Curious About Raising Chickens in Lubbock? Here’s What You Need To Know

My girlfriend has nine chickens in her backyard in Lubbock and we enjoy fresh eggs daily from the little ladies. I like her hens so much, I decided to incubate, hatch, and raise a few of my own. But, I made sure to check the laws around keeping chickens so I wouldn't get arrested for the dumbest reason ever...

Eggs are Expensive!

So, you’ve seen the price of eggs lately and thought, “Why not just get a few chickens and cut out the middleman?” Welcome to the flock, my friend—but before you start building a coop in your backyard and naming hens after your favorite Golden Girls--like I do--let’s talk about what’s actually legal in Lubbock.

How Many Can You Have?

If you live inside Lubbock city limits, you can have up to six hens. That’s right, hens only—no roosters allowed. (Sorry, Ronnie the Rooster. Your 5 a.m. wake-up calls are not appreciated in city zoning!)

And these feathered ladies can’t just run wild like they're Tech sorority girls! The city says they’ve gotta be kept in an enclosure—in your backyard, not in your front yard like some hillbilly!

How Big Can Your Coop Be?

Now, the city code gets a little picky about size. If your chicken coop is under 200 square feet, you’ve gotta keep it at least five feet away from your property lines. Got a big fancy coop that’s over 200 square feet? Then you're officially in “talk to the city and check zoning” territory.

Sanitation is key too. Keep the coop clean, store the feed in rodent-proof containers (because no one wants a rat rave in the henhouse), and scoop the poop daily. Yes—daily. Your neighbors and nostrils will thank you--trust me!

What About Lubbock County?

Now if you’re lucky enough to live outside city limits in Lubbock County, the rules are way more relaxed. You can typically have more chickens, and roosters are back on the table—literally and figuratively. Just check your HOA or local nuisance ordinances, because even out in the county, peace and quiet still matters.

So go ahead—embrace your inner farmhand, give those hens adorable names, and start planning your egg empire. Just keep it legal, keep it clean, and remember: in Lubbock, even chickens need permits.