Can I keep backyard chickens in Chatham, Massachusetts?
Yes, with limits. Chatham's Board of Health lets you keep up to 10 hens without a permit (roosters always need one), but any coop must be on a lot of at least 40,000 sq ft unless the Board grants a variance. Coops must also sit 40 feet from the neighbor's property line and 30 feet from their house.
| Permit | Board of Health permit for poultry, renewed by January 1 [1] |
| Small flocks | 10 or fewer fowl exempt from the permit; roosters not exempt [2] |
| Minimum lot size for a coop | 40,000 sq ft (or Board of Health variance) [3] |
| Coop setback from abutter's dwelling | 30 ft [4] |
| Coop setback from abutter's property line | 40 ft [4] |
| Pen/enclosure setback from abutter's dwelling and property line | 15 ft [4] |
| Setback from wetlands and private wells | 100 ft [5] |
| Pen size | At least 12 ft x 12 ft for 6 birds, covered [6] |
Who regulates chickens
These rules come from the Board of Health Animal Regulation as last revised in August 2007; check with the Health Division for any later changes. In Chatham, backyard poultry is governed by this regulation, not the zoning bylaw. No one may keep farm animals or poultry without Board of Health approval or a permit, renewed each year by January 1 [1]. A flock of 10 or fewer domestic fowl is exempt from the permit, but roosters are never exempt [2]. The zoning bylaw's "agricultural use" covers commercial farming. It doesn't separately regulate a household flock.
Lot size and coop location
Even without a permit, the coop still has to meet the regulation's siting rules:
- Minimum lot size: no animal shelter (which includes a coop) on a lot under 40,000 sq ft unless the Board of Health grants a variance [3].
- Setbacks from neighbors: the coop must be at least 30 feet from an abutter's dwelling and 40 feet from an abutter's property line. The setback table lists pens and other enclosures separately, at 15 feet from both [4].
- Water and wetlands: 100 feet from any private well or wetland, and 400 feet from a town water supply well [5].
- Road and side-line setbacks from the zoning bylaw's Appendix II also apply [7].
You must submit a site plan showing the coop, enclosure, setbacks and grades for review.
Coop and pen standards
Pens must be at least 12 by 12 feet for six birds, larger for bigger flocks. They must be covered against predators and built so animals can't dig in [6]. Manure must be composted on site or stored covered for no more than two weeks. Keep runoff out of wetlands.
Other animals
The same regulation covers goats, sheep, horses, pigs and rabbits, with larger setbacks and turnout areas. It allows only one pig per 40,000 sq ft. Fines are $25 or $50 per violation, after a first warning.
See how Chatham compares with 8+ other Massachusetts towns on backyard chickens →
Next steps
- Check your lot size: under 40,000 sq ft, you'll need a Board of Health variance before building a coop.
- Sketch a site plan showing the coop (30 ft from neighbors' houses, 40 ft from their property lines), the pen (15 ft from both), and distances to wells and wetlands (100 ft).
- Contact the Chatham Health Division to submit the plan and, if you'll have more than 10 birds or any rooster, apply for an animal permit.
- If the coop needs a building permit or zoning approval, get that from the Building Division first.
Common questions
- Can I keep chickens in Chatham, Massachusetts?
- Yes, with limits. The Board of Health lets you keep 10 or fewer fowl without a permit, but any coop must be on a lot of at least 40,000 sq ft unless the Board grants a variance. The regulation was last revised in August 2007.
- Can I have a rooster in Chatham, Massachusetts?
- Roosters are never exempt from the permit requirement, so you need a Board of Health permit to keep one.
- How far must a chicken coop be from neighbors in Chatham, Massachusetts?
- A coop must be at least 30 feet from an abutter's dwelling and 40 feet from an abutter's property line. Pens and other enclosures are listed separately at 15 feet from both, and 100 feet from wells and wetlands.
- How big does a chicken pen need to be in Chatham, Massachusetts?
- At least 12 by 12 feet for six birds, larger for bigger flocks. Pens must be covered against predators and built so animals can't dig in.
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
- Animal Regulation Sec. 9.1 Permit, Board of Health Animal Regulation, p. 6
No person shall keep or maintain in the Town of Chatham, farm animals or poultry without prior approval from the Board of Health or without a permit.
- Animal Regulation Sec. 9.3 Exemptions, Board of Health Animal Regulation, p. 6
Ten (10) or fewer domestic fowl are exempt from the permit process. Roosters shall not be exempt.
- Animal Regulation Sec. 3.2 Minimum Lot Size, Board of Health Animal Regulation, p. 3
No animal shelter shall be located on any lot having less than forty thousand square feet (40,000 ft2) of area, unless a variance is granted by the Board of Health.
- Animal Regulation Sec. 4 Setbacks, Minimum Distance Requirements table, Board of Health Animal Regulation, p. 3
Barns Coops Piggery Rabbitries Stables Enclosures Pile Abutter’s 30 ft. 30 ft. 30 ft. 30 ft. 30 ft. 15 ft. 45 ft. 65 ft. Dwelling Abutter’s 15 ft. 40 ft. 40 ft. 25 ft. 15 ft. 15 ft. 30 ft. 50 ft. Property Line
- Animal Regulation Sec. 4 Setbacks, Minimum Distance Requirements table, Board of Health Animal Regulation, p. 3
Private 100 ft. 100 ft. 100 ft. 100 ft. 100 ft. 100 ft. 100 ft. 100 ft. Domestic Water Supply Well Town Water 400 ft. 400 ft. 400 ft. 400 ft. 400 ft. 400 ft. 400 ft. 400 ft. Supply Well Wetland 100 ft. 100 ft. 100 ft. 100 ft. 100 ft. 100 ft. 100 ft. 100 ft.
- Animal Regulation Sec. 7.4 Poultry, Board of Health Animal Regulation, p. 6
Pens shall be a minimum of twelve feet square (12' x 12') for six (6) fowl; larger pens shall be provided for larger populations of birds.
- Animal Regulation Sec. 4 Setbacks, Board of Health Animal Regulation, p. 3
Abutters’ side line and road setbacks shall comply with the dimensional requirements outlined in Appendix II of the Chatham Zoning By-Laws.