Norfolk County does not regulate chickens or livestock. Each town sets its own rules via zoning and board of health regulations. Suburban towns often restrict; rural towns like Medfield and Dover allow chickens.
Chicken and livestock rules in Norfolk County are purely municipal. MGL c. 129 §26B governs state-level poultry sales. Under MGL c. 111 §31, local boards of health may regulate animal-keeping as a public health matter. Suburban Norfolk County towns (Quincy, Brookline, Weymouth, Dedham) generally restrict or require permits for chickens. More rural towns (Medfield, Dover, Sherborn, Walpole, Medway) allow backyard hens with permits, typically 6-12 hens, no roosters, coops with 25-50 ft setbacks from abutters. MGL c. 40 §8L allows towns to adopt Right to Farm bylaws; many Norfolk County towns have done so (Medfield, Walpole, Norfolk, Medway). Larger livestock restricted to agriculturally-zoned parcels.
No county enforcement. Municipal violations: removal order, $50-$500/day nuisance fines under MGL c. 111 §31. Board of health enforcement for sanitary violations.
Norfolk County, MA
Norfolk County does not regulate amplified music. Each municipality requires entertainment licenses or one-day amplified sound permits under MGL c. 140 §183A...
Norfolk County, MA
Norfolk County does not handle abandoned vehicles. MGL c. 90B §2 allows police to remove abandoned vehicles after 72 hours. Quincy, Brookline, and Weymouth t...
Holbrook, MA
Holbrook follows the Massachusetts statewide framework: residential open burning is permitted only between January 15 and May 1 with a daily permit from the ...
Norfolk County, MA
Brookline enacted the first MA town-wide ban on new artificial turf on town property (2023 Town Meeting Art. 14). Other Norfolk County towns allow turf resid...
Norfolk County, MA
Norfolk County does not restrict rainwater harvesting. MA has no statewide restrictions on residential rain barrel or cistern use. Many Norfolk County towns ...
Norfolk County, MA
Norfolk County has no native plant rule. MA Pollinator Plan and Stretch Code encourage natives. Brookline and Quincy offer climate-resilient landscape guidan...
See how Holbrook's chickens & livestock rules stack up against other locations.
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