-13.
• Smell. Zoning says no one may discharge air contaminants "that produce an odor, in such concentration and of such duration as may tend to be injurious to or to adversely affect human health or welfare." Rule: City Code Sec. 24-511.
• Care. It is a crime to fail "unreasonably to provide necessary food, care, or shelter for an animal in his custody." Rule: City Code Sec. 6-5.
• Inspections. When the police chief, the city manager or their designee ask, you must "permit access to the premises on which such animal is kept, in order that a reasonable inspection can be made." Rule: City Code Sec. 6-14.

Bees

Bees are the one farm-style animal the code limits by number. It is unlawful to keep "in excess of six hives of bees." Rule: City Code Sec. 6-4.

Deed restrictions

Your deed restrictions or HOA rules may be stricter than the city. Check them too.

What happens if you don't

Breaking a zoning rule can bring a fine of up to $2,000, and each day counts as a new offense (Sec. 1-10). The animal chapter sets its own penalty: anyone who violates a provision of Chapter 6 is "punished by fine to the maximum extent as provided for by law" (Sec. 6-108). Under Texas Local Government Code Sec. 54.001, that maximum is up to $500 for most rules, such as noise and care of animals, and up to $2,000 for public health and sanitation rules, such as the cleanliness rule in Sec. 6-13. The city can also seize and impound an animal kept in violation of the code. Rule: City Code Secs. 6-53 and 6-77.

Who to call

Ask the Development Services Department whether your address can have chickens or livestock. For animal complaints and animal control, contact the Bellaire Police Department.

Sources

• City of Bellaire Code of Ordinances, Secs. 6-3, 6-4, 6-5, 6-6, 6-13, 6-14, 6-15 (animals in general). library.municode.com/tx/bellaire
• City of Bellaire Code of Ordinances, Secs. 6-51, 6-52, 6-53 (animals other than dogs and cats) and Sec. 6-108 (penalty). library.municode.com/tx/bellaire
• City of Bellaire Code of Ordinances, Secs. 24-503, 24-509, 24-510, 24-511, 24-531 to 24-534, 24-537a (zoning). library.municode.com/tx/bellaire
• City of Bellaire Code of Ordinances, Secs. 30-21, 30-35 (horses in traffic rules) and Sec. 31-82 (livestock near wells). library.municode.com/tx/bellaire
• City of Bellaire Code of Ordinances, Sec. 1-10 (general penalty). library.municode.com/tx/bellaire
• Texas Local Government Code Sec. 54.001 (maximum municipal fines).

En español

¿Puedo tener gallinas u otros animales de granja en Bellaire? No está regulado de forma expresa. Ninguna sección del Código de la Ciudad dice que usted puede tener gallinas, y ninguna lo prohíbe. Tampoco dice si puede o no tener cabras, cerdos, caballos ni vacas. Como la ley de zonificación prohíbe cualquier uso que no esté en la lista, no compre aves ni ganado hasta que la ciudad confirme que su dirección lo permite.

Buscamos en todo el código las palabras gallina, ave de corral, ganado, gallo, cabra y caballo. No encontramos ninguna regla sobre tenerlos. El capítulo 6 define "animal" como cualquier criatura viva, así que las gallinas cuentan. El artículo sobre animales que no son perros ni gatos no aplica a "pájaros pequeños" como periquitos, cobayos, hámsteres, ratones blancos y conejos, y las gallinas no están en esa lista. Todo animal enfermo debe ser examinado por un veterinario, y es una infracción mantener a sabiendas un animal enfermo. Los animales salvajes (leones, osos, mapaches, zorrillos, monos, caimanes y reptiles venenosos) están prohibidos sin permiso del administrador de la ciudad. Solo se permiten hasta seis colmenas de abejas.

Leímos las listas de usos permitidos de los distritos residenciales (R-1, R-3, R-4, R-5 y otros). Incluyen viviendas unifamiliares, parques públicos y ocupaciones en el hogar, pero no gallinas ni ganado. El código permite usos accesorios junto a un uso principal, pero no dice si tener gallinas cuenta como uso accesorio. Según nuestra lectura, no según el texto del código: si la ciudad considera un gallinero como estructura accesoria, las estructuras separadas en zonas residenciales deben estar en el patio trasero o lateral y no pueden ser más altas que la casa principal. Además, usted debe evitar el ruido frecuente y excesivo (por ejemplo, un gallo), mantener limpio el lugar y retirar los desechos todos los días, evitar olores dañinos, cuidar bien a los animales y permitir inspecciones razonables.

Las reglas de su vecindario o asociación de propietarios pueden ser más estrictas. Las infracciones de zonificación pueden costar una multa de hasta $2,000. El capítulo de animales tiene su propia multa, hasta el máximo que permite la ley: hasta $500 para la mayoría de las reglas (ruido, cuidado) y hasta $2,000 para reglas de salud pública y sanidad, como la limpieza; cada día cuenta como una infracción nueva. Pregunte al Departamento de Servicios de Desarrollo de la ciudad. Para control de animales, comuníquese con el Departamento de Policía de Bellaire.