Lower Merion, PA Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)

Section 90-52 of the Health Code lets Lower Merion Township residents keep animals and fowl but ties that right to a permit and setback scheme. Subsection C(1) requires anyone erecting a building, shelter or corral for animals or domestic fowl to first get a permit from the Director of Building and Planning, and the structure must sit at least 100 feet from any building used for human habitation, 100 feet from any food service establishment, and 50 feet from any property line. Subsection C(2) carves out four exceptions: the setback from a habitation drops to 50 feet if the building houses only the property owner's family; the rule does not apply to a commercial use, defined in Subsection A to include animal hospitals, pet stores and pet grooming salons, so long as it keeps only small animals or fowl and stays outside 100 feet of a food establishment; pens, coops or enclosures holding no more than two small animals or two fowl are exempt outright; and no setback applies to any barn or animal structure that predates September 21, 1977.

Subsection D requires every stable to be built of cleanable material, fitted with a flytight manure receptacle emptied often enough to avoid becoming a nuisance, and kept free of accumulated or dumped manure; manure used to grade land must be covered with at least four inches of soil. The Director of Building and Planning can order additional measures, including running water, impervious flooring and sewer connections, and inspects on complaint.