Backyard chickens in Bristol County are regulated by municipal zoning. Urban Fall River, New Bedford, and Taunton restrict poultry; rural towns like Rehoboth, Berkley, and Freetown allow hens with setbacks. MA Right-to-Farm protects designated ag areas.
Bristol County spans dense urban centers (Fall River, New Bedford, Taunton) and rural Right-to-Farm towns (Rehoboth, Dighton, Berkley, Freetown, Swansea). Urban zoning generally restricts or bans backyard poultry; where allowed, hen limits are typically 6 to 12, roosters prohibited, and coops must sit 25 to 50 feet from property lines. Rural towns adopt MGL c. 40 §8L Right-to-Farm bylaws protecting agricultural operations from nuisance complaints. Livestock (goats, pigs, horses) are limited to agricultural zones. Board of Health enforcement handles sanitary conditions under 105 CMR 410. Dog-licensing is required statewide under MGL c. 140 §137. MGL c. 129 §26B governs poultry sales. Beekeeping follows MGL c. 128 §§32-36.
Unauthorized livestock: removal order from local animal control or board of health. Nuisance fines: $50 to $500 per day. Sanitary violations under 105 CMR 410 can trigger condemnation.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Fall River, MA
Fall River prohibits all noises that menace health or interrupt sleep between 10 PM and 7 AM on weekdays and 10 PM to 8 AM on Sundays. The city's noise regul...
Fall River, MA
Fall River addresses barking and nuisance dogs under MGL Ch. 140 §157. A dog that is a habitual barker or creates a nuisance may result in a citation with a ...
Fall River, MA
Fall River regulates construction noise under its general noise ordinance provisions. Construction activities that create excessive noise are prohibited duri...
Fall River, MA
Fall River's zoning code Ch. 86 §86-441 requires parking areas to be set back at least 10 feet from front lot lines and from abutting residential property li...
Fall River, MA
Fall River regulates the parking of trailers, semitrailers, and large vehicles on city streets under §70-320. Commercial buses designed to carry 7+ persons m...
Fall River, MA
Fall River enforces street parking regulations under Ch. 70 of the Revised Ordinances. A winter parking ban is declared when 3+ inches of snow are predicted,...
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