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.
Quincy, MA
Quincy Code Article III (Animal Control) prohibits owners or keepers from allowing animals to disturb the quiet of any person by barking, howling, biting, or...
Quincy, MA
Under Quincy Code Chapter 215, permitted construction may begin no earlier than 7:00 AM and must finish by 6:00 PM. Contractors must prepare a written noise-...
Quincy, MA
Quincy regulates noise under Chapter 215 of the City Code, adopted June 7, 2010 (Order No. 2010-114). Residential zones may not exceed 75 dBA from 7 AM–5 PM ...
Quincy, MA
Quincy regulates on-street parking under its traffic ordinances and a resident permit system. Time limits are enforced daily; a vehicle that moves to an adja...
Quincy, MA
Quincy's ordinance broadly prohibits commercial vehicles from parking on public streets. Commercial vehicles are defined as any vehicle over one ton, with 5+...
Quincy, MA
Quincy's zoning and traffic codes regulate driveway use. Blocking a private road or driveway on public streets is prohibited. Resident parking permits are on...
See how Quincy's chickens & livestock rules stack up against other locations.
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