Keeping hens · National rules

Can you keep backyard chickens in the Maldives?

Registration: conditions apply, for the keepers covered below. What we found on bird flu, welfare and the keeping rule follows, including what we couldn't establish.

Read from 1 official source19 passages quotedChecked October 30, 2026

At a glance

Registering your flock

Conditions apply

National keeping rule

Not established

Bird-flu housing orders

Status needs rechecking

Welfare rules

Rule identified

A sourced reading of national law in the Maldives, 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 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

Conditions apply to this finding

Jurisdiction: Maldives

Applies to: Livestock and poultry farming in the Maldives (law on keeping animals and animal welfare, art. 49).

Outside this finding's scope

  • Article 49 does not apply to livestock or poultry kept by individuals at their homes, not for business (art. 49(g)).
  • The regulations that set the registration conditions under article 49 were not read.

What the checked sources say

  • Livestock and poultry farming may be carried on only after registration with the Ministry, under the Act and its regulations (art. 49(a)).
  • The Act came into force 90 days after its publication in the Gazette (art. 88).

Exemptions and their limits

  • Livestock or poultry kept by individuals at their homes, not for business (art. 49(g))

Authority: The ministry responsible for animal health

Fee: Not established from the sources checked.

The official wording

  • ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގައި ލައިވްސްޓޮކް އަދި ޕޯލްޓްރީ ފާމިންގ ހިންގޭނީ، މި ޤާނޫނާއި މި ޤާނޫނުގެ ދަށުން ހަދާ ގަވާއިދުގައިވާ ގޮތުގެމަތިން މިނިސްޓްރީގައި ރަޖިސްޓަރީކުރުމަށްފަހުގައެވެ.

    Law No. 25/2025, art. 49(a), PDF p.53 · Checked

  • ވިޔަފާރި ހިންގުމަށް ނުވާގޮތުން، އަމިއްލަ ފަރުދުން، އެމީހުން ދިރިއުޅޭ ތަންތަނުގައި ގެންގުޅޭ ލައިވްސްޓޮކް ނުވަތަ ޕޯލްޓްރީގެ މައްޗަކަށް މި މާއްދާގައި ބަޔާންކުރާ އުސޫލުތަކެއް ނުހިނގާނެއެވެ.

    Law No. 25/2025, art. 49(g) (paragraph ކ), PDF p.55 · Checked

  • މި ޤާނޫނަށް ޢަމަލުކުރަން ފަށާނީ، މި ޤާނޫނު ފާސްވެ، ތަޞްދީޤުކޮށް، ދިވެހިސަރުކާރުގެ ގެޒެޓުގައި ޝާއިޢުކުރާ ތާރީޚުން ފެށިގެން 90 (ނުވަދިހަ) ދުވަސް ހަމަވާ ތާރީޚުން ފެށިގެންނެވެ.

    Law No. 25/2025, art. 88, PDF p.84 · Checked

  • 2025 ޑިސެންބަރު 3 ( 1447 ޖުމާދަލްއާޚިރާ 13 ) ވި ބުދަ ދުވަހު ރައީސުލްޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ ތަޞްދީޤު ކުރެއްވުމުން ، މި ބިލު ޤާނޫނަކަށްވެ ، ދިވެހި ސަރުކާރުގެ ގެޒެޓުގައި މިއަދު ޝާއިޢު ކުރެވިއްޖެއެވެ.

    Law No. 25/2025, publication note, PDF p.2 · Checked

Bird-flu housing orders

Current status needs rechecking

An official current-status link has not been established.

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 2026-10-30

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

No rule identified in this research

This does not establish that no authority can order poultry to be housed or confined.

Uses housing orders in this scope: Not established from the sources checked.

Jurisdiction: Maldives

Applies to: Reportable animal diseases under the law on keeping animals and animal welfare.

Outside this finding's scope

  • No power to order backyard poultry to be housed or kept indoors was found in the Act read; the regulations under it were not read.
  • This page does not say whether any measure applies now, and no official status page was identified.

What the checked sources say

  • When an animal disease spreads in the Maldives, the Ministry designates the infected islands or areas as quarantine areas, in the way set out in regulations under the Act (art. 69(b)).
  • If an animal is believed to have a reportable disease, the Ministry may, among other steps, require it to be quarantined (art. 70(a)(2)).
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.

  • ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގައި ޖަނަވާރަށް ޖެހޭ ބައްޔެއް ފެތުރޭ ހިނދެއްގައި، މި ޤާނޫނުގެ ދަށުން ހަދާ ގަވާއިދުގައި ބަޔާންކުރާ ގޮތުގެމަތިން ބަލިއުޅޭ ރަށް ނުވަތަ ސަރަޙައްދުތައް ކަނޑައަޅައި، އެއީ ކަރަންޓީން ސަރަޙައްދުތަކެއް ކަމުގައި ކަނޑައެޅުން ؛

    Law No. 25/2025, art. 69(b), PDF p.75 · Checked

  • ބަލިޖެހިފައިވާކަމަށް ބެލެވޭ ޖަނަވާރު ކަރަންޓީނުކުރުމަށް ލާޒިމުކުރުން ؛

    Law No. 25/2025, art. 70(a)(2), PDF p.75 · Checked

  • މި ޤާނޫނުގެ 66 ވަނަ މާއްދާގެ ދަށުން ކަނޑައަޅައި އިޢުލާނުކޮށްފައިވާ ރިޕޯޓުކުރަންޖެހޭ ބައްޔެއް، އެއްވެސް ޤައުމެއްގައި ނުވަތަ ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގައި ފެތުރޭ ޙާލަތެއްގައި މިނިސްޓްރީން އަންނަނިވި ފިޔަވަޅުތައް އަޅަންވާނެއެވެ.

    Law No. 25/2025, art. 69 lead-in, PDF p.74 · Checked

  • ޖަނަވާރެއްގައި ނުވަތަ ޖަނަވާރުގެ ބައެއްގައި ރިޕޯޓުކުރަންޖެހޭ ބައްޔެއް ހުރިކަމަށް ޤަބޫލުކުރެވޭނަމަ، އަންނަނިވި ގޮތްތަކުންކުރެ ގޮތަކަށް މިނިސްޓްރީއަށް ޢަމަލުކުރެވިދާނެއެވެ.

    Law No. 25/2025, art. 70(a) lead-in, PDF p.75 · Checked

Small-flock welfare minimums

Rule identified for the scope below

Jurisdiction: Maldives

Applies to: Everyone who keeps animals in the Maldives (art. 54).

Outside this finding's scope

  • Protective measures, principles and standards are to be set in regulations under the Act (art. 55(a)); those regulations were not read.

What the checked sources say

  • Everyone who keeps animals must keep and care for them in a way that meets the standards needed to ensure animal welfare, while taking the measures needed to protect animal health and public health (art. 54).
  • The Act came into force 90 days after publication; the President ratified it on 3 December 2025 and it was published in the Gazette the same day (art. 88 and the publication note).

The official wording

  • މި ޤާނޫނަށް ކިޔާނީ "ޖަނަވާރު ގެންގުޅުމާއި ޖަނަވާރުގެ ރައްކާތެރިކަމުގެ ޤާނޫނު" އެވެ.

    Law No. 25/2025, art. 1(b), Gazette vol. 54 no. 225, PDF p.3 · Checked

  • ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގައި، ކޮންމެ ފަރާތަކުންވެސް ޖަނަވާރު ގެންގުޅެ ބަލަހައްޓަންވާނީ، އަދި ޖަނަވާރާ ގުޅޭގޮތުން އެނޫންވެސް ކަމެއް ކުރަންވާނީ، ޖަނަވާރުގެ ޞިއްޙަތާއި، ޢާންމު ޞިއްޙަތު ރައްކާތެރިކުރުމަށް އަޅަންޖެހޭ ފިޔަވަޅުތައް އެޅުމާއެކު، ޖަނަވާރުގެ ދުޅަހެޔޮކަން ކަށަވަރުކުރުމަށް ބޭނުންވާ މިންގަނޑުތައް ފުރިހަމަވާނެ ގޮތުގެމަތިންނެވެ.

    Law No. 25/2025, art. 54, PDF p.61 · Checked

  • ރައްކާތެރިކަމުގެ ފިޔަވަޅުތަކާއި ހަމަތަކާއި މިންގަނޑުތައް، މި ޤާނޫނުގެ ދަށުން ހަދާ ގަވާއިދުގައި ބަޔާންކުރަންވާނެއެވެ.

    Law No. 25/2025, art. 55(a), PDF p.62 · Checked

  • މި ޤާނޫނަށް ޢަމަލުކުރަން ފަށާނީ، މި ޤާނޫނު ފާސްވެ، ތަޞްދީޤުކޮށް، ދިވެހިސަރުކާރުގެ ގެޒެޓުގައި ޝާއިޢުކުރާ ތާރީޚުން ފެށިގެން 90 (ނުވަދިހަ) ދުވަސް ހަމަވާ ތާރީޚުން ފެށިގެންނެވެ.

    Law No. 25/2025, art. 88, PDF p.84 · Checked

  • 2025 ޑިސެންބަރު 3 ( 1447 ޖުމާދަލްއާޚިރާ 13 ) ވި ބުދަ ދުވަހު ރައީސުލްޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ ތަޞްދީޤު ކުރެއްވުމުން ، މި ބިލު ޤާނޫނަކަށްވެ ، ދިވެހި ސަރުކާރުގެ ގެޒެޓުގައި މިއަދު ޝާއިޢު ކުރެވިއްޖެއެވެ.

