Keeping hens · National rules

Can you keep backyard chickens in Italy?

Registration is required for the keepers covered below. The national keeping rule, and the bird-flu and welfare rules, follow.

Read from 13 official sources43 passages quotedChecked October 25, 2026

At a glance

Registering your flock

Registration required

National keeping rule

Rule with conditions

Bird-flu housing orders

Status needs rechecking

Welfare rules

Rule with conditions

A sourced reading of national law in Italy, not legal advice. Local ordinances and zoning, HOA rules, and any local rooster or coop limits aren't covered here yet: check your local code before you get hens.

Keeping your flock

These findings cover the national or state scope stated below. They do not determine whether chickens are allowed at a particular home. City zoning, property restrictions and other local rules are outside this research.

Registering as a poultry keeper

Rule identified for the scope below

Jurisdiction: Italy

Applies to: Operators of establishments where animals are kept, including family holdings of up to 50 poultry kept for own consumption or private household use (D.Lgs. 134/2022; operating manual, ch. 2.4).

Outside this finding's scope

  • The exemption for private homes covers keepers of pet animals as defined in EU Regulation 2016/429 (art. 5(4)(a)); under that regulation fowl are not pet animals.

What the checked sources say

  • Before you start, register the holding in the national database (BDN) as the operating manual sets out (art. 5(1)-(2)); the ASL assesses the documents received, for the assignment of a unique registration number (art. 5(6)).
  • New family holdings of poultry ask the ASL for their registration number, and the ASL registers them in the BDN; family holdings can register in the BDN directly with the ASL rather than through the SUAP (manual, ch. 2.1.1).
  • A family holding keeps at most 50 poultry (4 if ratites), only for own consumption or private household use, without commercial activity save the exceptions in Regulation (EC) No 852/2004, and passes animals on only for immediate slaughter or with prior authorisation (art. 2(1)(f); manual, ch. 2.4). Going over the limit, or using the animals differently, means notifying a change of production type (manual, ch. 2.4).
  • Registration costs are borne by the operators (art. 5(7)); the amount was not found in the sections read (art. 5).
  • Normattiva's in-force views show articles 2 and 5 in force in their current wording since 27 September 2022. The operating manual was read in its 2023 text, as published by a local health authority; the January 2025 amending decree does not change the passages cited here, and later changes were not checked.

Authority: Your local health authority (ASL), via the national database (BDN)

Fee: Not established from the sources checked.

The official wording

  • 1. Gli operatori degli stabilimenti in cui sono detenuti animali o materiale germinale, nonché quelli che effettuano operazioni di raccolta indipendentemente da uno stabilimento ed i trasportatori, prima di iniziare la propria attività, assolvono agli obblighi previsti dagli articoli 84, 87 o dai relativi atti delegati, 90 e 172 del regolamento,

    D.Lgs. 134/2022, art. 5(1), opening words · Checked

  • e quelli previsti dal presente decreto con le modalità e i tempi di cui al manuale operativo, ai fini della registrazione degli stabilimenti ed attività di loro pertinenza in conformità agli articoli 93 e 173 del regolamento medesimo.

    D.Lgs. 134/2022, art. 5(1), closing words · Checked

  • 2. Per le finalità di cui al comma 1, gli operatori richiedono la registrazione in BDN, con le modalità previste nel manuale operativo.

    D.Lgs. 134/2022, art. 5(2) · Checked

  • Testo in vigore dal: 27-9-2022

    Normattiva, D.Lgs. 134/2022, art. 5, in-force view · Checked

  • 6. Con le modalità di cui al manuale operativo, al fine della registrazione in BDN, la ASL effettua una valutazione di congruità ai requisiti normativi della documentazione ricevuta per l'assegnazione di un numero di registrazione unico.

    D.Lgs. 134/2022, art. 5(6) · Checked

  • f) allevamento familiare: attività di allevamento prevista per determinate specie e per un numero massimo di animali, come indicato nel manuale operativo, nel quale gli animali sono allevati esclusivamente per autoconsumo o uso domestico privato, senza alcuna attività commerciale, fatte salve le eccezioni previste dal regolamento (CE) n. 852/2004

    D.Lgs. 134/2022, art. 2(1)(f), first part · Checked

  • senza cessione degli animali se non per la immediata macellazione e se non prima autorizzati dall'Autorità competente secondo le modalità previste dal manuale operativo.

