Annapolis, MD Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Chicken limit
- 5 per property
- Roosters/other livestock
- Prohibited citywide
- Coop setback
- 5 feet from property line
- Permit fee
- $100
- Pre-permit step
- Notice to abutting neighbors
Summary
Annapolis caps backyard flocks at five chickens per property, bars roosters and all other livestock, and requires neighbor notice plus a Planning and Zoning permit before any chickens go in the yard.
No person shall keep or maintain any mule, cow, calf, cattle, sheep, swine, rooster, or poultry, with the exception of chickens, within the City. A maximum of five chickens are allowed on any one property. All persons shall provide their chickens with a sturdy coop and an attached, secure enclosure set back at least five feet from the property line. Prior to maintaining chickens, a person shall: (a) Provide notice of the intent to maintain chickens to all abutting properties... and (c) Receive approval from the Department of Planning and Zoning.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 2025 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Annapolis City Code § 8.04.010 bars keeping mules, cows, calves, cattle, sheep, swine, roosters, or poultry within the City, carving out only chickens: up to five per property, housed in a sturdy coop with a secure enclosure set back at least five feet from the property line. Before adding chickens, an owner must notify all abutting properties, complete the Department of Planning and Zoning's Backyard Chicken Registry with proof of notice, pay the $100 permit fee, and receive the Department's approval. The section has been amended three times since 2012 (most recently by Ord. O-16-21 in 2021, which revised the application and approval procedure), showing chickens are an actively managed topic in the City.
Violations & Fines
Keeping more than five chickens, keeping a rooster or any other barred livestock, or maintaining chickens without completing the notice-and-permit process is enforced by the Department of Planning and Zoning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep a rooster in Annapolis?
Do I need my neighbors' sign-off to get a chicken permit?
What does an Annapolis backyard chicken permit cost?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Annapolis
How Annapolis compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare Annapolis to another location·View the Maryland animal ordinances overview
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