Can I keep backyard chickens in Burlington, Massachusetts?
Yes, with a Board of Health Keeping of Animals Permit ($25 a year, after a public hearing with notice to abutters). In the RO single-family district, zoning only requires a Planning Board special permit for seven or more chickens; that up to six need no zoning permit is our reading of the use table and a 2013 amendment, not an explicit rule. Roosters and cockerels are banned townwide.
| Board of Health permit | Required to keep one or more animals, including poultry [1] |
| Permit fee | $25 per year (renews June 30) [2] |
| Max hens without a zoning special permit (RO) | 6 (7 or more by special permit) [3] |
| Roosters / cockerels | Prohibited [4] |
| Coop setbacks | Must meet the zoning district's setbacks [5] |
| Public hearing | Abutters notified by certified mail at least 14 days before [6] |
| Coop plans | Board of Health approval needed before building or altering [7] |
Zoning
These zoning rules come from the bylaw as consolidated through January 2025; a September 2026 proposal on animal uses isn't in our copy and may change them.
In 2013 Town Meeting amended the zoning bylaw to allow up to six chickens in the RO District [8]. The current accessory use schedule no longer has that row; it lists only "The keeping of 7 or more chickens" as needing a special permit (SP) in RO and as not allowed in the other base districts [3]. The bylaw doesn't spell out a by-right rule for one to six hens, so "up to six without a zoning permit" is our reading of those two provisions; confirm with the Building Department. Special permits under the use schedules are granted by the Planning Board [9]. Commercial keeping of birds and animals is a separate use that isn't allowed in RO.
Board of Health permit
Burlington's Board of Health Regulations (Article V, Section 2.0, Minimum Standards for the Keeping of Animals) require a permit for anyone keeping one or more animals, except on qualifying commercial farms [1]. "Livestock" includes poultry and other fowl. The Board can limit how many animals the permit allows. Before the first hearing on a new application, the Board notifies abutters by certified mail at least 14 days ahead [6]. The application needs:
- a plot plan showing where the birds will be kept, the house, structures (including fences), abutting structures, septic systems, wells and wetlands
- a written plan for manure, feed storage and pests
- the fee, $25 a year [2]
Permits expire after one year. Renewals must be filed at least 30 days before expiration; a late renewal is treated as a new application with a hearing.
Coops and care
Coops must meet the zoning setbacks for your district [5], and you need Board of Health approval of the plans before building or changing a coop or other animal structure [7]. Birds must stay on your property. Best practices include ventilated housing, dry bedding, fencing for free-ranging birds and keeping the area free of trash and old feed.
Roosters
Keeping roosters and cockerels is prohibited in town [4]. Violations can bring $50-a-day fines or permit revocation.
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Next steps
- Confirm you're in the RO district and plan for six or fewer hens (seven or more needs a Planning Board special permit).
- Draw a plot plan showing the coop, house, fences, neighbors' structures and any wetlands, and write a manure, feed and pest management plan.
- Apply to the Board of Health for a Keeping of Animals Permit ($25) and attend the public hearing; get the coop plans approved before building.
- Site the coop outside the required zoning setbacks; renew the permit each year at least 30 days before it expires.
Common questions
- Can I have chickens in Burlington, Massachusetts?
- Yes, with a Board of Health Keeping of Animals Permit ($25 a year), issued after a public hearing with notice to abutters. Roosters and cockerels are banned townwide.
- How many chickens can I have in Burlington, Massachusetts?
- In the RO single-family district, zoning requires a Planning Board special permit only for seven or more chickens. That up to six need no zoning permit is our reading of the use table and a 2013 amendment, not an explicit rule, so confirm with the Building Department. The Board of Health can also limit numbers.
- Are roosters allowed in Burlington, Massachusetts?
- No. Keeping roosters and cockerels is prohibited in town, and violations can bring $50-a-day fines or permit revocation.
- How do I get a chicken permit in Burlington, Massachusetts?
- Apply to the Board of Health with a plot plan, a manure, feed and pest plan, and the $25 fee. Abutters are notified by certified mail at least 14 days before the hearing. Coop plans need Board of Health approval before building, and permits must be renewed at least 30 days before they expire.
Massachusetts state rules on backyard poultry
Massachusetts has no statewide right to keep backyard hens. Whether you can keep chickens, how many, and where the coop goes are set locally, through your town's zoning bylaw and Board of Health regulations.
