Can you keep backyard chickens in Maine?
Any Maine municipality may adopt ordinances and zoning (30-A MRSA 3001, 4352), so check yours. Whether the state's constitutional right to grow and raise food limits local hen rules wasn't established.
Read from 12 official sources39 passages quotedChecked October 26, 2026
At a glance
Registering your flock
Where hens can live
Bird-flu housing orders
Welfare rules
Who decides where hens can live
The state law we read gives a named local body its own powers over where hens can live. What the checked sources say:
- Any Maine municipality may, by ordinance or bylaw, exercise any power the Legislature can give it that is not denied expressly or by clear implication.
- A municipal zoning ordinance may provide for any form of zoning consistent with state law and, with one stated exception, must be pursuant to and consistent with a comprehensive plan adopted by the municipal legislative body.
No statewide permission or prohibition on keeping chickens is established by this finding. Maine’s Constitution declares a right to grow and raise food of one’s own choosing for one’s own nourishment and well-being, as long as the individual commits no trespass, theft, poaching or other abuse of private property rights, public lands or natural resources; whether that right limits local rules on keeping hens was not established. Your municipality may adopt ordinances and zoning, so check with it. This page doesn't cover its ordinances.
Registration: not established in the state sources we read.
The law's own words are quoted under state rules on keeping poultry below.
How to check: Look up the local rules where you live (the ordinances, bylaws or zoning of the body named here), or ask that office, before you get hens.
A sourced reading of Maine's state law, 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
Not established from the sources checked
Jurisdiction: Maine
Applies to: Maine Revised Statutes Title 7, chapter 201 (Livestock and Poultry: sections 1302 and 1304) and chapter 303 (Control of Diseases: sections 1751 to 1755), read on 26 October 2026.
Outside this finding's scope
- No registration duty for people who keep poultry was found in the sections read. The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s rules and web pages could not be read for this check, so this is not proof that no keeper duty exists.
What the checked sources say
- The one licence found is for dealers: a person may not act as a dealer of livestock and poultry (someone in the business of buying livestock or poultry mainly for resale) without a department licence. A person who receives livestock and poultry only for slaughter on their own premises is not a dealer. It is not a licence to keep birds.
Authority: Not established from the sources checked.
Fee: Not established from the sources checked.
The official wording
A person, firm, partnership or corporation may not act as a dealer of livestock and poultry unless licensed by the department.
7 MRSA 1304, first sentence · Checked
2. Dealer. "Dealer" means any person or entity engaged in the business of buying livestock or poultry primarily for resale, whether the purchase or sale is completed by cash, delayed payment, transfer, exchange, barter or shipment on commission.
7 MRSA 1302(2), first sentence · Checked
A person who receives livestock and poultry exclusively for slaughter on the person's own premises is not a dealer.
7 MRSA 1302(2), second sentence · Checked
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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 2026-10-26
The scope and conditions below are a dated record, not confirmation of today's position.
Conditions apply to this finding
Uses housing orders in this scope: Yes, according to the checked evidence, within the limits listed under “Outside this finding’s scope” below.
Jurisdiction: Maine
Applies to: The disease-control and quarantine powers of Maine’s Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (7 MRSA 1755), where domestic animals include poultry and poultry means all domesticated birds (7 MRSA 1751).
Outside this finding's scope
- These powers do not in terms require birds to be kept indoors, and this finding does not establish that any quarantine applies now. The department’s website could not be read for this check, so no current-status page is linked.
What the checked sources say
- On discovering or suspecting any disease or pathogen among domestic animals or poultry in Maine, the commissioner may take whatever action the commissioner considers necessary to prevent its spread and to control or eradicate it.
- That action may include quarantine of domestic animals and birds, and of articles, materials, premises, equipment or areas, for the time and under the conditions the commissioner considers necessary. A quarantine may be made by registered mail or in person, and violating any quarantine is illegal and punishable under 7 MRSA 1706.
- Current mandatory housing status remains unconfirmed.
- 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.
As used in this chapter and chapters 201 , 202 , 202‑A , 207 , 301 and 305 , unless the context otherwise indicates, the following words have the following meanings.
7 MRSA 1751, opening · Checked
1. Commissioner. "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry or the commissioner's duly authorized agent.
7 MRSA 1751(1) · Checked
2. Domestic animals. "Domestic animals" means cattle, equines, goats, sheep, swine, cats, dogs, domesticated cervids or other domesticated animals; large game as defined in section 1341, subsection 5 ; and poultry.
