How many chickens can I have in Medford, Massachusetts?

It's unclear. The livestock ban covers 3 or more animals 3 months or older, but the definition doesn't mention poultry, so it's not clear how it applies to one or two hens. Ask the Health Department and Building Department.

Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Medford, MA?

Possibly. The Health Department issues permits to keep certain animals, and applicants must show a licensed pest control operator has assessed the lot and treated it for rodents. The regulation listing which animals need a permit wasn't found.

Where can a chicken coop go in Medford, Massachusetts?

A coop is an accessory structure, so it would go in the rear yard only, at least 3 feet from side and rear lot lines, and no taller than 15 feet. Confirm with the Health and Building Departments.

Can I keep backyard chickens in Medford, Massachusetts?

Medford, Middlesex County · Bylaws checked 2026-10-15 · Reviewed 2026-10-15 · 7 cited sections

Restricted

Probably not a typical flock. Medford's zoning bans "keeping or raising of livestock," defined as keeping three or more animals three months or older, in every residential district, and the city has no hen ordinance we could find. Keeping one or two hens isn't clearly addressed, so check with the Medford Health Department, which issues permits to keep certain animals.

Livestock (3+ animals) in residential districts	Not permitted ^[1]
Livestock definition	Keeping 3 or more animals, 3 months old or older, on one premises ^[2]
Industrial (I) district	City Council special permit ^[1]
Animal-keeping permits	Health Department; pest-control assessment required ^[4]

What the zoning says

Medford's zoning has no section on chickens or poultry. The closest rule is the Table of Use Regulations entry for "keeping and raising of livestock, including animal stable or kennel," which is marked not permitted (N) in all residential districts, including SF-1, SF-2, GR and the apartment districts (the quoted table row lists the codes column by column, starting with ROS); it's allowed only in the Industrial district by City Council special permit ^[1]. The ordinance defines that use as a facility for keeping three or more animals, three months old or older, on a single premises ^[2]. Under that reading, a backyard flock of three or more adult hens would not be allowed on a residential lot. The table also says any use not listed is prohibited ^[3], and the ordinance doesn't separately list hens.

The definition counts "animals" generally and doesn't mention poultry, so it's not clear how the Building Department applies it to one or two hens or to household pets.

Health Department permits

Medford's animal ordinance refers to Health Department permits "to keep certain animals (as defined within city ordinance or board of health regulation)." Anyone applying for a new or renewal permit must show that a licensed pest control operator has assessed the lot and that it has been treated for, or is free of, rodents ^[4]. We didn't find the Board of Health regulation that lists which animals need a permit, so we can't confirm limits on numbers, roosters or coop setbacks.

Coops

A coop is an accessory structure, so it would need to follow the accessory-structure rules: rear yard only in residential districts ^[6], at least 3 feet from side and rear lot lines ^[7], and no taller than 15 feet ^[5]. Confirm with the Health Department and Building Department before getting birds.

See how Medford compares with 8+ other Massachusetts towns on backyard chickens →

Next steps

Call the Medford Health Department to ask whether hens are allowed and whether you need a permit to keep animals.
Ask the Building Department (781-393-2509) how the zoning ban on keeping three or more animals applies to a small flock.
If allowed, have a licensed pest control operator assess and treat the lot for rodents, as required for animal-keeping permits.

Common questions

Can I have chickens in Medford, MA?: Probably not a typical flock. Medford's zoning bans keeping livestock, defined as three or more animals three months or older, in every residential district, and there's no hen ordinance. One or two hens isn't clearly addressed, so check with the Medford Health Department.
How many chickens can I have in Medford, Massachusetts?: It's unclear. The livestock ban covers 3 or more animals 3 months or older, but the definition doesn't mention poultry, so it's not clear how it applies to one or two hens. Ask the Health Department and Building Department.
Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Medford, MA?: Possibly. The Health Department issues permits to keep certain animals, and applicants must show a licensed pest control operator has assessed the lot and treated it for rodents. The regulation listing which animals need a permit wasn't found.
Where can a chicken coop go in Medford, Massachusetts?: A coop is an accessory structure, so it would go in the rear yard only, at least 3 feet from side and rear lot lines, and no taller than 15 feet. Confirm with the Health and Building Departments.

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).

State sources: M.G.L. c. 111, §31 (board of health regulations) · M.G.L. c. 111, §143 (noisome trades, nuisances) · M.G.L. c. 40A, §3 (agricultural use protection) · MDAR, Municipal Animal Inspector Resources (barn inspections, backyard flock biosecurity)

What the bylaw says

Exact text from Medford's published bylaws. Section numbers are as printed in the source.

Table A, C.5 (Keeping and raising of livestock), Revised Ordinances Chapter 94 - Zoning (Municode, Supp. No. 18, codified through Ord. No. 889 adopted April 16, 2024), p. 1
5. Keeping and raising of livestock, including animal stable or kennel N N N N N N N N N CC
Sec. 94-12.0, "Keeping or raising of livestock, including animal stable and kennel", Revised Ordinances Chapter 94 - Zoning (Municode, Supp. No. 18, codified through Ord. No. 889 adopted April 16, 2024), p. 1
Facility for keeping three or more animals, three months old or older, on a single premises, whether maintained for breeding, boarding, sale, training, hunting or other purposes and including any shop where animals are customarily kept for sale, but this definition shall not include any business that meets the definition of dog daycare.
Sec. 94-3.1.1, Revised Ordinances Chapter 94 - Zoning (Municode, Supp. No. 18, codified through Ord. No. 889 adopted April 16, 2024), p. 1
Except as provided by law or in this chapter, in each district no building, structure, or land shall be used or occupied except for the purposes permitted as set forth in the accompanying Table of Use Regulations. Any use not listed shall be construed to be prohibited.
Sec. 6-116, Revised Ordinances Chapter 6 - Animals (Municode), p. 1
All applicants to the health department for a new or renewal permit to keep certain animals (as defined within city ordinance or board of health regulation) are required to provide evidence that the lot and any structures thereon have been assessed by a licensed pest control operator and have been treated for, or are free from, rodents in accordance with State Sanitary Code, 105 CMR, Section 410.550.
Sec. 94-4.3.1(1), Revised Ordinances Chapter 94 - Zoning (Municode, Supp. No. 18, codified through Ord. No. 889 adopted April 16, 2024), p. 1
Structures accessory to one- and two-family dwellings shall not exceed 15 feet in height.
Sec. 94-4.3.2(1), Revised Ordinances Chapter 94 - Zoning (Municode, Supp. No. 18, codified through Ord. No. 889 adopted April 16, 2024), p. 1
In residential districts, no accessory structure shall be located within the required front or side yard or any court but may be built in the rear yard subject to section 94-4.2.5.
Sec. 94-4.3.2(3), Revised Ordinances Chapter 94 - Zoning (Municode, Supp. No. 18, codified through Ord. No. 889 adopted April 16, 2024), p. 1
Any accessory structures must be set back a minimum of three feet from rear and side lot lines, or a one foot separation from lot lines if constructed of fire-resistance wall assemblies, as defined by the State Building Code,

This page summarizes Medford's posted bylaws as of 2026-10-15. Bylaws are amended, and individual lots can have overlays, subdivision covenants, or HOA rules that are stricter. Confirm with Building Department (Building/Zoning), City Hall Room 115A (781-393-2509) before you build. Spot an error?