Can I have chickens in Yarmouth, Massachusetts?

Likely yes, with a license. The Board of Health requires a poultry license for anyone keeping poultry, and the zoning bylaw allows agricultural production of livestock by right in residential districts, which we read as covering backyard hens since the bylaw doesn't define livestock. Apply to the Health Department first.

How many chickens can I have in Yarmouth, Massachusetts, and are roosters allowed?

That isn't covered here. Flock limits, rooster rules and coop setbacks are in the Board of Health poultry regulation, which we could not read in full, so ask the Health Department before buying birds. The zoning bylaw itself sets no number of birds.

How far does a chicken coop have to be from wetlands in Yarmouth, Massachusetts?

No new chicken coops may go within 50 feet of wetlands, ponds, streams, beaches, salt marshes and similar resource areas under the Conservation Commission's 2026 regulations. Within 100 feet, check with the Conservation Commission before building a coop or run.

Can I sell eggs from my home in Yarmouth, Massachusetts?

Not without approval. As we read the zoning bylaw, keeping hens for your own eggs is allowed by right, but retail sales from the property require a special permit, so ask the Building Department before selling.

Can I keep backyard chickens in Yarmouth, Massachusetts?

Yarmouth, Barnstable County · Bylaws checked 2026-10-15 · Reviewed 2026-10-15 · 4 cited sections

Allowed with a permit

Likely yes, with a license. Yarmouth's Board of Health requires a poultry license for anyone keeping poultry, so apply to the Health Department first; the zoning bylaw allows "agricultural production of livestock" by right in the residential districts, which we read as covering backyard hens (the bylaw does not define livestock). We could not read the full Board of Health poultry regulation, so flock limits, rooster rules and coop setbacks are not covered here; no new coop may go within 50 feet of a wetland or pond.

Zoning (residential districts)	Agricultural production of livestock allowed ("yes"); retail sales need a special permit ^[1]
Retail sales	Require a special permit ^[2]
License	Board of Health poultry license required; apply to the Health Department ^[3]
Coop near wetlands	No new chicken coops within 50 feet of wetland resource areas ^[4]

Zoning

In the zoning bylaw's Use Table, "Agricultural production of livestock" is marked "yes" with footnote 7 in the residential (Res. and RS-40) districts, and is not allowed on feed lots ^[1]. Footnote 7 says retailing requires a special permit ^[2], so, reading hens as livestock (the bylaw does not define the term), keeping hens for your own eggs is allowed by right under zoning, but selling from the property needs Zoning Board of Appeals approval. The bylaw does not set a number of birds or a coop setback.

Board of Health poultry license

The Board of Health advises that anyone housing poultry in Yarmouth needs a poultry license, which starts with an application to the Health Department, and no license is granted unless the poultry regulations are met ^[3]. The full regulation (flock size, roosters, coop location and sanitation) is posted only on the town's online code site, which we could not access, so confirm those details with the Health Department before buying birds.

Near wetlands

The Conservation Commission's 2026 Wetland Protection Regulations bar new structures, specifically including chicken coops, within 50 feet of wetlands, ponds, streams, beaches, salt marshes and similar resource areas ^[4]. Within 100 feet of these areas, check with the Conservation Commission before building a coop or run.

Other animals

Larger farm animals (horses, goats, sheep and similar) fall under separate Board of Health stable regulations.

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

Next steps

Call the Yarmouth Health Department (508-398-2231) for the poultry license application and ask about flock limits, roosters and coop placement.
Pick a coop location at least 50 feet from any wetland, pond or stream; within 100 feet, check with the Conservation Commission first.
Renew the poultry license as the Health Department requires; if you plan to sell eggs from the property, ask the Building Department about a special permit.

Common questions

Can I have chickens in Yarmouth, Massachusetts?: Likely yes, with a license. The Board of Health requires a poultry license for anyone keeping poultry, and the zoning bylaw allows agricultural production of livestock by right in residential districts, which we read as covering backyard hens since the bylaw doesn't define livestock. Apply to the Health Department first.
How many chickens can I have in Yarmouth, Massachusetts, and are roosters allowed?: That isn't covered here. Flock limits, rooster rules and coop setbacks are in the Board of Health poultry regulation, which we could not read in full, so ask the Health Department before buying birds. The zoning bylaw itself sets no number of birds.
How far does a chicken coop have to be from wetlands in Yarmouth, Massachusetts?: No new chicken coops may go within 50 feet of wetlands, ponds, streams, beaches, salt marshes and similar resource areas under the Conservation Commission's 2026 regulations. Within 100 feet, check with the Conservation Commission before building a coop or run.
Can I sell eggs from my home in Yarmouth, Massachusetts?: Not without approval. As we read the zoning bylaw, keeping hens for your own eggs is allowed by right, but retail sales from the property require a special permit, so ask the Building Department before selling.

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 Yarmouth's published bylaws. Section numbers are as printed in the source.

§202.5 Use Table, B2 Agricultural production of livestock, Town of Yarmouth Zoning Bylaw (amended through April 28, 2026), p. 25
B2 Agricultural production of livestock yes7 yes7 yes yes yes7 no (except on feed lots - then no)
§202.5 Use Table, Note 7, Town of Yarmouth Zoning Bylaw (amended through April 28, 2026), p. 30
7. Except that retailing shall require a Special Permit.
Board of Health Regulations - Poultry and Swine, Board of Health Regulations - Poultry and Swine (eCode360), p. 1
The Board of Health of the Town of Yarmouth hereby advises all owners of poultry and/or swine being housed within the Town of Yarmouth that a poultry and/or swine license is required. To obtain a license, all owners must first file an application with the Health Department. No person shall be granted a license unless compliance is met with the requirements of the regulations governing poultry and swine.
Wetland Regulations §6.01(1), Town of Yarmouth Wetland Protection Regulations (under Wetlands Bylaw Ch. 143; approved March 19, 2026, published March 24, 2026), p. 60
(1) Notwithstanding section 6.01(2) below, no new structures, including chicken coops and swimming and spa pools (with the exception of water dependent structures), will be allowed within 50 feet of the following Resource Areas:

This page summarizes Yarmouth'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 (Inspectional Services) (508-398-2231 ext. 1261) before you build. Spot an error?