Can I keep backyard chickens in Worcester, Massachusetts?
No, not in residential zones. Worcester's Zoning Ordinance excludes animals or birds other than customary household pets from all residential districts, which rules out backyard hens and roosters on typical home lots. The only exception is racing or carrier pigeons in RS-7 districts.
| Chickens in residential districts | Not allowed (not customary household pets) [1] |
| Exception | Racing/carrier pigeons in RS-7 districts only [1] |
| Urban agriculture | Covers crops only; excludes raising animals and livestock [2] |
| Animal-keeping permit fee (Animal Control) | $50 processing fee [3] |
Residential districts
Worcester's zoning lists limits on accessory uses in residential districts. One says that animals or birds other than customary household pets are excluded in all residential districts, except that racing or carrier pigeons are allowed as an accessory use in RS-7 districts [1]. Chickens, ducks, goats and other farm animals aren't customary household pets, so you can't keep them as an accessory use at a home in an RS, RL or RG district. That covers hens and roosters alike, regardless of flock size or coop setbacks.
Urban agriculture doesn't cover animals
The zoning ordinance's urban agriculture section allows yard gardens, community gardens and urban farms. But it defines agriculture as growing and harvesting food crops, flowers or other plants, excluding the raising of animals and livestock [2]. So it gives no route to backyard hens. That section also doesn't apply to agriculture exempt from local zoning under M.G.L. c. 40A, §3, which generally means commercial farms on larger parcels.
Animal Control permit
The Worcester Police Department's Animal Control unit has a permit application to exhibit, raise or keep animals or birds, with a $50 processing fee [3]. It asks for the number of animals, the building's distances from lot lines and dwellings, the zoning district, and whether a building permit was issued. The applicant must certify that keeping the animals won't violate any city ordinance. That permit doesn't override the residential zoning exclusion.
Waterfowl
The city also bans feeding gulls and wild waterfowl, though people may feed waterfowl lawfully kept as pets.
We found no hen-keeping ordinance in the current Revised Ordinances.
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Next steps
- Check your zoning district on the City's zoning map; in any residential district, chickens aren't allowed.
- For property in a non-residential district, ask Inspectional Services, Building & Zoning (508-799-1198) whether keeping poultry is allowed there.
- If keeping animals is allowed at your location, file the Application for Permit to Exhibit, Raise, or Keep Animals or Birds with Worcester Police Animal Control ($50 fee).
Common questions
- Can I have chickens in Worcester, MA?
- No, not in residential zones. Worcester's Zoning Ordinance excludes animals or birds other than customary household pets from all residential districts, which rules out backyard hens and roosters on typical home lots, regardless of flock size.
- Are backyard chickens allowed under urban agriculture in Worcester, Massachusetts?
- No. Worcester's urban agriculture section covers growing crops and plants only and excludes raising animals and livestock, so it gives no route to backyard hens.
- What is the Animal Control permit to keep birds in Worcester, MA?
- Worcester Police Animal Control has a permit application to exhibit, raise or keep animals or birds, with a $50 processing fee. That permit doesn't override the residential zoning exclusion on chickens.
- Are any birds allowed in residential districts in Worcester, Massachusetts?
- Only racing or carrier pigeons, as an accessory use in RS-7 districts. Other animals or birds that aren't customary household pets are excluded from all residential districts.
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
- Art. IV, §8(B)(6), City of Worcester Zoning Ordinance (ordained April 2, 1991, as amended through January 13, 2026), p. 115
Animals or birds, other than customary household pets, are excluded in all residential districts, provided however, that Racing/Carrier pigeons shall be an allowed accessory use in RS-7 districts.
- Art. IV, §16(B) Urban Agriculture, Definitions, City of Worcester Zoning Ordinance (ordained April 2, 1991, as amended through January 13, 2026), p. 171
AGRICULTURE: the growing and harvesting of food crops, flowers or other plants, but excluding the raising of animals and livestock.
- Worcester Police Dept. Animal Control, Application for Permit to Exhibit, Raise, or Keep Animals or Birds, Application for Permit to Exhibit, Raise, or Keep Animals or Birds (Worcester Police Dept., Animal Control), p. 1
$50.00 Permit Processing Fee