6 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 3 cities in Suffolk County, Massachusetts.
Verified from official government sources
Chicken-keeping in Suffolk County is regulated by each municipality. Boston allows chickens by right in certain zones with a permit from the Inspectional Services Department; dense urban neighborhoods effectively exclude them through lot-size and setback rules.
Suffolk County requires dogs under control at all times (MGL c.140 §157). Dog licensing required through city/town clerk (MGL c.140 §155). Rabies vaccination mandatory.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, sec. 157 (Nuisance or dangerous dogs; orders for remedial action)
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; or (iii) if the dog was reacting to another animal or to a ...
Massachusetts does not ban specific dog breeds statewide. Some municipalities have attempted BSL with mixed results. Dangerous dog provisions are behavior-based.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, sec. 157A (Penalties for non-compliance with dangerous dog order)
Section 157A. (a) An owner or keeper of a dog who fails to comply with an order of a hearing authority or district court shall be punished, for a first offense, by a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment for not more than 60 days in a jail or house of correction, or both, and for a second or subsequent offense by a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment for not more than 90 days in a...
No county-level beekeeping ordinance. State apiary inspection governed by MGL c. 128 §§32–36 (MDAR). Each city's Board of Health may restrict beekeeping. In dense urban Suffolk County, local restrictions are common.
Exotic pets regulated by Massachusetts state law 321 CMR 9.01 uniformly throughout Suffolk County. Most wild animals prohibited as pets; MassWildlife does not issue personal pet licenses. Exempt: hedgehogs, chinchillas, sugar gliders, certain reptiles.
321 CMR 9.01 (Exemption List for Wild Animals)
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. [...] (1) Purpose. The purpose of 321 CMR 9.01 is to list those species which ...
MA prohibits intentional feeding of black bears (MGL c. 131, §75A) and regulates feeding of white-tailed deer. Boston Health Code §2-2.8 prohibits feeding of wild birds (pigeons) and feral animals that create health nuisances. Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop have similar nuisance provisions. Feeding urban rats by improper trash storage is a public health violation.
MGL c. 131, § 75A (Birds of prey)
Section 75A. A person, unless he holds a special permit or license issued by the director, shall not hunt or have in his possession a bird of prey. No person shall take, molest, disturb, destroy or have in his possession the nest or eggs of any such bird, unless otherwise authorized by the director. For the purposes of this section, the term ''bird of prey'' shall mean and include any of the fo...
3 cities in Suffolk County have their own animal ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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