7 MRSA 1751(2) · Checked
5. Poultry. "Poultry" means all domesticated birds.
7 MRSA 1751(5) · Checked
The commissioner may, upon discovery or upon suspicion of the existence of any disease or pathogen among domestic animals or poultry in the State, take whatever action the commissioner considers necessary to prevent possible spread and to control or eradicate the disease or pathogen.
Such action may include quarantine of domestic animals, birds, wild animals in captivity and products derived from them, including the quarantine of articles, materials and premises, equipment or areas, for a time and under conditions as the commissioner considers necessary to eradicate or control the disease or pathogen.
Quarantine may be made by registered mail or in person by an authorized agent of the commissioner, or by any other person authorized to do so.
7 MRSA 1755, third paragraph · Checked
It is illegal to violate any quarantine by any person, and such violation is punishable by penalties as outlined in section 1706 .
7 MRSA 1755, last paragraph · Checked
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Small-flock welfare minimums
Conditions apply to this finding
Jurisdiction: Maine
Applies to: Maine’s animal welfare law (7 MRSA 3907 and chapter 739: sections 4011, 4013, 4015 and 4016), where an animal is every living, sentient creature not a human being and livestock includes domesticated fowl.
Outside this finding's scope
- It is an affirmative defense that the animal is kept as part of an agricultural operation in compliance with best management practices for animal husbandry as determined by the department; whether a backyard flock qualifies was not established. Livestock kept under a rotational grazing system need no shelter while there, as long as they have no injuries or infirmities preventing access to food and water and are in good body condition.
What the checked sources say
- Anyone who owns an animal or is responsible for confining it must give it food of sufficient quantity and quality to keep it in good health, and water: if potable water is not always accessible, it must be provided daily in sufficient quantity, and snow or ice is not an adequate water source.
- Livestock must be provided with shelter suitable for their health and, apart from the rotational grazing exception, must have access to a constructed or natural shelter large enough to hold all of them comfortably at one time. Depriving an owned or possessed animal of necessary sustenance, medical attention, proper shelter, protection from the weather or humanely clean conditions, or confining it where extreme heat or cold will harm it, is cruelty to animals.
- A violation of these rules is a civil violation, with a fine of $500 to $5,000 for a first violation; the State may instead charge the crime of cruelty to animals under Title 17.
The official wording
As used in this Part, and in every law relating to or affecting animals, unless the context indicates otherwise, the following terms have the following meanings.
7 MRSA 3907, opening · Checked
"Animal" means every living, sentient creature not a human being.
7 MRSA 3907(2) · Checked
"Livestock" means cattle; equines; sheep; goats; swine; domesticated cervids, fowl and rabbits; members of the family Camelidae, genus lama and genus vicugna; bison; and ratites.
7 MRSA 3907(18-A) · Checked
1. Cruelty to animals. Except as provided in subsection 1‑A , a person, including an owner or the owner's agent, is guilty of cruelty to animals if that person:
7 MRSA 4011(1), opening · Checked
E. Deprives an animal that the person owns or possesses of necessary sustenance, necessary medical attention, proper shelter, protection from the weather or humanely clean conditions;
7 MRSA 4011(1)(E) · Checked
J. Confines an animal in a building, enclosure, car, boat, vehicle or vessel of any kind when extreme heat or extreme cold will be harmful to its health.
7 MRSA 4011(1)(J) · Checked
2. Affirmative defenses. It is an affirmative defense to this section that:
7 MRSA 4011(2), opening · Checked
D. The animal is kept as part of an agricultural operation and in compliance with best management practices for animal husbandry as determined by the department.
7 MRSA 4011(2)(D) · Checked
No person owning or responsible for confining or impounding any animal may fail to supply the animal with a sufficient supply of food and water as prescribed in this section.
7 MRSA 4013, opening · Checked
1. Food. The food shall be of sufficient quantity and quality to maintain all animals in good health.
7 MRSA 4013(1) · Checked
2. Water. If potable water is not accessible to the animal at all times, it must be provided daily and in sufficient quantity for the health of the animal. Snow or ice is not an adequate water source.
7 MRSA 4013(2) · Checked
No person owning or responsible for confining or impounding any animal may fail to provide the animal with proper shelter, protection from the weather and humanely clean conditions as prescribed in this section.
7 MRSA 4015, opening · Checked
5. Livestock. Livestock must be provided with shelter suitable for the health of the animal. Except as provided in subsection 5‑A , livestock must have access to a constructed or natural shelter that is large enough to accommodate all livestock comfortably at one time.
7 MRSA 4015(5), first two sentences · Checked
5-A. Livestock maintained under a rotational grazing system. Notwithstanding subsection 5 , a person is not required to provide shelter for livestock while the animals are maintained under a rotational grazing system
7 MRSA 4015(5-A), first part · Checked
as long as the animals do not have injuries or infirmities that prevent them from accessing food and water and are in good body condition.
