Maine Statewide Rule

Maine state law: backyard chickens delegated to municipalities (30-A MRS § 3001)

Few RestrictionsApplies statewide across Maine (2026)

Key Facts

Home-rule statute: 30-A MRS § 3001
Animal-control preemption rule: 7 MRS § 3950 (local stricter OK)
Unorganized Territory: Regulated by LUPC under 12 MRS § 685-A
Right-to-farm: Title 7 protections for pre-existing ag operations

Last verified: September 5, 2026

Summary

Maine state law sets no uniform rule on backyard chickens or small livestock. Each city or town establishes hen counts, coop setbacks, and rooster bans under home-rule authority.

A county or municipality may not adopt a regulation or ordinance that prohibits a person from keeping chickens on that person's residential property. For purposes of this section, "chicken" means a female domesticated bird that is raised for meat or eggs and does not include a fully mature domesticated male chicken. This section may not be construed to limit the home rule authority of a municipality.

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Full Breakdown

Maine state law does not set a uniform rule on whether and how many backyard chickens, ducks, rabbits, or other small livestock a residential property owner may keep. ' Backyard chicken ordinances, typical limits 4-8 hens, no roosters, coop setback 10-25 ft from property lines, no on-site slaughter, are set at the municipal level. Rural unincorporated land in the Unorganized Territory is regulated by the Maine Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC) under 12 MRS § 685-A et seq. Maine's broad right-to-farm framework in Title 7 protects pre-existing agricultural operations from nuisance claims arising from changes in surrounding land use.

Violations & Penalties

No state penalty for keeping backyard chickens in a municipality that permits them. Municipal violations (exceeding hen count, keeping roosters in a no-rooster town, coop setback noncompliance) are civil infractions with typical fines of $50-$250 per day and may require removal of the flock.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Maine state law allow backyard chickens?

Maine state law neither authorizes nor prohibits backyard chickens: the decision belongs to each municipality under 30-A MRS § 3001 home-rule authority. Most Maine cities permit 4-8 hens (no roosters) on residential lots with coop setback rules; check the local zoning code.

Can a Maine town ban roosters?

Yes. Under 7 MRS § 3950 and 30-A § 3001, a municipality may impose more stringent rules, including a ban on roosters, without state preemption. Roosters are routinely banned in urban Maine zones for noise reasons.

Are there rules for goats, pigs, or rabbits?

Maine state law does not regulate small livestock at the residential-zoning level. Each municipality decides under home-rule authority whether goats, pigs, or rabbits are permitted, and at what density and setback.

Sources

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