Frederick, MD Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Livestock ban
- § 3-11, citywide, limited exceptions
- Minimum lot size for chickens
- 2,500 sq ft, single-family/duplex
- Chicken density limit
- 1 per 500 sq ft, 6 max per lot
- Roosters
- Prohibited; hens only
- License required
- Dept. of Public Works, § 3-17
- Unlicensed chicken fine
- $500 per violation
- Livestock violation fine
- $25 per animal per day
Summary
Frederick bans livestock citywide outside limited exceptions, but allows licensed backyard chickens on single-family or duplex lots of at least 2,500 square feet. Chicken owners are capped at one bird per 500 square feet of back yard, six chickens max, hens only.
A person may own no more than one chicken per every five hundred (500) square feet of back yard area, and a maximum of six (6) chickens on one lot. Only female chickens are permitted; roosters are prohibited.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Land Management Code: Supplement 13 | Code of Ordinances: Supplement 112).
Full Breakdown
Article III, Sec. 3-11(a) makes it unlawful to own livestock, defined in Sec. 3-9(b) to include horses, cattle, swine, goats, sheep, and poultry of any kind, anywhere in the City, except on land used exclusively for agricultural activity, at the Great Frederick Fairgrounds, for licensed commercial or educational operations, or for chickens kept under Article IV. Article IV then sets out the backyard chicken program in detail. Sec. 3-15 allows chickens only in the back yard of a single-family detached home or a duplex on a lot of at least 2,500 square feet, in any zoning district.
Sec. 3-16 caps ownership at one chicken per 500 square feet of back yard area, with a hard maximum of six chickens per lot, and bans roosters outright, permitting only hens. Sec. 3-17 requires a license from the Department of Public Works before owning any chicken: the application must show the applicant's name and address, chicken breed and count, and a schematic of the coop's location and distances from lot lines. The license holder must live on the premises as a primary residence and cannot be away more than 30 consecutive days.
Licenses are non-transferable to a new owner or address. Sec. 3-13(d) additionally requires chickens to be registered with the Maryland Department of Agriculture under Md. Agriculture Article § 3-80, and Sec. 3-13(e) makes clear the ordinance does not override HOA covenants or deed restrictions.
Violations & Fines
Owning livestock in violation of Sec. 3-11 is a municipal infraction fine of $25 per animal, with each day of continuing violation a separate offense. Owning a chicken without the required license under Sec. 3-17(f) carries a much steeper $500 fine per violation, also with each day counting separately. Feeding ducks, geese, or other fowl in a City park violates Sec. 3-10, punishable by $25 for a first offense, $50 for a second, and $75 for a third or subsequent offense in a calendar year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep chickens in any Frederick neighborhood?
How many chickens can I own?
What happens if I keep chickens without a license?
Can I keep goats, pigs, or other livestock in the City?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Frederick
How Frederick compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare Frederick to another location·View the Maryland animal ordinances overview
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