7 MRSA 4015(5-A), second part · Checked
1. Penalty. A person who violates this chapter commits a civil violation.
7 MRSA 4016(1), first sentence · Checked
A. The court shall adjudge a civil fine of not less than $500 nor more than $5,000 for the first violation, none of which may be suspended,
7 MRSA 4016(1)(A), first part · Checked
The attorney for the State may elect to charge a defendant with either the crime of cruelty to animals under Title 17, chapter 42, subchapter III or the civil violation of cruelty to animals under this chapter.
7 MRSA 4016(2), third sentence · Checked
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National or state rules on keeping poultry
Conditions apply to this finding
Jurisdiction: Maine
Applies to: Maine municipalities’ ordinance power (30-A MRSA 3001) and municipal zoning ordinances (30-A MRSA 4352).
Outside this finding's scope
- No statewide permission or prohibition on keeping chickens is established by this finding. Maine’s Constitution declares a right to grow and raise food of one’s own choosing for one’s own nourishment and well-being, as long as the individual commits no trespass, theft, poaching or other abuse of private property rights, public lands or natural resources; whether that right limits local rules on keeping hens was not established. Your municipality may adopt ordinances and zoning, so check with it. This page doesn't cover its ordinances.
What the checked sources say
- Any Maine municipality may, by ordinance or bylaw, exercise any power the Legislature can give it that is not denied expressly or by clear implication.
- A municipal zoning ordinance may provide for any form of zoning consistent with state law and, with one stated exception, must be pursuant to and consistent with a comprehensive plan adopted by the municipal legislative body.
The official wording
Any municipality, by the adoption, amendment or repeal of ordinances or bylaws, may exercise any power or function which the Legislature has power to confer upon it, which is not denied either expressly or by clear implication,
30-A MRSA 3001, opening · Checked
A municipal zoning ordinance may provide for any form of zoning consistent with this chapter, subject to the following provisions.
30-A MRSA 4352, opening · Checked
2. Relation to comprehensive plan. A zoning ordinance must be pursuant to and consistent with a comprehensive plan adopted by the municipal legislative body,
30-A MRSA 4352(2), first part · Checked
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Section 25. Right to food. All individuals have a natural, inherent and unalienable right to food, including the right to save and exchange seeds and the right to grow, raise, harvest, produce and consume the food of their own choosing for their own nourishment, sustenance, bodily health and well-being,
Me. Const. art. I, s. 25, first part · Checked
as long as an individual does not commit trespassing, theft, poaching or other abuses of private property rights, public lands or natural resources in the harvesting, production or acquisition of food.
Me. Const. art. I, s. 25, second part · Checked
(Includes CR 2023, c. 1 and CR 2023, c. 2)
Constitution document title page · Checked
Bird flu right now? PoultryPal's bird-flu tracker for Maine has the latest we've checked.
Next door
Every state on the map →Common questions
- Do I have to register backyard chickens in Maine?
- Registration: not established. The finding covers: Maine Revised Statutes Title 7, chapter 201 (Livestock and Poultry: sections 1302 and 1304) and chapter 303 (Control of Diseases: sections 1751 to 1755), read on 26 October 2026. Outside this finding's scope: No registration duty for people who keep poultry was found in the sections read. The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s rules and web pages could not be read for this check, so this is not proof that no keeper duty exists.
- Can I keep chickens in my backyard in Maine?
- The state law we read gives a named local body its own powers over where hens can live. Any Maine municipality may, by ordinance or bylaw, exercise any power the Legislature can give it that is not denied expressly or by clear implication. A municipal zoning ordinance may provide for any form of zoning consistent with state law and, with one stated exception, must be pursuant to and consistent with a comprehensive plan adopted by the municipal legislative body. No statewide permission or prohibition on keeping chickens is established by this finding. Maine’s Constitution declares a right to grow and raise food of one’s own choosing for one’s own nourishment and well-being, as long as the individual commits no trespass, theft, poaching or other abuse of private property rights, public lands or natural resources; whether that right limits local rules on keeping hens was not established. Your municipality may adopt ordinances and zoning, so check with it. This page doesn't cover its ordinances. Look up the local rules where you live (the ordinances, bylaws or zoning of the body named here), or ask that office, before you get hens.
- Do I have to keep my hens indoors for bird flu in Maine?
- Housing orders come and go, so we never show one as current. We haven't confirmed an official current-status page for it. PoultryPal's bird-flu tracker page for Maine has the latest we've checked.
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