Can I keep backyard chickens in Rockport, Maine?
Rockport's Land Use Ordinance lets you keep animals other than household pets, which would include chickens, only on lots of at least 40,000 square feet (about 0.92 acre), with the enclosure at least 25 feet from every property line. A 2025 state law bars towns from prohibiting hens on residential property, so ask the Code Enforcement Officer how Rockport applies the lot-size rule to smaller lots.
| Minimum lot size for non-pet animals | 40,000 sq ft [1] |
| Enclosure/coop setback | 25 ft from any property line [1] |
| Rural District exception | Enclosure may reach the property line unless it abuts a residential lot of 1 acre or less [2] |
| Health standards | Must conform to state and local health standards [2] |
What the ordinance says
Rockport doesn't have a chicken-specific ordinance. Instead, Section 806 (Livestock Control) of the Land Use Ordinance says animals other than household pets may be kept only on lots of 40,000 square feet or more, and their enclosure must be at least 25 feet from any property line [1]. Backyard hens aren't household pets, so a coop and run would fall under this rule. The ordinance does not set a maximum number of birds or treat roosters differently.
Rural District
In the Rural District, the animal enclosure may extend to the property line, except where it abuts a residential property of one acre or less, in which case the 25-foot setback applies. Conditions resulting from keeping animals must conform to state and local health standards [2].
Farming as a land use
The ordinance defines agriculture as including the keeping of poultry and livestock for sale or lease [3]. Raising birds to sell eggs or meat on a larger scale may therefore be treated as an agricultural use. The Land Use Table row for agricultural use shows it as a conditional use (Planning Board approval) in the Harbor Village, Village and Residential Coastal districts and as permitted in the Rural District; it isn't listed for the Residential District or the business districts [5].
State law
Since September 24, 2025, Maine law says a town may not adopt an ordinance that prohibits keeping chickens (hens) on your own residential property. Because Rockport's 40,000-square-foot minimum effectively prevents hens on smaller lots, state law may override that provision for hens; it does not protect roosters. The 25-foot enclosure setback and health standards are the kind of rules towns can likely still apply.
Shoreland
In the Shoreland Zoning Overlay, newly established livestock grazing areas must stay 100 feet from GPA great ponds, 75 feet from other water bodies and coastal wetlands, and 25 feet from tributary streams and freshwater wetlands [4].
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Next steps
- Check your lot size on the Rockport tax map or your deed (the ordinance threshold is 40,000 sq ft).
- Plan the coop and run at least 25 feet from every property line.
- If your lot is smaller than 40,000 sq ft, ask the Code Enforcement Officer (207-706-4071) how the town applies Section 806 to hens in light of the 2025 state law.
- If the coop is a new structure, ask whether it needs a building permit under Section 601.
Common questions
- Can I have chickens in Rockport, Maine?
- It depends on lot size. Animals other than household pets, which would include chickens, may be kept only on lots of at least 40,000 square feet, with the enclosure at least 25 feet from every property line. A 2025 state law bars towns from prohibiting hens on residential property, so ask the Code Enforcement Officer how Rockport applies the rule to smaller lots.
- How far does a chicken coop have to be from the property line in Rockport, Maine?
- At least 25 feet from any property line. In the Rural District the enclosure may reach the property line unless it abuts a residential lot of one acre or less.
- Does Rockport, Maine limit the number of chickens or ban roosters?
- The ordinance sets no maximum number of birds and doesn't treat roosters differently. State law on hens does not protect roosters.
- Can I sell eggs from my chickens in Rockport, Maine?
- It may be treated as agriculture. The ordinance defines agriculture as including keeping poultry and livestock for sale, which is conditional or permitted only in certain districts.
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
- §806 Livestock Control, Land Use Ordinance (June 9, 2026), p. 58
Animals other than household pets may be kept only on lots of 40,000 square feet or more. Their enclosure must be no closer than 25 feet to any property line.
- §806 Livestock Control, Land Use Ordinance (June 9, 2026), p. 58
In the Rural District, they may extend to the property line except where they abut a residential property of one acre or less, in which case the 25-foot requirement referred to above shall apply. Conditions resulting from the maintenance of animals shall confirm to any and all State and local health standards.
- Chapter 300 Definitions, Agriculture (or Farming), Land Use Ordinance (June 9, 2026), p. 9
Agriculture (or Farming): The cultivation of the soil, production of crops and/or raising of livestock, including but not limited to: the production, keeping or maintenance for sale or lease, of plants and/or animals, forages and sod crops; grains and seed crops; dairy animals and dairy products; poultry and poultry products; livestock; fruits and vegetables; and ornamental and green house products.
- §1415(14)(e) Shoreland Zoning, Agriculture, Land Use Ordinance (June 9, 2026), p. 157
e. Newly established livestock grazing areas shall not be permitted within one hundred (100) feet, horizontal distance, of the normal high-water line of a great pond classified GPA; within seventy-five (75) feet, horizontal distance, of other water bodies and coastal wetlands, nor; within twenty-five (25) feet, horizontal distance, of tributary streams and freshwater wetlands.
- §917(A) Land Use Table, Rural/Agricultural/Recreation (columns 901, 902, 903 = CU; 908 = P), Land Use Ordinance (June 9, 2026), p. 109
Agricultural CU CU CU P