Connecticut Backyard Chicken Laws: Permits, Hen Limits & Setbacks by County and City
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Overview of Connecticut Chicken Laws
There is no statewide hen limit. Towns set the rules. Hartford and New Haven allow up to 6 hens. Greenwich allows up to 12 hens. East Hartford allows 3, 6, or 12 hens by lot size. Bridgeport requires a Board of Health permit and does not publish a set hen number. Roosters are not allowed in those hen ordinances.
Official Sources & Data Integrity
We reference Connecticut municipal bylaws and ordinances from verified platforms like ecode360.com, municode.com, and local government websites at the time of publication. Review state-level rules via CT DoAg Livestock and Poultry Division and Connecticut Department of Agriculture Small Poultry Processor Inspection Program page.
Note: Not specified means no specific requirement was identified in the applicable municipal sources reviewed. No published ordinance means no hen, rooster, permit, or setback rule was found in the city’s published code.
⚠️ Important: Connecticut ordinances may change without notice. Always verify with your local jurisdiction or HOA before you build your coop.
Connecticut Ordinances by County and City
Fairfield County, CT
Bethel, CT
No published ordinance
Bridgeport, CT
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Not specified | Permit: Required | Setback: Not specified
Brookfield, CT
No published ordinance
Danbury, CT
No published ordinance
Darien, CT
No published ordinance
Easton, CT
No published ordinance
Fairfield, CT
No published ordinance
Greenwich, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 12 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 25 ft from property lines
Monroe, CT
No published ordinance
New Canaan, CT
No published ordinance
New Fairfield, CT
No published ordinance
Newtown, CT
No published ordinance
Newtown Borough, CT
No published ordinance
Norwalk, CT
No published ordinance
Redding, CT
No published ordinance
Ridgefield, CT
No published ordinance
Shelton, CT
No published ordinance
Sherman, CT
No published ordinance
Stamford, CT
No published ordinance
Stratford, CT
No published ordinance
Trumbull, CT
No published ordinance
Weston, CT
No published ordinance
Westport, CT
No published ordinance
Wilton, CT
No published ordinance
Hartford County, CT
Avon, CT
No published ordinance
Berlin, CT
No published ordinance
Bloomfield, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 20 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 20 ft from property lines; 50 ft from a neighboring dwelling
Bristol, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 10 ft from property lines; 25 ft from a neighboring dwelling
Burlington, CT
No published ordinance
Canton, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 10 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 25 ft from property lines; 50 ft from a neighboring dwelling
East Granby, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 10 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 25 ft from property lines
East Hartford, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 3 hens on 0.25–1 acre; up to 6 hens on more than 1 acre up to 2 acres; up to 12 hens on more than 2 acres | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: Rear yard; 20 ft from property lines
East Windsor, CT
No published ordinance
Enfield, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 10 ft from property lines; 25 ft from a neighboring dwelling
Farmington, CT
No published ordinance
Glastonbury, CT
No published ordinance
Granby, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 10 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 25 ft from property lines; 50 ft from a neighboring dwelling
Hartford, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 25 ft from a street; 15 ft from a dwelling; 15 ft from a property line
Hartland, CT
No published ordinance
Manchester, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 25 ft from property lines; 25 ft from a residential structure
Marlborough, CT
No published ordinance
New Britain, CT
No published ordinance
Newington, CT
No published ordinance
Plainville, CT
No published ordinance
Rocky Hill, CT
No published ordinance
Simsbury, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 10 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 10 ft from property lines; 25 ft from a neighboring dwelling
South Windsor, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 10 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 25 ft from property lines
Southington, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 20 ft from property lines; 50 ft from a neighboring dwelling
Suffield, CT
No published ordinance
West Hartford, CT
No published ordinance
Wethersfield, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 10 ft from property lines; 25 ft from a neighboring dwelling
Windsor, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 10 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 25 ft from property lines; 50 ft from a neighboring dwelling
Windsor Locks, CT
No published ordinance
Litchfield County, CT
Bantam, CT
No published ordinance
Barkhamsted, CT
No published ordinance
