Keeping hens · National rules

Can you keep backyard chickens in Nepal?

The national sources we read don't settle registration or who decides where hens can live. Here's what they do say.

Read from 5 official sources26 passages quotedChecked October 29, 2026

At a glance

Registering your flock

Not established

National keeping rule

No rule identified

Bird-flu housing orders

Status needs rechecking

Welfare rules

Cruelty rule; no care standards found

A sourced reading of national law in Nepal, 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

No rule identified in this research

Jurisdiction: Nepal

Applies to: National animal-health law (Animal Health and Livestock Services Act 2055; Bird Flu Control Regulation 2078).

Outside this finding's scope

  • No national registration of backyard bird keepers was identified in the national texts read; this does not establish that none exists.
  • Local rules were not researched.

What the checked sources say

  • Local levels make local policy, laws and standards on animal husbandry and animal health, and implement, monitor and regulate them; ask your rural municipality or municipality whether flocks must be registered.

Authority: Not established from the sources checked.

Fee: Not established from the sources checked.

The official wording

  • “पशु” भन्नाले जुनसुकै प्रकारका पाल्तु वा जङ्गली जनावर सम्झनु पर्छ र सो शब्दले पक्षी र माछालाई समेत जनाउँछ।

    AHLS s.2(क) · Checked

  • (२) उपदफा (१) को सर्वसामान्यतामा प्रतिकूल असर नपर्ने गरी गाउँपालिका तथा नगरपालिकाको काम, कर्तव्य र अधिकार देहाय बमोजिम हुनेछ :-

    LGOA s.11(2), lead-in · Checked

  • (१) कृषि तथा पशुपालन, कृषि उत्पादन व्यवस्थापन र पशु स्वास्थ्य सम्बन्धी स्थानीय नीति, कानून, मापदण्ड, योजना, कार्यान्वयन, अनुगमन र नियमन,

    LGOA s.11(2)(ण)(1) · Checked

Bird-flu housing orders

Current status needs rechecking

Check the agency's own page (not a 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 2026-11-08

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: Nepal

Applies to: Bird-flu affected and surveillance areas declared under the Bird Flu Control Regulation 2078, and disease-affected areas under the Animal Health and Livestock Services Act.

Outside this finding's scope

  • No order requiring backyard birds to be housed was identified; this does not establish that none exists.

What the checked sources say

  • The Department of Livestock Services may recommend to the Ministry that the area around a place where a bird-flu sample was taken be declared a bird-flu affected area, and the Government of Nepal may declare such an area for a set period.
  • The Department may declare an intensive-surveillance area of at least seven kilometres around the affected area.
  • While an affected-area declaration stands, no one may, in a way contrary to section 15 of the Animal Health and Livestock Services Act, keep birds, run hatcheries or bird-feed industries, or produce, process, sell or move bird products there; the livestock office head, or an officer he or she designates, may restrict moving birds, bird products and other things that can spread bird flu out of or through affected and surveillance areas.
  • Under the Nepal Law Commission's consolidated text of the Animal Health and Livestock Services Act, which includes an amending Act authenticated and published on 2082-04-14 BS (its commencement was not read), the office head must declare a disease-affected area and a surveillance area beyond it when testing confirms a contagious disease, and the federal ministry responsible for livestock declares the affected area when, on a technical report, a contagious disease has spread to more than one province beyond control.
  • Current status is not shown here; check the Department of Livestock Services.
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.

  • भन्नाले कुखुरा, हाँस, लौकाट, अष्ट्रिच, बट्टाई र जुनसुकै प्रकारका पाल्तु पन्छी सम्झनु पर्छ र सो शब्दले जङ्गली पन्छीलाई समेत जनाउँछ।

    BFCR r.2(ग) · Checked

  • भन्नाले भेटेरिनरी अस्पताल वा पशु सेवा विज्ञ केन्द्र सम्झनु पर्छ र सो शब्दले जिल्लास्थित पशु सेवा हेर्ने निकायलाई समेत जनाउँछ

    BFCR r.2(ख) · Checked

  • भन्नाले नेपाल सरकार, पशु सेवा विभाग सम्झनु पर्छ।

    AHLS s.2(ञ) · Checked

  • (१) नियम ७ को उपनियम (५) बमोजिमको प्रयोगशालाको प्रतिवेदनबाट कुनै स्थानमा बर्ड फ्लू लागेको पुष्टि भएमा र बर्ड फ्लू थप फैलन सक्ने सम्भावना भएमा विभागले त्यस्तो नमूना लिइएको स्थानलाई केन्द्रविन्दु मानी त्यसको वरिपरिको तीन किलोमिटरसम्मको क्षेत्रलाई बर्ड फ्लू प्रभावित क्षेत्र घोषणा गर्नको लागि मन्त्रालयमा सिफारिस गर्न सक्नेछ।

