Baltimore County, MD Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)

Subtitle 4 (Backyard Chickens and Hens) governs residential poultry. A person may keep hens only on owner-occupied property of less than one acre, under a license from the Director of PAI and in accordance with Baltimore County Zoning Regulations §§100.6 and 418; hens must also be registered with the Maryland Department of Agriculture. Roosters are prohibited on any lot under one acre. The subtitle does not apply on lots over one acre, where broader agricultural zoning rules govern livestock. License holders must keep coops clean, control odor and rodents, may not slaughter hens on-site, and may not use hen waste as yard fertilizer. Larger livestock (cattle, horses, goats, swine) is governed by zoning and the state Agriculture Article.