Animal Ordinances in Boston, MA (2026)

MGL c.140 § 157(c) — Restraint and Confinement of Dangerous Dogs

(c) If the hearing authority deems a dog a dangerous dog, the hearing authority shall order 1 or more of the following: (i) that the dog be humanely restrained; provided, however, that no order shall provide that a dog deemed dangerous be chained, tethered or otherwise tied to an inanimate object including, but not limited to, a tree, post or building; (ii) that the dog be confined to the premi...

MGL c.140 § 157(a) and (c) — No Breed-Specific Dog Regulation

(a) Any person may file a complaint in writing to the hearing authority that a dog owned or kept in the city or town is a nuisance dog or a dangerous dog; provided, however, that no dog shall be deemed dangerous: (i) solely based upon growling or barking or solely growling and barking; (ii) based upon the breed of the dog; or (iii) if the dog was reacting to another animal or to a person and th...

321 CMR 9.01 — Exemption List (Exotic / Wild Animal Permits)

9.01: Exemption List — Pursuant to the authority granted in M.G.L. c. 131, § 23, herewith is established a list of species which are exempt from the licensing provisions of M.G.L. c. 131, § 23. This list includes wild (i.e., non-domesticated) vertebrate animals which may be imported, sold or possessed without a permit. [...] (3) Categorical Non-exemptions: No species in any of the following cat...

MGL c.40A § 3 — Agricultural Use Zoning Exemption (5-acre / 2-acre rule)

Section 3. No zoning ordinance or by-law shall regulate or restrict the use of materials, or methods of construction of structures regulated by the state building code, nor shall any such ordinance or by-law prohibit, unreasonably regulate, or require a special permit for the use of land for the primary purpose of commercial agriculture, aquaculture, silviculture, horticulture, floriculture or ...