Can I keep backyard chickens in Ogunquit, Maine?
It depends on your zone. Ogunquit's zoning treats keeping animals or fowl for noncommercial purposes as animal husbandry. It needs a Code Enforcement Officer permit in the Residential and Rural Residential districts and isn't permitted in the One-Family Residential district. Coops, pens and yards must be at least 100 feet from any neighbor's house.
| One-Family Residential (OFR) | Not permitted under the 2020 zoning table [1] |
| Residential (R), Rural Residential 1 and 2 | Permit from the Code Enforcement Officer [1] |
| Coop / run setback from neighbors' homes | 100 feet from the nearest dwelling other than yours [3] |
| Uncovered manure setback | 150 ft from neighbors' dwellings; 300 ft from water bodies and wells [4] |
| Fencing | Enclosures must be adequately fenced to contain fowl [5] |
| Noise (crowing/cackling) | Must not be audible on adjacent property [6] |
Source and date
This answer relies on the town-posted December 2020 PDF of Chapter 225 (Zoning), which includes amendments through 2019. We could not download the current codified version, so the rules may have changed since then.
Where hens are allowed
The zoning ordinance doesn't mention chickens by name. Hens fall under "animal husbandry for noncommercial purposes" in Table 702.1. That use is not permitted (NP) in the One-Family Residential (OFR) district. It is allowed with a Code Enforcement Officer permit (C) in the Residential (R), Rural Residential 1 (RR1) and Rural Residential 2 (RR2) districts, and not permitted in the Downtown Business district [1][2]. Reading the full table row from the PDF: it is also not permitted in the GB1, GB2 and LB business districts, allowed without a permit in the Farm district, allowed after Planning Board site plan review in the Shoreland Limited Residential (SLR) district, and not permitted in the other shoreland districts. Maine law has barred towns from prohibiting hens on residential property since September 2025, so state law may override the OFR prohibition.
Setbacks and upkeep
Under §225-9.3, every barn, yard or other area where fowl are kept, housed or fed must be at least 100 feet from the nearest dwelling other than yours [3]. On a small lot this setback may rule out a coop. Uncovered manure must be kept 150 feet from neighboring dwellings and 300 feet from any water body or drinking water well [4]. Feed must be stored in rodent-proof containers, and pens must be fenced well enough to hold the birds [5].
Numbers and roosters
The ordinance sets no limit on the number of hens and doesn't single out roosters. However, the Animals chapter makes it a violation to let any animal crow, cackle or make other noise that can be heard on adjacent property [6]. Outbreaks of noise between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m., or lasting 10 minutes or more at other times, are violations. In practice this makes a rooster hard to keep.
Selling eggs or birds
Keeping animals for commercial purposes is a separate use that the 2020 table doesn't permit in the residential districts.
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Next steps
- Confirm your zoning district on the Ogunquit Official Zoning Map at the Town Office or Code Enforcement Office.
- In the R, RR1 or RR2 districts, apply to the Code Enforcement Officer for a permit, with a site sketch showing that the coop and run are at least 100 feet from neighbors' houses.
- If you're in the OFR district, ask the Code Enforcement Office how it applies the zoning ban now that state law protects keeping hens on residential property.
- Plan rodent-proof feed storage, manure handling and fencing before you get birds.
Common questions
- Can I have chickens in Ogunquit, Maine?
- It depends on your zone. Hens count as animal husbandry for noncommercial purposes, which needs a Code Enforcement Officer permit in the Residential and Rural Residential districts and isn't permitted in the One-Family Residential district. Maine law may override that prohibition, since September 2025.
- How far does a chicken coop have to be from neighbors in Ogunquit, Maine?
- Every barn, yard or area where fowl are kept or fed must be at least 100 feet from the nearest dwelling other than yours. On a small lot this setback may rule out a coop.
- Does Ogunquit, Maine limit the number of chickens or ban roosters?
- The zoning ordinance sets no limit on the number of hens and doesn't single out roosters. However, the Animals chapter makes it a violation to let an animal crow, cackle or make noise audible on adjacent property.
- Where can I put chicken manure in Ogunquit, Maine?
- Uncovered manure must be kept 150 feet from neighboring dwellings and 300 feet from any water body or drinking water well. Feed must be stored in rodent-proof containers.
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
- Table 702.1, Land Uses Permitted in Zoning Districts, Ogunquit Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 225 (town PDF), p. 160
Animal husbandry for NP C C C NP NP noncommercial purposes*
- Table 702.1, Key (Reviewing Authority), Ogunquit Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 225 (town PDF), p. 159
C Permitted use with permit from Code Enforcement Officer
- §225-9.3A, Ogunquit Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 225 (town PDF), p. 99
A. All pasture, barns, barnyards, and other areas where the livestock, animals, or fowl are kept, housed, fed, or cared for shall be a minimum of 100 feet from the nearest dwelling other than the applicant's.
- §225-9.3B, Ogunquit Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 225 (town PDF), p. 100
B. Uncovered manure shall be kept 150 feet from the nearest dwelling other than the applicant's and 300 feet from any body of water or drinking water well.
- §225-9.3C-D, Ogunquit Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 225 (town PDF), p. 100
C. All feed and grain shall be stored in rodent proof containers. D. All paddocks, pastures, barnyards or other enclosures must be adequately fenced to contain livestock, animals or fowl.
- Chapter 18, Article II (noise), Animals (Chapter 18), Article II General Regulations, p. 1
The owner of any pet or other animal shall not permit that pet or animal to bark, crow, cackle, talk, sing, or make other noises that are audible to any person on adjacent private or public property. Any outbreaks of noise between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. or for periods of 10 minutes or more at other times shall be a violation of this section.