    Law No. 25/2025, publication note, PDF p.2 · Checked

National rules on keeping poultry

Not established from the sources checked

Jurisdiction: Maldives

Applies to: Animals kept for purposes the law permits, including animals kept as livestock and poultry (art. 46).

Outside this finding's scope

  • Whether article 46's requirement to keep such animals in places permitted for the purpose reaches hens kept at home, and what the regulations say, was not established.
  • No national limit on how many chickens may be kept was found. The Act's silence is not permission.

What the checked sources say

  • Animals kept for purposes the law permits, including animals kept as livestock and poultry, must be kept and cared for under the Act and its regulations, in places permitted for the purpose (art. 46).
  • Article 49 does not apply to livestock or poultry kept by individuals at their homes, not for business (art. 49(g)).
  • Councils enforce the Ministry's keeping standards at city and island level (art. 7(a)(1)).

The official wording

  • ލައިވްސްޓޮކް އަދި ޕޯލްޓްރީގެ ގޮތުގައި ގެންގުޅޭ ޖަނަވާރާއި،

    Law No. 25/2025, art. 46, PDF p.49 · Checked

  • ގެންގުޅުމުގެ ހުއްދަ ޤާނޫނުން ދޭ ބޭނުންތަކަށް ޖަނަވާރު ގެންގުޅެ ބެލެހެއްޓުމުގައި ޢަމަލުކުރަންވާނީ، މި ޤާނޫނާއި މި ޤާނޫނުގެ ދަށުން ހަދާ ގަވާއިދުގައި ބަޔާންކުރާ އުސޫލުތަކާ އެއްގޮތްވާ ގޮތުގެމަތިންނެވެ.

    Law No. 25/2025, art. 46 (continuation on PDF p.50) · Checked

  • އެފަދައިން ޖަނަވާރު ގެންގުޅެންވާނީ، މި ބާބުގައިވާ ގޮތުގެމަތިން، ކަމާގުޅޭ ބޭނުންތަކަށް ހުއްދަކުރެވޭ ތަންތަނުގައި،

    Law No. 25/2025, art. 46, PDF p.50 · Checked

  • ވިޔަފާރި ހިންގުމަށް ނުވާގޮތުން، އަމިއްލަ ފަރުދުން، އެމީހުން ދިރިއުޅޭ ތަންތަނުގައި ގެންގުޅޭ ލައިވްސްޓޮކް ނުވަތަ ޕޯލްޓްރީގެ މައްޗަކަށް މި މާއްދާގައި ބަޔާންކުރާ އުސޫލުތަކެއް ނުހިނގާނެއެވެ.

    Law No. 25/2025, art. 49(g) (paragraph ކ), PDF p.55 · Checked

  • ( 1 ) ޖަނަވާރު ގެންގުޅުމާއި ބެލެހެއްޓުމުގައި ޢަމަލުކުރުމަށް މި ޤާނޫނާއި މި ޤާނޫނުގެ ދަށުން މިނިސްޓްރީން ކަނޑައަޅާ މިންގަނޑުތަކާއި އުސޫލުތައް، ސިޓީ އަދި ރަށު ފެންވަރުގައި ތަންފީޛުކުރުން ؛

    Law No. 25/2025, art. 7(a)(1), PDF p.8 · Checked

  • މި ޤާނޫނު ތަންފީޛުކުރުމުގެ ގޮތުން ކައުންސިލްތަކުން އަދާކުރަންޖެހޭ މަސްއޫލިއްޔަތުތައް ތިރީގައި ބަޔާންކޮށްފައި އެވަނީއެވެ.

    Law No. 25/2025, art. 7(a) lead-in, PDF p.8 · Checked

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

More countries we've checked

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Common questions

Do I have to register backyard chickens in the Maldives?
Registration: conditions apply. The finding covers: Livestock and poultry farming in the Maldives (law on keeping animals and animal welfare, art. 49). Outside this finding's scope: Article 49 does not apply to livestock or poultry kept by individuals at their homes, not for business (art. 49(g)). The regulations that set the registration conditions under article 49 were not read. Exemptions and their limits: Livestock or poultry kept by individuals at their homes, not for business (art. 49(g)). Authority: The ministry responsible for animal health.
Can I keep chickens in my backyard in the Maldives?
The national sources we read don't settle it, though they name the bodies shown under “National rules on keeping poultry” on this page. Check your local rules before you get hens.
Do I have to keep my hens indoors for bird flu in the Maldives?
Housing orders come and go, so we never show one as current. We haven't confirmed an official current-status page for it.

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