Can you keep backyard chickens in Puerto Rico?
The sources we read don't settle registration or who decides where hens can live. Here's what they do say.
Read from 5 official sources31 passages quotedChecked October 29, 2026
At a glance
Registering your flock
Territory keeping rule
Bird-flu housing orders
Welfare rules
A sourced reading of the law in Puerto Rico, not legal advice. Local bylaws and zoning, property or tenancy rules, and any local rooster or coop limits aren't covered here yet: check your local rules before you get hens.
Keeping your flock
These findings cover the 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: Puerto Rico
Applies to: Ley 238-1996 (ordering of the farm industries), Plan 4-2010 and Ley 154-2008, read on October 29, 2026 in OGP's compilations.
Outside this finding's scope
- No registration duty aimed at backyard keepers was found in the laws read (Ley 238-1996, Plan 4-2010, Ley 154-2008); whether Ley 154-2008's licence for every breeder ('todo criador') reaches backyard keepers is not established. The egg industry office's Regulation 7713 could not be read. This is not proof that no duty exists.
What the checked sources say
- Ley 238-1996 tells the Department of Agriculture's ordering official to keep a register of producers, intermediaries, processors and importers in the farm industries; a producer there means someone with a farm used for agricultural production for commercial purposes (arts. 4(e) and 2(i)).
- Ley 154-2008 says every breeder ('todo criador') must be licensed by the Government of Puerto Rico, with the Health Department issuing the licences and setting their requirements; operating without one is an offence once the Health Department licence is available. The law's definitions cover only a commercial animal breeder ('criador comercial de animales'), someone in the business of breeding animals for sale; 'criador' alone is not defined. Whether the licence reaches backyard keepers, including those who hatch or sell chicks, and whether the Health Department licence is available, is not established (ch. II, art. 17(b); ch. I, art. 2(g)).
Authority: Not established from the sources checked.
Fee: Not established from the sources checked.
The official wording
Establecerá un registro de los productores, intermediarios, elaboradores e importadores relacionados con las industrias agropecuarias.
Ley 238-1996, art. 4(e) · Checked
Productor — significa persona que es dueña, administradora, arrendataria o encargada de una finca destinada a la producción agropecuaria con fines comerciales.
Ley 238-1996, art. 2(i) · Checked
Todo criador deberá estar licenciado por el Gobierno de Puerto Rico. El Departamento de Salud será la agencia responsable de emitir las licencias y establecer los requisitos para las mismas.
Todo criador que opere sin licencia del Departamento de Salud para dichos propósitos, luego de la disponibilidad de la licencia del Departamento de Salud, incurrirá en un delito menos grave.
“Criador comercial de animales” — es aquella persona natural o jurídica dedicada al negocio de cría de animales para la venta.
Ley 154-2008, cap. I, art. 2(g) · 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 2026-11-08
The scope and conditions below are a dated record, not confirmation of today's position.
Not established from the sources checked
Uses housing orders in this scope: Not established from the sources checked.
Jurisdiction: Puerto Rico
Applies to: The Secretary of Agriculture's veterinary rule-making powers under Plan 4-2010 (arts. 3(i) and 9), read on October 29, 2026 in OGP's compilation revised April 24, 2024.
Outside this finding's scope
- No power to order poultry kept indoors or confined on a premises was found in the sections read (Plan 4-2010, arts. 3, 7 and 9), and the Department of Agriculture's animal-disease regulations could not be read. Article 9 says it does not change Health Department or animal quarantine laws; those laws were not identified.
- This finding does not establish that any order applies now.
What the checked sources say
- Plan 4-2010 lets the Secretary of Agriculture set, by regulation, veterinary control measures to prevent the introduction and spread of infectious diseases among animals in Puerto Rico and to control and eradicate diseases of livestock, a term that includes birds kept for commercial meat and egg production (arts. 9(a) and 3(i)).
- The Department of Agriculture's transition report of regulations in force lists a quarantine barring live birds, table eggs and hatching eggs from US areas affected by exotic Newcastle disease (Regulation 6592). That is an import rule, not an order to keep birds indoors.
- Current mandatory housing status remains unconfirmed; ask the Department of Agriculture.
- 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.
El Secretario estará facultado a establecer, mediante reglamento, las medidas necesarias, apropiadas o convenientes para: (a) tomar las medidas necesarias de control veterinario para la protección del ganado de Puerto Rico; evitar la introducción y diseminación de enfermedades infecto-contagiosas entre los animales en Puerto Rico;
Plan 4-2010, art. 9 (Sanidad vegetal y veterinaria), opening and (a) · Checked
controlar, erradicar, reprimir y tratar plagas y enfermedades de los animales pecuarios en Puerto Rico
Plan 4-2010, art. 9(a), continued · Checked
Animales pecuarios — Incluye todas las clases de ganado vacuno, lechero y de carne; ganado porcino; ganado caballar, asnal y mular; ganado cabrío; ganado ovejuno; conejos, y aves dedicadas a la producción comercial de carne y huevos.
