Can you keep backyard chickens in Massachusetts?
In Massachusetts, your local board of health may make reasonable health regulations, including ones that affect keeping poultry (M.G.L. c. 111, s. 31), so check with it. Whether keepers must register wasn't established.
Read from 11 official sources34 passages quotedChecked October 24, 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:
- Local boards of health may make reasonable health regulations. Where a municipality has a municipal agricultural commission, the board of health must send it a copy of any proposed regulation that impacts the non-commercial keeping of poultry, livestock or bees before enacting it, and the commission has a 45-day review period in which it may comment and make recommendations. Breaking a reasonable health regulation that carries no other penalty can bring a fine of up to one thousand dollars.
No statewide permission or prohibition on keeping chickens is established by this finding. Your local board of health may make reasonable health regulations, and zoning ordinances or by-laws may also apply, so check with your board of health and the zoning rules where you live. This page names the state law, not those local rules, and doesn't cover HOA, rooster or setback rules.
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 Massachusetts'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: Massachusetts
Applies to: Inspection and record duties of Massachusetts’s local inspectors of animals under M.G.L. c. 129, as checked on 24 October 2026.
Outside this finding's scope
- Whether Massachusetts requires backyard poultry keepers to register was not established. None of the sections of M.G.L. c. 129 read (sections 1, 2, 11, 19, 21, 24, 25 and 30) requires a keeper to register, and the state’s animal health regulations were not read.
What the checked sources say
- In M.G.L. chapter 129, domestic animals means all animals, including poultry, that are kept or harbored as domesticated animals, and for that definition poultry includes chickens, roosters, capons, hens, turkeys, pigeons, guinea fowl, and ducks and geese other than wild species. Local inspectors of animals must inspect other domestic animals (beyond cattle, sheep and swine) when they know or suspect contagious disease or exposure, and must inspect all domestic animals and any place where they are kept whenever the director of animal health directs. Each inspector keeps a record of all inspections.
Authority: Not established from the sources checked.
Fee: Not established from the sources checked.
The official wording
''Domestic animals'', all animals including poultry that are kept or harbored as domesticated animals.
M.G.L. c. 129, s. 1, "Domestic animals", first sentence · Checked
Poultry as used in this section shall include chickens, roosters, capons, hens, turkeys, pigeons, guinea fowl, and ducks and geese other than wild species.
M.G.L. c. 129, s. 1, "Domestic animals", second sentence · Checked
Inspectors shall make regular and thorough inspections of all neat cattle, sheep and swine found within the limits of their respective towns.
M.G.L. c. 129, s. 19, first sentence · Checked
They shall also from time to time make inspections of all other domestic animals within the limits of their respective towns if they know, or have reason to suspect, that such animals are affected with or have been exposed to any contagious disease,
and they shall immediately inspect all domestic animals and any place where any such animals are kept whenever directed so to do by the director;
Each inspector shall keep a record of all inspections made of animals pursuant to this chapter.
M.G.L. c. 129, s. 25, first sentence · 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 2026-10-24
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: Massachusetts
Applies to: Order, quarantine and isolation powers of Massachusetts’s director of animal health and local inspectors of animals over domestic animals, poultry included, under M.G.L. c. 129, sections 2, 11, 21 and 30.
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, isolation or housing order applies now.
What the checked sources say
- The director of animal health may make and enforce reasonable orders, rules and regulations on the inspection, examination, quarantine, care and treatment or destruction of domestic animals, poultry included, that have or have been exposed to a contagious disease, meaning one the USDA’s animal health division recognizes as contagious or infectious. Rules and regulations take effect only once approved by the governor and council.
- If the director or one of the director’s agents, examining a case of contagious disease other than foot and mouth disease, considers that the public good requires it, the diseased animal must be securely isolated or killed.
- A local inspector who suspects a domestic animal has a contagious disease must have it quarantined or isolated for at least ten days on the premises of its owner or the person in charge of it, or in another place the inspector designates, and must give the owner or person in charge a written notice or order of quarantine.
- Disobeying a lawful order or regulation of the director, the director’s agents or inspectors under this chapter can bring a fine of up to five hundred dollars, imprisonment for up to one year, or both.
- 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.
The director may make and enforce reasonable orders, rules and regulations relative to the following:
the inspection, examination, quarantine, care and treatment or destruction of domestic animals affected with or which have been exposed to contagious disease,
No rules or regulations shall take effect until approved by the governor and council.
M.G.L. c. 129, s. 2, second sentence · Checked
''Contagious disease'', such disease as is recognized by the United States department of agriculture, animal health division, to be contagious or infectious.
''Director'', director of animal health.
