Hamden, CT Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)

Section 90.01 bars anyone from erecting, using or maintaining any building or structure for housing domestic animals or fowl within 50 feet of a dwelling house, a townwide setback that applies to coops, hutches and other livestock shelters. Section 90.02 requires that structure to be effectively ratproofed according to rules the Director of Health prescribes, and section 90.03 obligates the owner or keeper to keep all doors closed at night and to store droppings and manure in a ratproofed, fly-tight receptacle under those same health department rules.

Section 90.04 grants only a narrow exception: a doghouse used to keep a pet dog is exempt from the whole chapter, and the ratproofing duty in 90.02 and the nighttime-securing and manure duty in 90.03 do not apply to housing on a farm of 3 or more acres. The 50-foot dwelling setback in 90.01 is not listed among those exceptions, so it still binds farm parcels of any size. Section 90.05 makes it unlawful to violate any provision of the chapter or any Director of Health rule adopted under it.

The Director of Health may also inspect any premises housing 4 or more dogs that lacks a current kennel license, arranging the visit at a reasonable time with the owner's consent, or under a properly issued warrant if consent is refused, to confirm the animals are not being mistreated and the housing does not violate the housing code (90.06). Because chapter 90 sets no separate fine for the 50-foot setback, ratproofing or securing duties, a violation falls to the general penalty in 90.99(A): a fine of not more than $50 for each offense.