Plan 4-2010, art. 3(i) (definitions) · Checked
Nada de lo dispuesto en este Artículo se entenderá que invalida o modifica alguna disposición de las leyes del Departamento de Salud o de cuarentena, tanto animal como vegetal.
Plan 4-2010, art. 9, closing paragraph · Checked
Cuarentena para prohibir la introducción al E.L.A. de PR. De aves vivas, huevos para consumo humano y/o huevos para incubar, procedentes de áreas de los E.U. afectadas por la enfermedad conocida como Newcastle Exotica.
Departamento de Agricultura transition report, regulations in force, entry 6592 · Checked
REGLAMENTOS, MEMORANDOS, CIRCULARES Y NORMAS PROPIAS DE LA AGENCIA O CORPORACIÓN PÚBLICA VIGENTES AL MOMENTO DE LA TRANSICIÓN
Departamento de Agricultura transition report, 'Reglamentos vigentes', page 1 heading · Checked
Small-flock welfare minimums
Rule identified for the scope below
Jurisdiction: Puerto Rico
Applies to: Puerto Rico's Animal Welfare and Protection Act (Ley 154-2008), whose definition of animal includes birds; its duties bind any person in control or possession of an animal.
Outside this finding's scope
- The sections read set no numerical space or housing standard for poultry.
- No exemption for farm or commercial poultry was found in the sections read (ch. I, art. 2; ch. II, arts. 1 to 3 and 17); the only exception found in the definition of mistreatment covers activities under Puerto Rico's Wildlife Act.
- Read in OGP's compilation revised May 8, 2026, which includes the amendments of Ley 73 of May 1, 2026; OGP notes it is not an official compilation. The quoted provisions were also matched against the act as enacted in 2008 (Department of State certified copy); the 2011 and 2026 amending acts read do not amend them.
What the checked sources say
- Anyone in control of an animal must give it enough space to move freely on the keeper's property; confining, tying or otherwise limiting an animal's movement in a way that causes it needless suffering is an offence (ch. II, art. 2).
- A person who knowingly, carelessly or negligently fails to give minimum care to an animal in their possession is treated as negligent, and neglect of animals is an offence (ch. II, art. 3(a) and (b)).
- Minimum care includes enough food of adequate quality, access to drinking water, a structure that protects the animal from the weather, the veterinary care a prudent person thinks necessary, adequate space for exercise, and a clean environment (ch. I, art. 2(f)).
The official wording
“Animal” — significa cualquier animal mamífero, aves, reptiles, anfibios, peces, cetáceos y cualquier otro animal de los tipos (phyla) superiores o que esté en cautiverio o bajo el control de cualquier persona
Ley 154-2008, cap. I, art. 2(b) · Checked
Cualquier persona en control de un animal debe proveerle espacio adecuado que le permita libertad de movimiento, dentro de la propiedad del guardián.
Ley 154-2008, cap. II, art. 2(a) (Confinamiento de animales) · Checked
Cualquier persona que encierre, amarre o de otro modo limite el movimiento de un animal causándole sufrimiento innecesario, cometerá delito menos grave
Ley 154-2008, cap. II, art. 2(b) · Checked
Una persona se considerará negligente si dicha persona a sabiendas, descuidadamente o por negligencia falla en proveer cuidado mínimo a un animal en posesión de dicha persona.
Ley 154-2008, cap. II, art. 3(a) (Maltrato por negligencia) · Checked
La negligencia de animales es un delito menos grave
Ley 154-2008, cap. II, art. 3(b) · Checked
“Cuidado mínimo” significa el cuidado suficiente para preservar la salud y bienestar de un animal, exceptuando emergencias o circunstancias más allá del control razonable del guardián.
Ley 154-2008, cap. I, art. 2(f), opening · Checked
Cantidad y calidad de alimento suficiente para permitir el crecimiento o mantenimiento de peso corporal normal para el animal. ii. Acceso abierto o adecuado a agua potable
Ley 154-2008, cap. I, art. 2(f)(i)–(ii) · Checked
Acceso a un establo, casa o cualquier otra estructura que pueda proteger al animal de las inclemencias del tiempo
Ley 154-2008, cap. I, art. 2(f)(iii) · Checked
Proveer el cuidado veterinario que una persona prudente estime necesario para proteger al animal de sufrimiento; incluye vacunación y cuidado preventivo.
Ley 154-2008, cap. I, art. 2(f)(iv) · Checked
Que el animal tenga el espacio adecuado para ejercicio necesario para su salud.
