Can I keep backyard chickens in Mashpee, Massachusetts?
Yes. Keeping hens for your household is allowed in every Mashpee zoning district, but you must register your flock with the Board of Health each year. Roosters aren't allowed on lots under 5 acres, and coops and runs must be at least 25 feet from any dwelling, 40 feet from side and rear lot lines, 50 feet from the front lot line and 150 feet from any drinking-water well.
| Zoning | Allowed in all districts as an accessory use (no swine) [1] |
| Registration | Annual online Board of Health registration (Jan 1 to Dec 31) [2] |
| Roosters | Only on properties of 5 acres or more [3] |
| Coop distance from a dwelling | 25 ft [4] |
| Coop distance from a potable well | 150 ft [4] |
| Coop distance from side/rear lot lines | 40 ft [4] |
| Coop distance from front lot line | 50 ft [5] |
| Lots of 5+ acres | 150 ft from property lines and roads [5] |
| Fines | $25/$50/$100 per day (1st/2nd/3rd offense) [8] |
Zoning
Mashpee's use table allows the raising or keeping of animals, livestock or poultry (but not swine) as pets or for use by residents in every district, provided no animal building or enclosure is less than 40 feet from a side or rear lot line or 50 feet from the front lot line [1]. The Board of Health regulation says the number of birds must comply with zoning, and the zoning bylaw sets no specific number, so there's no numeric hen limit in the documents we reviewed.
Board of Health registration
The Board of Health's Poultry Regulation (adopted 2019, revised November 3, 2022) covers chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, quail, pigeons and similar birds. You register online each year; the registration period is January 1 to December 31 and isn't transferable [2]. The Board's FAQ says to read the regulation before getting birds and register through the town's online permitting system [7].
Roosters and noise
No rooster may be kept unless the property is 5 acres or more [3]. Poultry noise plainly audible 150 feet away between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. counts as a nuisance, and repeated violations can lead to an order to remove the birds.
Where the coop goes
Coops, runs and other poultry structures must be at least 25 feet from any dwelling, 150 feet from any potable well and 40 feet from adjoining property lines [4], and 50 feet from the front lot line; on parcels of 5 acres or more, 150 feet from property lines and roads [5]. On a typical 40,000 sq ft lot that leaves a limited area in the middle of the back yard, so measure first.
Care rules
All outside enclosures must be covered with a roof, netting or similar [6]. Feed must be kept in watertight containers, manure in a watertight, ventilated storage facility, and birds can't roam outside their enclosure. The Animal Inspector inspects annually. Violations carry fines of $25, $50 and $100 per day [8].
Other animals
Horses, goats, sheep and similar animals need a separate Board of Health Stable License.
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Next steps
- Measure your lot: the coop and run must be 40 ft from side and rear lines, 50 ft from the front line, 25 ft from any house and 150 ft from any well.
- Register your flock with the Board of Health online through PermitEyes (BOH tab, Poultry); renew every January (Board of Health 508-539-1426).
- Build a covered, ventilated coop and run, and store feed and manure in watertight containers.
- Skip the rooster unless your property is 5 acres or more.
Common questions
- Can I have chickens in Mashpee, Massachusetts?
- Yes. Keeping hens for your household is allowed in every zoning district, but you must register your flock with the Board of Health online each year. There's no specific hen limit in the documents we reviewed.
- Are roosters allowed in Mashpee, MA?
- Only on properties of 5 acres or more. Poultry noise plainly audible 150 feet away between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. counts as a nuisance.
- How far does a chicken coop have to be from the property line in Mashpee, Massachusetts?
- Coops and runs must be at least 40 feet from side and rear lot lines, 50 feet from the front lot line, 25 feet from any dwelling and 150 feet from any well. On parcels of 5 acres or more, it's 150 feet from property lines and roads.
- Do chicken runs have to be covered in Mashpee, Massachusetts?
- Yes. All outside enclosures must be covered with a roof, netting or similar, feed must be kept in watertight containers, and birds can't roam outside their enclosure. Violations carry fines of $25, $50 and $100 per day.
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
- §174-25 Table of Use Regulations, I(4), Zoning Bylaws of the Town of Mashpee, Chapter 174 (2026 edition, updated as of the May 4, 2026 Annual Town Meeting), p. 43
poultry, but not swine, as pets or for use by residents of the premises, provided that no building or enclosure for any animal may be less than forty (40) feet from side or rear lot line nor nearer than fifty (50) feet to any front lot line.
- Part XXIV, Sec. 1.00, III. Poultry Registration, Board of Health Poultry Regulation (Part XXIV, Section 1.00; adopted June 28, 2019, revised November 3, 2022), p. 1
The registration period shall be January 1st to December 31st inclusive. The annual poultry registration shall be submitted on an on-line application form at the Board of Health website. The Poultry Registration is not transferable.
- Part XXIV, Sec. 1.00, IV. Restrictions, Board of Health Poultry Regulation (Part XXIV, Section 1.00; adopted June 28, 2019, revised November 3, 2022), p. 1
No rooster shall be kept or maintained on the registered premises unless the property is five (5) acres or more.
- Part XXIV, Sec. 1.00, V. Location, Board of Health Poultry Regulation (Part XXIV, Section 1.00; adopted June 28, 2019, revised November 3, 2022), p. 1
a. Not less than 25 feet from any dwelling used for human habitation. b. Not less than 150 feet from any potable domestic well. c. Not less than 40 feet from any adjoining property lines.
- Part XXIV, Sec. 1.00, V. Location, Board of Health Poultry Regulation (Part XXIV, Section 1.00; adopted June 28, 2019, revised November 3, 2022), p. 2
d. Not less than 50 feet from any front lot line. e. Not less than 150 feet from any adjoining property lines or the lines of any public or private roadway on a parcel of five (5) acres or more.
- Part XXIV, Sec. 1.00, VI. Buildings, Board of Health Poultry Regulation (Part XXIV, Section 1.00; adopted June 28, 2019, revised November 3, 2022), p. 2
All outside enclosures shall be covered (solid roof, netting, chain-link-fence, etc).
- Animals FAQ, Board of Health FAQs (Short-Term Rental registration, poultry/stable rules, PermitEyes)
Property owners who wish to keep ducks, hens or other poultry and/or water fowl should review our local Poultry Regulation prior to acquiring any poultry or water fowl, and must register with the Board of Health through the Town's online permitting system.
- Part XXIV, Sec. 1.00, XVI. Penalties, Board of Health Poultry Regulation (Part XXIV, Section 1.00; adopted June 28, 2019, revised November 3, 2022), p. 3
Whoever violates this regulation or hinders any duly authorized person from exercising the authority conferred hereunder or by local or general laws shall be punished by a fine of not more than twenty-five ($25) dollars per day for the first offense, fifty ($50) dollars per day for the second offense and one hundred ($100.00) dollars per day for the third offense, and any subsequent offense.