    BFCR r.8(1) · Checked

  • बर्ड फ्लू देखिएको स्थान वा क्षेत्रको तीन किलोमिटरभन्दा बढीको क्षेत्रलाई समेत बर्ड फ्लू प्रभावित क्षेत्र घोषणा गर्नका लागि मन्त्रालयमा सिफारिस गर्न सक्नेछ।

    BFCR r.8(2), closing words · Checked

  • नेपाल सरकारले त्यस्तो स्थान वा क्षेत्रलाई अवधि तोकी बर्ड फ्लू प्रभावित क्षेत्र घोषणा गर्न सक्नेछ

    BFCR r.8(3), closing words · Checked

  • (१) विभागले नियम ८ बमोजिम घोषित बर्ड फ्लू प्रभावित क्षेत्रबाट बाहिर कम्तीमा सात किलोमिटर वरिपरिको क्षेत्र र बर्ड फ्लू लागेको क्षेत्रमा पर्ने चिडियाखाना वा संरक्षण क्षेत्रलाई अवधि तोकी बर्ड फ्लूको सघन निगरानी क्षेत्र घोषणा गरी सघन निगरानीको कार्य अघि बढाउन सक्नेछ।

    BFCR r.9(1) · Checked

  • कार्यालय प्रमुख वा निजले तोकेको अधिकृतले नियम ८ बमोजिम घोषित बर्ड फ्लू प्रभावित क्षेत्र वा नियम ९ बमोजिमको सघन निगरानी क्षेत्रबाट वा त्यस्तो क्षेत्र भएर पन्छी, पन्छीजन्य पदार्थ, पन्छी उत्पादन सामग्री तथा बर्ड फ्लू सार्न सक्ने अन्य वस्तुको ओसार पसार गर्न ऐनको दफा १५ बमोजिम प्रतिबन्ध लगाउन सक्नेछ।

    BFCR r.10(1) · Checked

  • (४) बर्ड फ्लू प्रभावित क्षेत्रमा त्यस्तो घोषणा कायम रहेसम्म कसैले ऐनको दफा १५ विपरीत हुने गरी पन्छीपालन गर्न, ह्याचरी तथा पन्छी दाना उद्योग सञ्चालन गर्न र पन्छीजन्य पदार्थ, पन्छी उत्पादन सामग्री तथा वर्ड फ्लू सार्न सक्ने अन्य वस्तुको उत्पादन, प्रशोधन, बिक्री वितरण तथा ओसार पसार गर्न पाइने छैन।

    BFCR r.10(4) · Checked

  • (२) यो नियमावली तुरुन्त प्रारम्भ हुनेछ।

    BFCR r.1(2) · Checked

  • (४) उपदफा (२) बमोजिम परीक्षण गर्दा सङ्क्रामक रोग लागेको पुष्टि भएमा कार्यालय प्रमुखले नमूना सङ्कलन गरिएको स्थानलाई केन्द्रबिन्दु मानी तोकिए बमोजिमको क्षेत्रलाई तोकिए बमोजिम सङ्क्रामक रोग प्रभावित क्षेत्र घोषणा गर्न, त्यस्तो क्षेत्रभन्दा बाहिरको तोकिए बमोजिमको क्षेत्रलाई सघन निगरानी क्षेत्रको रूपमा घोषणा गरी सङ्क्रामक रोग नियन्त्रण सम्बन्धी कार्य गर्नु पर्नेछ।

    AHLS s.28(4), pp. 9–10 · Checked

  • (५) उपदफा (४) मा जुनसुकै कुरा लेखिएको भए तापनि सङ्क्रामक रोग एकभन्दा बढी प्रदेशमा फैलिई काबु बाहिरको परिस्थिति सिर्जना भएको भनी प्राविधिक प्रतिवेदन प्राप्त भएमा नेपाल सरकारको पशुपन्छी विकास हेर्ने मन्त्रालयले सङ्क्रामक रोग प्रभावित क्षेत्र घोषणा गरी सम्बन्धित प्रदेश र स्थानीय तहको समन्वय र सहकार्यमा रोग नियन्त्रण सम्बन्धी कार्य गर्नेछ।

    AHLS s.28(5) · Checked

  • त्यस्तो घोषणा कायम रहेसम्म सङ्क्रामक रोग लाग्ने वा फैलाउने गरी पशुपालन गर्न, ... प्रतिबन्ध लगाउने निकायले आदेश जारी गर्न सक्नेछ।

