Traditional livestock such as cattle, horses, goats, sheep, and pigs are not permitted on residential lots in Somerville, which has no agricultural zoning districts.
Somerville's zoning does not include agricultural districts, and the city's dense urban fabric means traditional livestock are not allowed on residential or mixed-use lots. Cattle, horses, sheep, goats (including miniature or pygmy breeds), and pigs (including potbellied or mini pigs when kept as pets in violation of zoning) are not permitted anywhere in the city as residential animals. The city's limited urban agriculture ordinance allows only backyard hens and bees under Board of Health permits, along with community gardens managed by Groundwork Somerville and similar groups. The Massachusetts Right to Farm Act (MGL Chapter 111 Section 125A) protects active commercial farms but does not create a right to start livestock operations in urban lots where zoning does not permit them. Violations result in orders to remove animals within a defined period and fines beginning at 100 dollars per animal per day of non-compliance.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Somerville, MA
Somerville restricts amplified music through its noise ordinance and entertainment licensing, with plainly-audible standards at property lines and stricter c...
Somerville, MA
Somerville limits construction noise to daytime and early-evening weekday hours with shorter Saturday windows and a full Sunday and holiday prohibition, refl...
Somerville, MA
Overnight street parking in Somerville requires a resident permit citywide. Snow emergencies trigger odd-even or posted-side bans.
Somerville, MA
Commercial vehicles over 2.5 tons cannot park overnight on Somerville residential streets. Loading zones are time-limited and signed by block.
Somerville, MA
Most Somerville streets are resident-permit zones. Non-residents are limited to 2 hours on posted blocks from 8 AM to 8 PM daily including weekends.
Somerville, MA
Somerville requires a building permit for most fence installations, with historic districts adding a Historic Preservation Commission review step for visible...
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