M.G.L. c. 129, s. 1, "Director" · Checked
If the director, or one of his agents, by examination of a case of contagious disease of domestic animals, except foot and mouth disease, is of opinion that the public good so requires, he shall cause the diseased animal to be securely isolated or to be killed without appraisal or payment.
M.G.L. c. 129, s. 11, first sentence · Checked
An inspector who, upon an examination of a domestic animal, suspects, or has reason to believe, that it is affected with a contagious disease shall immediately cause it to be quarantined or isolated for at least ten days upon the premises of the owner or of the person in whose charge it is found,
or in such other place as he may designate,
M.G.L. c. 129, s. 21, first sentence, continuation · Checked
He shall also deliver to the owner or person in charge of such animal, or to any person having an interest therein, a written notice or order of quarantine signed by him, in such form as the director shall prescribe, and shall enter a copy of said notice upon his records.
M.G.L. c. 129, s. 21, second sentence · Checked
or whoever disobeys a lawful order or regulation of the director or of any of his agents or of inspectors in the performance of their duty under this chapter, shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or both.
Small-flock welfare minimums
Rule identified for the scope below
Jurisdiction: Massachusetts
Applies to: Anyone who has the charge or custody of an animal, as owner or otherwise, and anyone who does an act listed in Massachusetts's cruelty statute, M.G.L. c. 272, section 77 (such as torturing, tormenting, depriving of necessary sustenance, cruelly beating or mutilating an animal).
Outside this finding's scope
- Section 77 does not define “animal” in its own text, and the only exception it states concerns an animal used as lure or bait in fishing. Other sections of chapter 272 were not checked for exemptions.
- This finding is not a complete welfare code and sets no numerical space standard or property permission.
What the checked sources say
- Anyone who has the charge or custody of an animal, as owner or otherwise, must not inflict unnecessary cruelty on it or unnecessarily fail to provide it with proper food, drink, shelter, sanitary environment, or protection from the weather. An owner, possessor or custodian must not willfully abandon it.
- Torturing, tormenting, depriving of necessary sustenance, cruelly beating or mutilating an animal is also an offence. For a first offence the penalty is up to 7 years in state prison or up to 2 1/2 years in the house of correction, a fine of up to $5,000, or both; a second or subsequent offence can bring up to 10 years in state prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both.
The official wording
Whoever overdrives, overloads, drives when overloaded, overworks, tortures, torments, deprives of necessary sustenance, cruelly beats, mutilates or kills an animal,
and whoever, having the charge or custody of an animal, either as owner or otherwise, inflicts unnecessary cruelty upon it, or unnecessarily fails to provide it with proper food, drink, shelter, sanitary environment, or protection from the weather,
M.G.L. c. 272, s. 77, first paragraph, custody clause · Checked
and whoever, as owner, possessor, or person having the charge or custody of an animal, cruelly drives or works it when unfit for labor, or willfully abandons it,
M.G.L. c. 272, s. 77, first paragraph, owner clause · Checked
shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 7 years in state prison or imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than 2 1/2 years or by a fine of not more than $5,000 or by both fine and imprisonment;
and whoever uses in a cruel or inhuman manner in a race, game, or contest, or in training therefor, as lure or bait a live animal, except an animal if used as lure or bait in fishing;
M.G.L. c. 272, s. 77, first paragraph, lure-or-bait clause · Checked
provided, however, that a second or subsequent offense shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 10 years or by a fine of not more than $10,000 or by both such fine and imprisonment.
M.G.L. c. 272, s. 77, first paragraph, penalty proviso · Checked
National or state rules on keeping poultry
Conditions apply to this finding
Jurisdiction: Massachusetts
Applies to: Massachusetts boards of health’s power to make health regulations, and the zoning limits for commercial agriculture in M.G.L. c. 40A, section 3.
Outside this finding's scope
- No statewide permission or prohibition on keeping chickens is established by this finding. Your local board of health may make reasonable health regulations, and zoning ordinances or by-laws may also apply, so check with your board of health and the zoning rules where you live. This page names the state law, not those local rules, and doesn't cover HOA, rooster or setback rules.
- The zoning protection covers land used for the primary purpose of commercial agriculture; whether a backyard flock qualifies was not established. No right-to-farm nuisance statute was checked.
What the checked sources say
- Local boards of health may make reasonable health regulations. Where a municipality has a municipal agricultural commission, the board of health must send it a copy of any proposed regulation that impacts the non-commercial keeping of poultry, livestock or bees before enacting it, and the commission has a 45-day review period in which it may comment and make recommendations. Breaking a reasonable health regulation that carries no other penalty can bring a fine of up to one thousand dollars.