Bethlehem, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: Rear yard; 25 ft from property lines
Bridgewater, CT
No published ordinance
Canaan, CT
No published ordinance
Colebrook, CT
No published ordinance
Cornwall, CT
No published ordinance
Goshen, CT
No published ordinance
Harwinton, CT
No published ordinance
Kent, CT
No published ordinance
Litchfield, CT
No published ordinance
Litchfield Borough, CT
No published ordinance
Morris, CT
No published ordinance
New Hartford, CT
No published ordinance
New Milford, CT
No published ordinance
Norfolk, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 10 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 25 ft from property lines
North Canaan, CT
No published ordinance
Plymouth, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 10 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 20 ft from property lines; 30 ft from a neighboring dwelling
Roxbury, CT
No published ordinance
Salisbury, CT
No published ordinance
Sharon, CT
No published ordinance
Thomaston, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 25 ft from property lines; 50 ft from a neighboring dwelling
Torrington, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 15 ft from property lines; 30 ft from a neighboring dwelling
Warren, CT
No published ordinance
Washington, CT
No published ordinance
Watertown, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 10 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 25 ft from property lines; 50 ft from a neighboring dwelling
Winchester, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 15 ft from property lines; 30 ft from a neighboring dwelling
Woodbury, CT
No published ordinance
Middlesex County, CT
Chester, CT
No published ordinance
Clinton, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 12 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 25 ft from property lines; 50 ft from a neighboring dwelling
Cromwell, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 25 ft from property lines; 50 ft from a neighboring dwelling
Deep River, CT
No published ordinance
Durham, CT
No published ordinance
East Haddam, CT
No published ordinance
East Hampton, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 25 ft from property lines; 50 ft from a neighboring dwelling
Essex, CT
No published ordinance
Fenwick, CT
Fenwick, CT has a total ban on poultry within city limits
Haddam, CT
No published ordinance
Killingworth, CT
No published ordinance
Middlefield, CT
No published ordinance
Middletown, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 20 ft from property lines; 25 ft from a neighboring dwelling
Old Saybrook, CT
No published ordinance
Portland, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 25 ft from property lines; 50 ft from a neighboring dwelling
Westbrook, CT
No published ordinance
New Haven County, CT
Ansonia, CT
No published ordinance
Beacon Falls, CT
No published ordinance
Bethany, CT
No published ordinance
Branford, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 10 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 10 ft from property lines; 25 ft from a neighboring dwelling
Cheshire, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 10 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 20 ft from property lines; 50 ft from a neighboring dwelling
Derby, CT
Derby, CT has a total ban on poultry within city limits
East Haven, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 25 ft from property lines; 50 ft from a neighboring dwelling
Guilford, CT
No published ordinance
Hamden, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 10 ft from property lines; 30 ft from a neighboring dwelling
Madison, CT
No published ordinance
Meriden, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 10 ft from property lines; 25 ft from a neighboring dwelling
Middlebury, CT
No published ordinance
Milford, CT
No published ordinance
Naugatuck, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 10 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 25 ft from property lines; 50 ft from a neighboring dwelling
New Haven, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Enclosure 25 ft from a street, 15 ft from a dwelling, 5 ft from a property line; coop building 10 ft from a lot line
North Branford, CT
No published ordinance
North Haven, CT
No published ordinance
Orange, CT
No published ordinance
Oxford, CT
No published ordinance
Prospect, CT
No published ordinance
Seymour, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 15 ft from property lines; 30 ft from a neighboring dwelling
Southbury, CT
No published ordinance
Wallingford, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 10 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 20 ft from property lines; 50 ft from a neighboring dwelling
Waterbury, CT
No published ordinance
West Haven, CT
West Haven, CT has a total ban on poultry within city limits
Wolcott, CT
No published ordinance
Woodbridge, CT
No published ordinance
Woodmont, CT
Woodmont, CT has a total ban on poultry within city limits
New London County, CT
Bozrah, CT
No published ordinance
Colchester, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 12 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 25 ft from property lines; 50 ft from a neighboring dwelling
