Can I keep backyard chickens in Freeport, Maine?
Freeport has no ordinance written specifically for backyard hens: no hen limit, no rooster ban, and no coop setback rule. Zoning treats poultry as 'Agriculture', a permitted use in the rural and medium-density residential districts (RR-I, RR-II, MDR-I, MDR-II, MD-A/B) but not listed for Village I. Since Sept. 24, 2025, state law bars towns from banning hens on residential property, so confirm with Codes Enforcement how your district is treated.
| Agriculture permitted (RR-I, RR-II, MDR-I, MDR-II, MD-A/B) | Yes, listed as a permitted use [1] |
| Poultry counts as an agricultural product | Yes [2] |
| Agriculture listed in Village I (V-I) | No [3] |
| Max number of hens / rooster rules | None found in the ordinances [6] |
| Coop setbacks | Accessory structures must meet the district's setbacks (no 25-ft shed exception for animal shelters) [8] |
| Odor at the lot line | A nuisance odor detectable at the lot line is prohibited [5] |
No specific backyard-chicken ordinance
Freeport's Chapter 37 is titled "Dogs, Animals and Fowl." Article I, the general section, is "Reserved" (empty), and the rest is a dog ordinance [6]. We found nothing that limits the number of hens, bans roosters, or requires a hen permit or license.
What zoning says
The Zoning Ordinance treats animal keeping as Agriculture. The definition of "agricultural products" includes "poultry and poultry products" [2]. Agriculture is listed as a permitted use in Rural Residential I [1], Medium Density Residential II [9], and also RR-II, MDR-I, the MD-A/MD-B districts, and several commercial, industrial and resource districts. The Village I district's permitted-use list starts with single-family and duplex dwellings and does not include agriculture [3]. So in V-I, keeping hens is not clearly permitted under zoning. Since September 24, 2025, Maine law has barred towns from prohibiting hens on residential property, so state law may override any reading of the zoning that would keep hens out of V-I. Ask Codes before you start.
Coops and nuisances
A coop is an accessory structure, and accessory structures must meet the space standards of each district [8]. In the RR districts, small sheds get a reduced 25-ft side/rear setback, but that definition excludes buildings that shelter animals. A coop therefore has to meet the full district setback, for example 20 ft side and 30 ft rear in MDR-I and MDR-II. Odors readily detectable at the lot line are a prohibited nuisance [5]. The home-occupation rules let you use extra structures for keeping livestock or fowl, which matters if you sell eggs [4].
Shoreland
In the Shoreland Area and Marine Waterfront districts, agriculture is allowed without a permit. In Stream Protection and Resource Protection 1, it needs a Codes Enforcement Officer permit [7].
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Next steps
- Look up your zoning district on Freeport's Official Zoning Map.
- Contact Codes Enforcement (see the Town of Freeport website). Ask whether a few backyard hens count as permitted 'Agriculture' in your district, and what setback the coop needs.
- Place the coop and run outside the district's required setbacks and away from neighbors so odors don't reach the lot line.
- If you are near water or wetlands, check the shoreland rules first. Agriculture needs a CEO permit in Stream Protection and Resource Protection areas.
- Check your deed or HOA covenants. Private restrictions can ban poultry even where zoning allows it.
Common questions
- Can I have chickens in Freeport, Maine?
- It depends on your district. Freeport has no backyard-hen ordinance, and zoning treats poultry as Agriculture, a permitted use in RR-I, RR-II, MDR-I, MDR-II and MD-A/B but not listed for Village I. Confirm with Codes Enforcement how your district is treated.
- How many hens can I have in Freeport, Maine?
- None of the ordinances reviewed set a hen limit, a rooster ban, or a hen permit or license requirement.
- Can I keep chickens in the Village I district in Freeport, Maine?
- It's not clearly permitted under zoning, since agriculture isn't listed for Village I. Since September 24, 2025, state law bars towns from prohibiting hens on residential property, so ask Codes before you start.
- What setbacks apply to a chicken coop in Freeport, Maine?
- A coop is an accessory structure and must meet the full district setback, for example 20 feet side and 30 feet rear in MDR-I and MDR-II. The reduced 25-foot shed setback doesn't apply to buildings that shelter animals.
Maine's backyard chicken law
Towns can't ban hens outright. Since September 24, 2025, state law (7 M.R.S. §219-D, from LD 1655) says a town or county may not adopt an ordinance that prohibits a person from keeping chickens on their own residential property.
- The law defines "chicken" as a female domesticated bird raised for meat or eggs. Fully mature roosters aren't covered, so towns can still ban or limit them.
- The law also says it does not limit a town's "home rule" authority. In practice towns appear to keep the power to regulate how hens are kept, such as how many, coop location and setbacks, and sanitation, as long as the rules don't amount to a ban. The law is new, and courts haven't yet tested how far towns can go.
- Older ordinances that ban chickens in some zones may still be on the books but conflict with this law. Ask your town how it's applying them.
Right to Farm. Maine's Right to Farm law (7 M.R.S. §151 et seq.) protects farm operations connected to the commercial production of agricultural products from nuisance claims. A small flock kept just for your own eggs likely isn't covered.
Private deed covenants or HOA rules aren't addressed by the law and may still limit chickens.
What the ordinance says
- Sec. 402.I.B (RR-I permitted uses), Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 21), p. 49
B. The following are permitted Uses: 1. Single-Family Dwelling 2. Duplex Dwelling 3. Reserved 4. Agriculture {Amended, Effective 06/18/13}
- Sec. 104 Definitions, Agriculture: Agricultural products, Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 21), p. 12
as amended from time to time, meaning those plants and animals and their products that are useful to humans and includes, but are not limited to, forages and sod crops, grains and grain products, feed crops, dairy and dairy products, poultry and poultry products
- Sec. 407.B (V-I permitted uses), Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 21), p. 67
B. Permitted Uses: 1. Single-Family Dwelling 2. Duplex Dwelling The following uses are subject to subdivision review:
- Sec. 503(6), Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 21), p. 117
6. Additional structures may be used in the case of the raising, breeding or keeping of livestock or fowl.
- Sec. 516, Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 21), p. 152
The emission of odorous or toxic matter in such quantities as to be readily detectable at any point along lot lines so as to produce a public nuisance or hazard is prohibited.
- Chapter 37, Articles I-II, Dogs, Animals and Fowl (Chapter 37), p. 1
ARTICLE I IN GENERAL (RESERVED) ARTICLE II DOG ORDINANCE
- Sec. 305, Table 1, line 11, Shoreland Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 65), p. 29
11. Agriculture CEO CEO yes yes
- Sec. 104 Definitions, Accessory Use or Structure, Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 21), p. 11
Accessory structures shall conform to the space standards of each district.
- Sec. 405.B (MDR-II permitted uses), Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 21), p. 59
B. Permitted Uses: 1. Single-Family Dwelling 2. Duplex Dwelling 3. Agriculture {Amended, Effective 06/18/13}