    D.Lgs. 134/2022, art. 2(1)(f), second part · Checked

  • Testo in vigore dal: 27-9-2022

    Normattiva, D.Lgs. 134/2022, art. 2, in-force view · Checked

  • 4. Sono esentati dall'obbligo di registrazione di cui al comma 1: a) le abitazioni private dei detentori e proprietari di animali da compagnia di cui all'articolo 4, paragrafo 1, punto 11, del regolamento;

    D.Lgs. 134/2022, art. 5(4)(a) · Checked

  • 7. Le spese relative alle registrazioni sono a carico degli operatori.

    D.Lgs. 134/2022, art. 5(7), first sentence · Checked

  • (Ultimo aggiornamento all'atto pubblicato il 16/06/2025)

    Normattiva, D.Lgs. 134/2022, act header · Checked

  • Allegato 1 al Decreto 7 marzo 2023 (G.U. n. 113 del 16/05/23)

    I&R operating manual, cover line · Checked

  • A. ALLEVAMENTO FAMILIARE: attività di allevamento definita all’art. 2, comma 1, lettera f), del d.lgs. I&R prevista solo per le seguenti specie e numero massimo di animali che possono essere detenuti contemporaneamente:

    I&R operating manual, ch. 2.4, ALLEVAMENTO, A. ALLEVAMENTO FAMILIARE · Checked

  • e) pollame, con un massimo di 50 (cinquanta) capi, ad esclusione dei ratiti, per i quali è previsto un massimo di 4 (quattro) capi;

    I&R operating manual, ch. 2.4, A(e) · Checked

  • 5. Gli operatori di nuovi allevamenti familiari di conigli o pollame sono tenuti alla richiesta di attribuzione del numero di registrazione unico alle ASL, che li registra in BDN.

    I&R operating manual, ch. 2.1.1, para 5 · Checked

  • Per la registrazione di allevamenti familiari e amatoriali è possibile la registrazione in BDN direttamente presso la ASL e non tramite SUAP.

    I&R operating manual, ch. 2.1.1, para 4 · Checked

  • In caso di superamento del limite del numero di animali presenti nell’allevamento o in caso di diversa destinazione e uso degli animali, non rientrando più nella definizione di allevamento familiare, l’operatore deve comunicare,

    I&R operating manual, ch. 2.4, A, closing paragraph, opening words · Checked

  • la variazione dell’orientamento produttivo per non incorrere nelle misure previste dagli artt. 15 e 17 del d.lgs. I&R, fatto salvo il rispetto dei requisiti normativi.

    I&R operating manual, ch. 2.4, A, closing paragraph, closing words · Checked

  • DECRETO 27 gennaio 2025 Modifiche al decreto 7 marzo 2023, concernente il manuale operativo inerente alla gestione e al funzionamento del sistema di identificazione e registrazione degli operatori, degli stabilimenti e degli animali (sistema I&R).

    Gazzetta Ufficiale, Serie Generale n. 63 of 17-03-2025, index · Checked

  • 1. All'allegato 1 - Manuale operativo per la gestione del sistema I&R - del decreto del Ministro della salute 7 marzo 2023, citato in premessa sono apportate le seguenti modificazioni:

    D.M. 27 gennaio 2025, art. 1(1), opening words · Checked

Bird-flu housing orders

Current status needs rechecking

Check the official current-status page

Orders can change between checks. A missed check or an expired order does not establish that no order applies.

Housing-order finding as checked on 2026-10-25

The scope and conditions below are a dated record, not confirmation of today's position.

Rule identified for the scope below

Uses housing orders in this scope: Yes, according to the checked evidence.

Jurisdiction: Italy

Applies to: Poultry holdings in high-risk zones A and B, which the regions and autonomous provinces identify (D.M. 30 maggio 2023, Allegato B).