- Board of Health power: under M.G.L. c. 111, §31, local boards of health may adopt "reasonable health regulations", and many use this power to require a permit to keep poultry. Violations can bring fines of up to $1,000. In towns with an agricultural commission, the board must send that commission any proposed rule affecting the non-commercial keeping of poultry, livestock or bees for a 45-day review.
- Agricultural zoning protection is for farms, not most backyards: c. 40A, §3 stops zoning from banning or requiring a special permit for commercial agriculture. Towns may limit that protection to parcels of 5 acres or more, or 2 acres or more if the land produces at least $1,000 per acre a year in sales. A typical backyard flock doesn't qualify.
- Annual barn inspections: your town's animal inspector, working under the state Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR), does annual barn inspections and a census of livestock and poultry. Backyard flock owners may be contacted.
- Nuisance rules still apply: a board of health may also regulate or prohibit an activity that causes a nuisance or offensive odors (c. 111, §143).
What the bylaw says
- Art. V §2.3 Applicability, Board of Health Regulations - codified (September 2026), incl. Article V 2.0 Minimum Standards for the Keeping of Animals (adopted March 12, 2019), p. 64
A permit is required for anyone keeping one or more animals as defined in this regulation, except on commercial farms which meet the requirements of M.G.L. ch.40 §3 and/or M.G.L. ch.128 §1A.
- Art. I §4.0 Fee Schedule, Board of Health Regulations - codified (September 2026), incl. Article V 2.0 Minimum Standards for the Keeping of Animals (adopted March 12, 2019), p. 5
Keeping of Animals Permit $25 June 30th
- §4.3.1.14 Accessory Use Regulation Schedule, Burlington Zoning Bylaws (as amended through January 2025, pending AG approval at posting), p. 50
The keeping of 7 or more 4.3.1.14 SP NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO YES YES YES YES NO chickens
- Art. V §2.6 Prohibitions, Board of Health Regulations - codified (September 2026), incl. Article V 2.0 Minimum Standards for the Keeping of Animals (adopted March 12, 2019), p. 67
The keeping of roosters, cockerels and non-exempt wild animals, in accordance with Massachusetts General Law Chapter 131, Section 23 is prohibited within the Town.
- Art. V §2.5(A) General Requirements, Board of Health Regulations - codified (September 2026), incl. Article V 2.0 Minimum Standards for the Keeping of Animals (adopted March 12, 2019), p. 66
A. All structures must comply with the applicable setback requirements for the zoning district in which such structures are located as set forth in the Town Zoning Bylaws and applicable MA building code requirements, notwithstanding any protection accorded by M.G.L. ch.40 §3 and the Wetlands Protection Act, 310 C.M.R §10.00.
- Art. V §2.4(A)-(B) Permit Requirements, Board of Health Regulations - codified (September 2026), incl. Article V 2.0 Minimum Standards for the Keeping of Animals (adopted March 12, 2019), p. 65
A. The Board of Health, under its discretion, may limit the number of animals allowed under the permit. B. At least fourteen days prior to the first session of the Board of Health public hearing on the application, the Board of Health will send notice of the public hearing via certified mail to abutters.
- Art. V §2.5(D), Board of Health Regulations - codified (September 2026), incl. Article V 2.0 Minimum Standards for the Keeping of Animals (adopted March 12, 2019), p. 67
D. No person shall erect, occupy, use, rebuild, reconstruct, alter or structurally change a stable, accessory structure or corral intended for housing or confining of animals without submitting an initial or revised plan to the Board of Health, and obtaining the Board of Health’s express approval thereof.
- Appendix B, zoning amendment history (2013), Burlington Zoning Bylaws (as amended through January 2025, pending AG approval at posting), p. 223
Amended - Article IV, Section 4.3.1.12 “The keeping of animals other than the usual Household pets, subject to the restrictions of the Board of Health” to allow for the keeping of up to six chickens in the RO District.
- §9.2.1 Special Permit Requirements, Burlington Zoning Bylaws (as amended through January 2025, pending AG approval at posting), p. 119
In all districts, any use or accessory use designated by SP in the Principal Use Regulations Schedule and the Accessory Use Regulations Schedule (Article IV, Sections 4.2.0 and 4.3.0) shall require a Special Permit granted by the Planning Board.