Can I keep backyard chickens in Lincoln, Massachusetts?
Yes. Lincoln's zoning bylaw allows residents to keep farm animals, including poultry, for their own use by right, with no special permit. The town asks new owners to notify its animal control officer, and the premises are inspected once a year. Coops count as structures, so they must be at least 50 feet from the street and at least 20 feet from side and rear lot lines.
| Backyard poultry | Allowed by right ("keeping of pets and farm animals for residents' use") [1] |
| Chickens count as farm animals | Yes, poultry is included [2] |
| Special permit | Not required [3] |
| Annual inspection | Once a year (state MDAR requirement) [3] |
| Coop setback from street | 50 ft [5] |
| Coop setback from side/rear lot lines | 20 ft or the coop's height, whichever is greater [6] |
| Max number of hens / roosters | No limit or rooster ban in the bylaw [1] |
Allowed as a residential use
In the R-1 district (and in R-2, which allows every R-1 use), the bylaw lists "keeping of pets and farm animals for residents' use" as a permitted use [1]. Its definition of farm animal includes poultry [2]. The town's farm-animal guidance confirms that residents may keep farm animals, including chickens, without a special permit. The state requires the premises to be inspected once a year [3]. If you're starting a flock, notify Lincoln's animal control officer so you're included in the barn inspection and census [4].
The bylaw sets no limit on the number of hens and doesn't mention roosters. Lincoln's general bylaws include a right-to-farm provision, and we found no Board of Health poultry regulation.
Where the coop can go
The bylaw's definition of a structure lists animal enclosures [7]. Accessory structures must be at least 50 feet from the street line [5]. They must also be at least 20 feet from side and rear lot lines, or as far as the structure is tall if that's greater [6]. Coops in wetland buffer areas may also need Conservation Commission review.
Selling eggs or birds
Commercial keeping of farm animals (other than pigs) is allowed by right on lots of 2 to 5 acres with average annual sales under $5,000 per acre, a figure the bylaw adjusts each January for inflation. Above that sales level on lots under 5 acres, you need a special permit from the Board of Appeals. Pigs kept commercially always need a special permit.
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Next steps
- Plan the coop at least 50 ft from the street line and at least 20 ft (or the coop's height, if greater) from side and rear lot lines.
- Notify Lincoln's state-licensed animal control officer that you are keeping poultry so you're added to the annual barn inspection. Current contact details are on the town's farm-animal procedure page at lincolntown.org.
- If the coop would be within 100 ft of a wetland or pond, or 200 ft of a river or perennial stream, check with the Conservation Commission first.
- Questions about agriculture in town can go to the Lincoln Agricultural Commission (Agcom@lincolntown.org).
Common questions
- Can I keep chickens in Lincoln, Massachusetts?
- Yes. Lincoln's zoning bylaw allows residents to keep farm animals, including poultry, for their own use by right, with no special permit. The town asks new owners to notify its animal control officer.
- How far must a chicken coop be from the property line in Lincoln, Massachusetts?
- Coops count as structures, so they must be at least 50 feet from the street and at least 20 feet from side and rear lot lines.
- How many hens can I have in Lincoln, Massachusetts?
- The bylaw sets no limit on hens and no rooster ban.
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
- Sec. 6.1(d) Uses Permitted (R-1), Zoning By-laws (latest amendment September 22, 2025), p. 19
(d) preservation of a lot in its natural conditions; fields, pastures and wood lots; orchards, nurseries, truck gardens and farms, but not including farms operated in substantial part for disposal of garbage, sewage, offal or renderings; greenhouses for private uses; keeping of pets and farm animals for residents' use;
- Sec. 23 Definitions, Farm Animal, Zoning By-laws (latest amendment September 22, 2025), p. 110
Farm Animal: Livestock including horses, poultry, swine, cattle and other domesticated animals used for food or fiber purposes; fish, bees and fur-bearing animals.
- What you need to do if you want to keep farm animals, What you need to do if you want to keep farm animals (Town procedure, 2023), p. 1
The town of Lincoln allows residents to keep farm animals and does not require a special permit. However, the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture (MDAR) requires that anyone who house farm animals must have the premises inspected once a year.
- What you need to do if you want to keep farm animals, What you need to do if you want to keep farm animals (Town procedure, 2023), p. 1
If you have recently started to own farm animals or are planning to do so, please notify Lincoln’s state-licensed animal control officer:
- Sec. 13.4 Accessory Structures, Zoning By-laws (latest amendment September 22, 2025), p. 76
13.4 Accessory Structures. Accessory structures, as defined in Section 23 and enumerated under Structure (a-q), shall not be located closer than 50 feet from the
- Sec. 13.4 Accessory Structures, Zoning By-laws (latest amendment September 22, 2025), p. 77
street line nor any closer to any side or rear lot line than the height of such accessory structure above the ground level or 20 feet, whichever is greater.
- Sec. 23 Definitions, Structure, Zoning By-laws (latest amendment September 22, 2025), p. 114
In particular, the term “structure” shall include, but not be limited to: (a) buildings, (b) stadiums, (c) tents, (d) reviewing stands, (e) platforms, (f) stagings, (g) observation towers, (h) water tanks, (i) play towers, (j) swimming pools, (k) animal enclosures, (l) trestles, (m) sheds, (n) shelters, (o) courts for tennis or similar games, (p) backstops, (q) backboards, (r) fences, or (s) display signs.