6 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 3 cities in Norfolk County, Massachusetts.
Verified from official government sources
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.
Norfolk County has no county-level leash law. Dog leash requirements are set by each municipality under MGL c. 140 §157. Most Norfolk County towns require dogs to be leashed in public and at large in private without owner consent.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, § 157 (Procedure for Hearings on Nuisance or Dangerous Dogs — Restraint Orders) (Massachusetts General Laws; applies to all cities/towns within the county)
Section 157. (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;
Massachusetts state law (MGL c. 140 §157) prohibits breed-specific legislation (BSL) at the municipal level. No Norfolk County municipality may ban or restrict specific dog breeds based on breed alone.
Norfolk County does not regulate beekeeping. Beekeeping rules are set by each municipality. Massachusetts requires hive registration with the MA Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) under MGL c. 128 §34.
Massachusetts MGL c. 131 §23 and 321 CMR 9.01 prohibit keeping most exotic and wild animals as pets. Norfolk County does not regulate exotic pets independently; state law governs statewide.
Massachusetts prohibits feeding black bears statewide (321 CMR 2.15). MassWildlife enforces. Norfolk County's Blue Hills and Milton-Canton area see regular bear activity. Deer and turkey feeding also regulated.
3 cities in Norfolk County have their own animal ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
See every category we cover for Norfolk County — parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Norfolk County Ordinance Hub →