Charles County, MD Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Small livestock cap, under 2 acres
- 2 adult animals
- Small livestock cap, 2+ acres
- 4 adult animals per acre
- Large livestock minimum lot
- 2 acres, 1 acre per animal
- Governing provision
- Zoning Ordinance § 297-212(2), Use 1.01.310
- Selling livestock on ≤5 acres
- special exception required (Use 1.01.320)
Summary
Charles County's zoning ordinance lets residents keep horses, poultry and rabbits as pets on any lot without a special permit, but ties the number of animals to acreage. Small livestock like chickens and rabbits are capped at 2 adult animals under two acres and 4 per acre above that.
1.01.310 Horses, livestock maintained as pets and 4-H or school projects on less than or equal to five acres. This use is permitted with conditions in all zones, provided that the following requirements are met: A. The keeping of horses and other large livestock such as cattle, swine, goats and sheep in any residential zone shall be permitted on lots or parcels of two acres or more with a minimum of one acre per animal. B. Small livestock, such as poultry and rabbits, shall be permitted, provided that the ratio of animals to acreage set forth in the following schedule is met and the animals must be maintained in a humane, secure and sanitary fashion so as not to create a detriment or nuisance to the public.
Full Breakdown
310 of the Table of Permissible Uses, codified at Charles County Code § 297-212(2), governs horses, livestock and poultry kept as pets or for 4-H and school projects on lots of five acres or less, and it applies in every zoning district in the county. Large livestock, meaning horses, cattle, swine, goats and sheep, is limited in residential zones to lots of two acres or more, with a minimum of one full acre required per animal kept. Small livestock, meaning poultry (chickens) and rabbits, follows a separate acreage ratio: lots under two acres are capped at 2 adult animals, and lots of two acres or more may keep 4 adult animals per acre.
The code requires that all such animals be maintained in a humane, secure and sanitary fashion so they do not create a detriment or nuisance to the public, which is the standard code enforcement cites for coop and pen complaints. 320, and only in the AC (Agricultural Conservation), RC (Residential Conservation) and RR (Rural Residential) Zones, with USDA minimum land-area standards also applying. That commercial-scale track is a discretionary approval, not a by-right use, and is the dividing line between a backyard flock and a poultry operation raised for sale.
Violations & Fines
Zoning violations under Use 1.01.310 (exceeding the animal-to-acreage ratio, or keeping large livestock on residential lots under two acres) are enforced by the Charles County Department of Planning and Growth Management's Zoning Enforcement Division as ordinary zoning code violations, which can result in a notice of violation, a compliance deadline, and civil citations for continued noncompliance. Raising animals for sale without the required special exception under Use 1.01.320 is an unpermitted use subject to a stop-work or cease-use order until a special exception is obtained from the Board of Appeals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep backyard chickens anywhere in Charles County?
Do I need a permit for a few chickens or rabbits?
How many acres do I need to keep a horse in Charles County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Charles County
How Charles County compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare Charles County to another location·View the Maryland animal ordinances overview
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