Can I keep backyard chickens in Westford, Massachusetts?
Probably yes, but zoning doesn't say. Westford's Board of Health rules assume residents may keep poultry and regulate it only as a nuisance (no odors, pests, runoff or noise, and no birds whose crowing disturbs anyone, which effectively rules out a noisy rooster), and the town asks owners to notify Animal Control. The zoning bylaw has no backyard-hen rule for lots of five acres or less, so 'allowed' is our reading; ask the Building Commissioner if you want certainty.
| Board of Health chicken rule | Keeping poultry must not create a public health nuisance (odor, rodents/flies, runoff, noise) [1] |
| Roosters / crowing | No bird or fowl that disturbs anyone by screeching or crowing [2] |
| Permit, flock limit, coop setback | None found in the town rules we reviewed [1] |
| Zoning | No backyard-poultry rule; agriculture by right only on parcels over 5 acres [6] |
| Notify Animal Control | Yes, for annual state animal inspections [3] |
| Pigs | Board of Health annual permit to keep more than 10 swine over 2 months old [4] |
| Horses | Noncommercial stabling allowed after a Board of Health permit [5] |
Board of Health rules
The Board of Health's animal regulations (Chapter 203) have a short Article III on chickens, adopted June 12, 2023. It says keeping poultry must not create a public health nuisance, such as offensive odors, rodent or fly infestation, effluent runoff, or noise that harms health or unreasonably interferes with neighbors [1]. It also bars keeping any fowl that disturb the peace, or any bird whose screeching or crowing disturbs anyone [2]. In practice a rooster that bothers neighbors is not allowed. Article III sets no permit, no limit on the number of hens, and no coop setback.
Notify Animal Control
The town's Animal Control Department asks anyone keeping livestock, farm animals or poultry to notify it, because annual state animal inspections are required [3]. Reach Animal Control through the Police non-emergency line, 978-399-2345.
Zoning
The zoning bylaw has no specific backyard-poultry rule. Agriculture is allowed by right in every district on parcels of more than five acres [6]. For smaller lots the bylaw is silent on hens, and it prohibits uses not expressly permitted. Our "allowed" verdict rests on the Board of Health rule and the Animal Control page, which treat backyard poultry as normal, not on zoning; if you want certainty, ask the Building Commissioner. Westford's Right to Farm bylaw counts keeping poultry as agriculture [7], but its protections apply only to commercial farming operations [8], not a typical backyard flock.
Other animals
Keeping more than 10 pigs over two months old needs an annual Board of Health permit [4], and stabling horses for noncommercial use needs a Board of Health permit [5].
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Next steps
- Plan a coop and run that won't cause odors, pests or runoff toward neighbors; skip a rooster if crowing could disturb anyone.
- Notify Westford Animal Control (978-399-2345) that you keep poultry so you're included in the annual state animal inspection.
- If you're unsure whether hens are allowed on your lot under zoning, ask the Building Commissioner (978-692-5527); for health questions, call the Board of Health (978-692-5509).
Common questions
- Can I have chickens in Westford, Massachusetts?
- Probably yes, but zoning doesn't say. Westford's Board of Health rules regulate poultry only as a nuisance, and the town asks owners to notify Animal Control. The zoning bylaw has no backyard-hen rule for lots of five acres or less, so "allowed" is our reading; ask the Building Commissioner if you want certainty.
- Are roosters allowed in Westford, MA?
- Not if they disturb anyone. Westford's Board of Health rule bars keeping any bird or fowl whose screeching or crowing disturbs anyone, which in practice rules out a rooster that bothers neighbors.
- Do I need a permit for backyard chickens in Westford, Massachusetts?
- No permit was found. Westford's Board of Health chicken rule sets no permit, flock limit or coop setback; poultry just must not create odors, pests, runoff or noise. The town asks anyone keeping poultry to notify Animal Control for annual state animal inspections. Zoning is silent on hens for smaller lots, so confirm with the Building Commissioner if unsure.
- How many chickens can I have in Westford, MA?
- Westford sets no limit that we found. The Board of Health's chicken rule has no flock limit, permit or coop setback; it only bars nuisances such as odors, pests, runoff, noise and disturbing crowing. Zoning has no backyard-hen rule for smaller lots, so whether hens are allowed is our reading rather than an express rule.
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
- Ch. 203, Art. III Chickens, §203-29 Nuisances, Board of Health Chapter 203 - Animals (Piggeries, Stables, Chickens) (amended/adopted 6-12-23), p. 10
Keeping of poultry shall not create a public health nuisance. A public health nuisance includes the creation of offensive odors, rodent or fly infestation, effluent runoff, and/or noise in such concentrations and durations as to cause a nuisance and may be considered potentially injurious to human health, or unreasonably interferes with the health and safe enjoyment of life and property.
- Ch. 203, Art. III Chickens, §203-29 Nuisances, Board of Health Chapter 203 - Animals (Piggeries, Stables, Chickens) (amended/adopted 6-12-23), p. 10
No person shall own or keep within the limits of this Town fowl which disturb the peace and quiet of any person or shall own or keep within the limits of this Town any bird or fowl which, by screeching or crowing, disturbs the peace and quiet of any person.
- Animal Control Department - Livestock, Farm Animals, Animal Control Department, p. 1
If you have any livestock, farm animals, or poultry on your property please notify Animal Control. This notification is necessary because annual State animal inspections are required.
- Ch. 203, Art. I, §203-1 Permit requirement, Board of Health Chapter 203 - Animals (Piggeries, Stables, Chickens) (amended/adopted 6-12-23), p. 3
No person or persons or organization shall keep more than ten (10) swine over two (2) months of age within the limits of the Town of Westford without an annual permit from the Board of Health.
- Sec. 3.2.1(7) Stabling of Horses, 2025 Zoning Bylaw (amended through Special Town Meeting October 27, 2025; certified copy), p. 20
Stabling of Horses. Stabling of horses for noncommercial purposes after a permit has been issued by the Board of Health with such restrictions as it shall deem necessary.
- Appendix A, Table of Principal Use Regulations, C.1, 2025 Zoning Bylaw (amended through Special Town Meeting October 27, 2025; certified copy), p. 212
1. Use of land for the primary purpose of agriculture, horticulture, floriculture, or Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y viticulture on a parcel of more than five acres in area
- Ch. 140 Right to Farm, §140.2 Definitions, General Bylaws 2025 (with amendments through STM of October 21, 2024, approved by the AG Feb 12, 2025; file updated July 2026), p. 81
7. keeping and raising of poultry, swine, cattle, ratites (such as emus, ostriches and rheas) and camelids (such as llamas and camels), and other domesticated animals for food and other agricultural purposes, including bees and fur-bearing animals.
- Ch. 140 Right to Farm, §140.3 Right To Farm declaration, General Bylaws 2025 (with amendments through STM of October 21, 2024, approved by the AG Feb 12, 2025; file updated July 2026), p. 81
The benefits and protections of this bylaw are intended to apply exclusively to those commercial agricultural and farming operations and activities conducted in accordance with generally accepted agricultural practices.