What the checked sources say

  • In Zone A, the Ministry of Health, after hearing the National Reference Centre for Avian Influenza (CRNIA), may ban outdoor keeping for set periods (Allegato B, 3(d)(i)).
  • In Zone B, existing outdoor holdings must keep their birds indoors, with due regard to welfare, during the highest-risk periods the Ministry of Health identifies after hearing CRNIA (Allegato B, 4(d)).
  • The regions and autonomous provinces identify the high-risk zones using the decree's criteria (Allegato B, 1).
  • The decree was read as published on 30 June 2023; later changes to its text were not checked. A Regione Lombardia notice dated 24 September 2026 says a Ministry of Health note of 16 September 2026 was issued in line with this decree.
  • This page does not say whether any measure applies now. The IZSVe outbreak page lists Italian outbreaks; its 2025/2026 outbreak list was last updated on 28 April 2026.
Checked
Recheck due

Historical evidence, as checked

These quotations record what was checked on the dates shown. They do not confirm an order's current status.

Small-flock welfare minimums

Conditions apply to this finding

Jurisdiction: Italy

Applies to: Owners and keepers of animals bred or kept to produce food or for other farming purposes (D.Lgs. 146/2001, art. 1(2)(a)), such as hens kept for eggs.

Outside this finding's scope

  • The decree does not apply to wild animals, animals for competitions, shows or cultural or sporting events, laboratory animals or invertebrates (art. 1(3)). Hens kept purely as pets were not established as covered.

What the checked sources say

  • Take adequate measures to ensure your animals' welfare and that they are not caused unnecessary pain, suffering or injury (art. 2(1)(a)).
  • Normattiva's in-force views show articles 1 and 2 in force in their current wording since 9 May 2001; the act was last updated on 4 November 2008.

The official wording

National or state rules on keeping poultry

Conditions apply to this finding

Jurisdiction: Italy

Applies to: Family holdings (allevamenti familiari) and ordinary holdings of up to 250 birds under the national poultry biosecurity decree.

What the checked sources say

  • Family holdings must have structures that, when the risk of an epidemic disease rises, let poultry be fed and watered indoors or under a roof so wild birds cannot reach the feed or water, and let feed and litter be stored away from wild birds and other animals (D.M. 30 maggio 2023, Allegato A, 1(a)).
  • Ordinary holdings with a capacity of up to 250 birds have their own structural and management measures; among them, direct sales to private citizens must take place outside the holding area (Allegato A, 2(b)(ii)).
  • The decree was read as published on 30 June 2023; later changes to its text were not checked.
  • Local rules may also apply: a registered operator must make the communications and obtain the authorisations required by national and local provisions before starting (D.Lgs. 134/2022, art. 5(5)(a)), and the operating manual, in its 2023 text, lets the ASL, where it sees fit, ask the municipal authorities to assess town-plan and other local aspects during registration (manual, ch. 2.1.1). Municipal and regional rules on keeping hens at home were not read, and who sets them was not established from the texts read.

The official wording

Selling eggs in Italy? →License, small-flock line, markets and cartons, on their own page.Selling: License: not stated

More countries we've checked

Every country on the map →

Common questions

Do I have to register backyard chickens in Italy?
Registration: required. The finding covers: Operators of establishments where animals are kept, including family holdings of up to 50 poultry kept for own consumption or private household use (D.Lgs. 134/2022; operating manual, ch. 2.4). Outside this finding's scope: The exemption for private homes covers keepers of pet animals as defined in EU Regulation 2016/429 (art. 5(4)(a)); under that regulation fowl are not pet animals. Authority: Your local health authority (ASL), via the national database (BDN).
Can I keep chickens in my backyard in Italy?
The national sources we read don't settle it, and we haven't identified who decides. Check your local rules before you get hens.
Do I have to keep my hens indoors for bird flu in Italy?
Housing orders come and go, so we never show one as current. This page links the official status page to check today.

Allowed where you live? Then keep the records.

PoultryPal tracks your birds, eggs, hatches, sales, and expenses — so you can see exactly how your flock is doing. Free to download on iOS and Android.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play