    AHLS s.28(6), opening and closing words · Checked

  • केही नेपाल ऐन संशोधन गर्ने ऐन, २०८२ द्वारा संशोधित।

    AHLS s.28, footnote · Checked

  • Bird Flu (H5N1) outbreak in domestic birds updated on 2083.03.32 based upon the RRT and NAHIS information

    Department of Livestock Services home page, notices list · Checked

  • केही नेपाल ऐन संशोधन गर्ने ऐन, २०८२ २०८२।०४।१४

    Animal Health and Livestock Services Act 2055, header table of amending Acts, row 4 · Checked

Small-flock welfare minimums

Rule identified for the scope below

Jurisdiction: Nepal

Applies to: Anyone, towards animals and birds (Muluki Criminal Code 2074, s.290).

Outside this finding's scope

  • No positive care standard (feed, water, shelter) was quoted from national law.

What the checked sources say

  • Do not beat animals or birds, or make them carry more than they can bear.
  • Do not torture them, abandon in public an animal or bird you keep because it is sick or old, or otherwise treat them cruelly.
  • Breaking this is punishable by up to three months' imprisonment, a fine of up to five thousand rupees, or both.

The official wording

  • (१) कसैले कुनै पशुपक्षीलाई कुटी, हिर्काई वा बोक्न सक्ने क्षमताभन्दा बढी भारी बोकाई

    Muluki Criminal Code 2074, s.290(1), opening words · Checked

  • अन्य कुनै प्रकारले यातना दिन वा आफूले पालेको पशुपंक्षी रोगी वा वृद्ध भएको कारणले सार्वजनिक रुपमा छाड्न वा अन्य कुनै किसिमबाट निर्दयी वा क्रुर व्यवहार गर्न हुँदैन।

    Muluki Criminal Code 2074, s.290(1), closing words · Checked

  • (२) उपदफा (१) बमोजिमको कसूर गर्ने वा गराउने व्यक्तिलाई तीन महिनासम्म कैद वा पाँच हजार रुपैयाँसम्म जरिबाना वा दुवै सजाय हुनेछ।

    Muluki Criminal Code 2074, s.290(2) · Checked

National rules on keeping poultry

No rule identified in this research

Jurisdiction: Nepal

Applies to: Powers of rural municipalities and municipalities over animal husbandry (Local Government Operation Act 2074, s.11).

Outside this finding's scope

  • No national rule on keeping backyard chickens was identified in the national texts read; this is not permission.
  • Local rules were not researched.

What the checked sources say

  • Rural municipalities and municipalities make local policy, laws and standards on animal husbandry and animal health and regulate them.
  • They also control epidemic diseases affecting livestock and birds; ask your local level what applies at your address.

The official wording

  • (१) गाउँपालिका तथा नगरपालिकाको एकल अधिकार संविधानको अनुसूची-८ मा उल्लेख भए बमोजिम हुनेछ।

    Local Government Operation Act 2074, s.11(1) · Checked

  • (२) उपदफा (१) को सर्वसामान्यतामा प्रतिकूल असर नपर्ने गरी गाउँपालिका तथा नगरपालिकाको काम, कर्तव्य र अधिकार देहाय बमोजिम हुनेछ :-

    LGOA s.11(2), lead-in · Checked

  • (१) कृषि तथा पशुपालन, कृषि उत्पादन व्यवस्थापन र पशु स्वास्थ्य सम्बन्धी स्थानीय नीति, कानून, मापदण्ड, योजना, कार्यान्वयन, अनुगमन र नियमन,

    LGOA s.11(2)(ण)(1) · Checked

  • (३) कृषि तथा पशुपक्षीजन्य प्राकृतिक प्रकोप तथा महामारी रोगको नियन्त्रण,

    LGOA s.11(2)(ण)(3) · Checked

This does not establish that keeping is unrestricted or that all rules are local.

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

More countries we've checked

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Common questions

Do I have to register backyard chickens in Nepal?
Registration: no rule identified. The finding covers: National animal-health law (Animal Health and Livestock Services Act 2055; Bird Flu Control Regulation 2078). Outside this finding's scope: No national registration of backyard bird keepers was identified in the national texts read; this does not establish that none exists. Local rules were not researched.
Can I keep chickens in my backyard in Nepal?
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 Nepal?
Housing orders come and go, so we never show one as current. This page links the agency's own page to check; it is not a status page.

Allowed where you live? Then keep the records.

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