Animal Ordinances in Medford, MA (2026)
7 verified animal ordinances for Medford, Massachusetts, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Keeping or raising livestock, including an animal stable or kennel, is not permitted by right in any of Medford's residential, commercial, office, or mixed-use zoning districts. The city's Table of Use Regulations allows it only through a discretionary City Council special permit, and only in the Industrial (I) district, per Sec. 94-3.2, Table A.
Medford Livestock Keeping Zoning Rule
Significant RestrictionsMedford Revised Ordinances §§ 94-3.1.2, 94-3.2 (Table A), 94-11.3.2
94-3.1.2 Key to Table of Use Regulations. In the following Table of Use Regulations, the uses permitted by right in the district shall be designated by the letter (Y). Uses designated (N) shall not be permitted in the district. Those uses that may be permitted by special permit in the district, in accordance with section 94-11.6, shall be designated by identification of the special permit grant...
Dog Leash Laws
In the City of Medford, Massachusetts, Sec. 6-38 of the Revised Ordinances bans letting any dog run loose or be at large anywhere off the owner's own premises. A dog under control must be held by a chain or leash no longer than six feet. The Medford Police Department's animal control officer and any police officer enforce the rule under Sec. 6-39.
Medford's Six-Foot Dog Leash Law
Some RestrictionsMedford Revised Ordinances § 6-38
It shall be unlawful for the owner or custodian of any dog to permit any such dog to run loose or be at large within the corporate limits of the city. All dogs found any place other than on the premises of the owner or custodian shall be deemed to be running loose or to be at large within the meaning of this section. Such dogs may be kept under control by means of a chain or leash, no longer th...
Breed Restrictions
Medford does not single out dogs by breed. Instead, Sec. 6-44 of the Revised Ordinances lets the animal control officer, a police officer or the health director declare any individual dog "dangerous" based on biting, attacking or menacing behavior, then impose confinement, muzzling, insurance and licensing conditions on the owner.
Medford Dangerous Dog Declaration Rules
Significant RestrictionsMedford Revised Ordinances § 6-44
(a)Definition.A "dangerous dog" as used in this section, shall mean:(1)Any dog that has bitten or attacked any person or has attempted to bite or attack any person. ... (5)The determination that a dog is dangerous or vicious under this section shall be in the discretion of the city animal control officer, a police officer or the director of public health or his designees and the owner shall be ...
Wildlife Feeding
Sec. 6-108 of the Medford Revised Ordinances bars willfully or intentionally feeding wild, feral or non-domestic animals on public property, and separately bars leaving pet food or bait unattended where it could attract wildlife, with feral cats and dogs classed as "wild" unless a registered caretaker.
Medford Ban on Feeding Wild or Feral Animals
Significant RestrictionsMedford Revised Ordinances §§ 6-108, 6-109
No one shall willfully or intentionally feed wild, feral or non-domestic animals on any public property or property to which the public has a right of access, including but not limited to parks, cemeteries, and public ways. No one shall leave food or bait unattended for a cat, dog or other domesticated animal in a place where a wild or non-domesticated animal may be attracted by such food or ba...
Cat Rules
Sec. 6-110 of the Medford Revised Ordinances requires anyone caring for feral cats to register annually with the board of health for a $25 fee, mark and check traps daily, sterilize trapped cats over eight weeks old, vaccinate them for rabies, and ear-tip them before release.
Medford Feral Cat Caretaker Registration Rules
Significant RestrictionsMedford Revised Ordinances § 6-110
(a)Definition. ... "Feral cat caretaker" means a person who has registered with the board of health as caring for feral cats.(b)Requirements of feral cat caretakers. All persons wishing to be registered as feral cat caretakers must:(1)Register annually with the board of health as caring for feral cats and pay an annual license fee of $25.00.(2)Mark all traps with feral cat caretaker registratio...
Microchipping
Medford has no blanket microchip mandate for pets. Sec. 6-44(b) of the Revised Ordinances lets the animal control officer, police chief or health director order microchip identification for a dog once it is declared dangerous, with the owner paying any associated cost.
Medford's Dog Microchip Order Rule
Light RestrictionsMedford Revised Ordinances § 6-44(b)
(b)Duties of animal control when dog is deemed dangerous. When a dog is deemed dangerous, the city animal control officer, police chief or his designees or the director of public health or his designees may take any or all of the following actions and any expenses associated with any such action shall be paid by the owner or keeper of the dog:(1)Seize and impound the dog until further order is ...
Bird Protection
Sec. 6-48 of the Medford Revised Ordinances bars distributing food or scattering foodstuffs for waterfowl in or around any reservoir, public park, recreation area or other public place in the city, responding to a non-migratory goose population the ordinance says has soiled parks and ponds and drawn rats.
Medford's Ban on Feeding Wild Waterfowl
Significant RestrictionsMedford Revised Ordinances § 6-48
(a)Preamble. Non-migratory wild geese have grown into a large population within the City of Medford. They have soiled town parks, playfields, ponds and reservoirs with droppings, making some areas therein unsuitable for public use. Feeding has contributed to the increasing size or the goose population and to litter in parks and other public areas. This practice may contribute to the problem of ...