Ley 154-2008, cap. I, art. 2(f)(v)(a) · Checked
Un medioambiente limpio y libre de exceso de desecho u otros contaminantes que puedan afectar la salud del animal.
Ley 154-2008, cap. I, art. 2(f)(v)(e) · Checked
Se exceptúa de esta definición aquellas gestiones necesarias y contempladas en la Ley Núm. 241 de 1999, conocida como la Nueva Ley de Vida Silvestre de Puerto Rico
Ley 154-2008, cap. I, art. 2(n) · Checked
(Contiene enmiendas incorporadas por las siguientes leyes: Ley Núm. 208 de 20 de octubre de 2011 Ley Núm. 73 de 1 de mayo de 2026)
Ley 154-2008 (OGP compilation), amendment list under the title · Checked
Rules on keeping poultry
Not established from the sources checked
Jurisdiction: Puerto Rico
Applies to: The Municipal Code of Puerto Rico (Ley 107-2020): each municipality may regulate local needs by ordinance (arts. 1.009 and 1.010), and land-use and building matters fall under the Planning Board and the Permits Management Office (OGPe), with some permit powers passing to municipalities that adopt a territorial plan (art. 6.006). Read in OGP's compilation revised October 15, 2026.
Outside this finding's scope
- No Commonwealth-wide permission or prohibition on keeping chickens was established from the laws read (Ley 107-2020, arts. 1.008 to 1.010 and 6.006; Ley 154-2008; Plan 4-2010; Ley 241-1950; Ley 238-1996). The Planning Board's land-use and permit regulations, municipal land-use plans and ordinances, and Health Department rules were not read. This is not permission to keep chickens.
What the checked sources say
- Each municipality may order, regulate and decide whatever is necessary or convenient to meet local needs, and may pass ordinances with penalties (Ley 107-2020, arts. 1.010 and 1.009).
- Municipalities may adopt measures to protect public health from stray domestic animals, and set policy and plans for the use of their territory, subject to the Municipal Code (art. 1.010(h) and (i)).
- Land-use and building matters fall under the Planning Board and the Permits Management Office (OGPe); municipal land-use plans include rules on them, and a municipality can take over some use and construction permit powers once it adopts a territorial plan (art. 6.006). Before keeping chickens, ask your municipality about its ordinances, and ask your municipality or OGPe which land-use rules apply to your property.
The official wording
Corresponde a cada municipio ordenar, reglamentar y resolver cuanto sea necesario o conveniente para atender las necesidades locales y para su mayor prosperidad y desarrollo.
Ley 107-2020, art. 1.010, opening · Checked
El municipio tendrá poder para aprobar y poner en vigor ordenanzas conteniendo penalidades por violaciones a las mismas
Ley 107-2020, art. 1.009, opening · Checked
Adoptar e implementar las medidas de precaución que sean convenientes o necesarias para proteger la salud pública, en lo que pueda ser afectada por animales domésticos realengos.
Ley 107-2020, art. 1.010(h) · Checked
Establecer política, estrategias y planes dirigidos a la ordenación de su territorio, la conservación de sus recursos y a su óptimo desarrollo, sujeto a lo dispuesto en este Código.
Ley 107-2020, art. 1.010(i) · Checked
Rev. 15 de octubre de 2026
Los Planes de Ordenación incluirán la reglamentación de los usos de suelo y las materias relacionadas con la organización territorial y con la construcción bajo la jurisdicción de la Junta de Planificación y de la Oficina de Gerencia de Permisos (OGPe).
Una vez adoptado un Plan Territorial, se faculta el traspaso ordenado a los municipios de ciertas facultades de ordenación territorial de la Junta de Planificación y de la OGPe, para emitir autorizaciones y permisos de uso y construcción
Ley 107-2020, art. 6.006, paragraph on Planning Board approval and transfer · Checked
Common questions
- Do I have to register backyard chickens in Puerto Rico?
- Registration: not established. The finding covers: Ley 238-1996 (ordering of the farm industries), Plan 4-2010 and Ley 154-2008, read on October 29, 2026 in OGP's compilations. Outside this finding's scope: No registration duty aimed at backyard keepers was found in the laws read (Ley 238-1996, Plan 4-2010, Ley 154-2008); whether Ley 154-2008's licence for every breeder ('todo criador') reaches backyard keepers is not established. The egg industry office's Regulation 7713 could not be read. This is not proof that no duty exists.
- Can I keep chickens in my backyard in Puerto Rico?
- The sources we read don't settle it, though they name the bodies shown under “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 Puerto Rico?
- Housing orders come and go, so we never show one as current. We haven't confirmed an official current-status page for it.
Allowed where you live? Then keep the records.
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