- No zoning ordinance or by-law may prohibit, unreasonably regulate, or require a special permit for the use of land for the primary purpose of commercial agriculture. In areas not zoned for agriculture, this protection may be limited to parcels of 5 acres or more, or 2 acres or more where sales of products from the parcel’s agricultural use generate at least $1,000 per acre a year in gross sales.
- Agriculture here includes the keeping and raising of poultry and other domesticated animals used for food purposes, performed by a farmer or on a farm as an incident to or in conjunction with such farming operations.
The official wording
Boards of health may make reasonable health regulations.
M.G.L. c. 111, s. 31, first paragraph, first sentence · Checked
In a municipality with a municipal agricultural commission established pursuant to section 8L of chapter 40, the board of health shall, prior to enacting any regulation that impacts:
(iii) the non-commercial keeping of poultry, livestock or bees;
M.G.L. c. 111, s. 31, second paragraph, item (iii) · Checked
provide the municipal agricultural commission with a copy of the proposed regulation.
M.G.L. c. 111, s. 31, second paragraph, first sentence, closing · Checked
The municipal agricultural commission shall have a 45-day review period during which the commission may hold a public meeting and may provide written comments and recommendations to the board of health relative to the proposed regulation.
M.G.L. c. 111, s. 31, second paragraph, second sentence · Checked
violates any reasonable health regulation, made under authority of this section, for which no penalty by way of fine or imprisonment, or both, is provided by law, shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars.
M.G.L. c. 111, s. 31, first paragraph, last sentence, closing · Checked
nor shall any such ordinance or by-law prohibit, unreasonably regulate, or require a special permit for the use of land for the primary purpose of commercial agriculture, aquaculture, silviculture, horticulture, floriculture or viticulture,
M.G.L. c. 40A, s. 3, first paragraph, first sentence · Checked
except that all such activities may be limited to parcels of 5 acres or more or to parcels 2 acres or more if the sale of products produced from the agriculture, aquaculture, silviculture, horticulture, floriculture or viticulture use on the parcel annually generates at least $1,000 per acre based on gross sales dollars
M.G.L. c. 40A, s. 3, first paragraph, first sentence, closing proviso · Checked
in area not zoned for agriculture, aquaculture, silviculture, horticulture, floriculture or viticulture.
M.G.L. c. 40A, s. 3, first paragraph, first sentence, last words · Checked
For the purposes of this section, the term ''agriculture'' shall be as defined in section 1A of chapter 128,
M.G.L. c. 40A, s. 3, first paragraph, definition sentence · Checked
''Farming'' or ''agriculture'' shall include farming in all of its branches and the cultivation and tillage of the soil, dairying,
M.G.L. c. 128, s. 1A, opening · Checked
the keeping and raising of poultry, swine, cattle and other domesticated animals used for food purposes, bees, fur-bearing animals, and any forestry or lumbering operations, performed by a farmer, who is hereby defined as one engaged in agriculture or farming as herein defined, or on a farm as an incident to or in conjunction with such farming operations,
M.G.L. c. 128, s. 1A, middle · Checked
Bird flu right now? PoultryPal's bird-flu tracker for Massachusetts has the latest we've checked.
Next door
Every state on the map →Common questions
- Do I have to register backyard chickens in Massachusetts?
- Registration: not established. The finding covers: Inspection and record duties of Massachusetts’s local inspectors of animals under M.G.L. c. 129, as checked on 24 October 2026. Outside this finding's scope: Whether Massachusetts requires backyard poultry keepers to register was not established. None of the sections of M.G.L. c. 129 read (sections 1, 2, 11, 19, 21, 24, 25 and 30) requires a keeper to register, and the state’s animal health regulations were not read.
- Can I keep chickens in my backyard in Massachusetts?
- The state law we read gives a named local body its own powers over where hens can live. Local boards of health may make reasonable health regulations. Where a municipality has a municipal agricultural commission, the board of health must send it a copy of any proposed regulation that impacts the non-commercial keeping of poultry, livestock or bees before enacting it, and the commission has a 45-day review period in which it may comment and make recommendations. Breaking a reasonable health regulation that carries no other penalty can bring a fine of up to one thousand dollars. No statewide permission or prohibition on keeping chickens is established by this finding. Your local board of health may make reasonable health regulations, and zoning ordinances or by-laws may also apply, so check with your board of health and the zoning rules where you live. This page names the state law, not those local rules, and doesn't cover HOA, rooster or setback rules. 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 Massachusetts?
- 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 Massachusetts has the latest we've checked.
Allowed where you live? Then keep the records.
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