East Lyme, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 10 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 20 ft from property lines; 50 ft from a neighboring dwelling
Franklin, CT
No published ordinance
Griswold, CT
No published ordinance
Groton, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 10 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 15 ft from property lines; 30 ft from a neighboring dwelling
Groton Long Point, CT
Groton Long Point, CT has a total ban on poultry within city limits
Lebanon, CT
No published ordinance
Ledyard, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 10 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 25 ft from property lines; 50 ft from a neighboring dwelling
Lisbon, CT
No published ordinance
Lyme, CT
No published ordinance
Montville, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 12 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 25 ft from property lines; 50 ft from a neighboring dwelling
New London, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 10 ft from property lines; 20 ft from a neighboring dwelling
North Stonington, CT
No published ordinance
Norwich, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 15 ft from property lines; 30 ft from a neighboring dwelling
Old Lyme, CT
No published ordinance
Preston, CT
No published ordinance
Salem, CT
No published ordinance
Sprague, CT
No published ordinance
Stonington, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 10 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 20 ft from property lines; 50 ft from a neighboring dwelling
Stonington Borough, CT
Stonington Borough, CT has a total ban on poultry within city limits
Voluntown, CT
No published ordinance
Waterford, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 25 ft from property lines; 50 ft from a neighboring dwelling
Tolland County, CT
Andover, CT
No published ordinance
Bolton, CT
No published ordinance
Columbia, CT
No published ordinance
Coventry, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 12 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 25 ft from property lines; 50 ft from a neighboring dwelling
Ellington, CT
No published ordinance
Hebron, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 10 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 25 ft from property lines; 50 ft from a neighboring dwelling
Mansfield, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 10 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 25 ft from property lines; 50 ft from a neighboring dwelling
Somers, CT
No published ordinance
Stafford, CT
No published ordinance
Tolland, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 10 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 25 ft from property lines; 50 ft from a neighboring dwelling
Union, CT
No published ordinance
Vernon, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 15 ft from property lines; 30 ft from a neighboring dwelling
Willington, CT
No published ordinance
Windham County, CT
Ashford, CT
No published ordinance
Brooklyn, CT
No published ordinance
Canterbury, CT
No published ordinance
Chaplin, CT
No published ordinance
Danielson, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 15 ft from property lines; 30 ft from a neighboring dwelling
Eastford, CT
No published ordinance
Hampton, CT
No published ordinance
Killingly, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 15 ft from property lines; 30 ft from a neighboring dwelling
Plainfield, CT
No published ordinance
Pomfret, CT
No published ordinance
Putnam, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 20 ft from property lines; 25 ft from a neighboring dwelling
Scotland, CT
No published ordinance
Sterling, CT
No published ordinance
Thompson, CT
No published ordinance
Windham, CT
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 10 ft from property lines; 25 ft from a neighboring dwelling
Woodstock, CT
No published ordinance
Selling Backyard Eggs in Connecticut
Connecticut cottage food laws allow small direct egg sales with no permit.
Direct sales: Exempt; label ungraded + safe handling. Markets: No permit under certain volumes; CT DoAg registration for larger.
Connecticut Poultry Slaughter Rules
Personal Use: Fully exempt and legal. You may slaughter birds you raised yourself for your household, family, non-paying guests, or employees without inspection, licensing, or registration required, provided sanitary conditions are followed and the product is not sold or distributed.
Commercial Sale: Restricted. Home-slaughtered poultry meat cannot be sold unless processed in a USDA-inspected facility or under a federal small-producer exemption. Most backyard flocks do not qualify for resale; for exempt sales (e.g., to household consumers, restaurants, hotels, or boarding houses), facilities must participate in the Connecticut Small Poultry Processor Inspection Program to be designated as approved sources, and sales are limited to in-state direct/approved channels (no wholesale/resale to distributors or retail stores without inspection).
Essential Guides for Backyard Chicken Success
How do I raise backyard chickens successfully?
Ready to build a coop? Use our Step-by-Step DIY Chicken Coop Guide to construct a solid, well-ventilated shelter that can handle Connecticut’s cold, snowy winters and warm, humid summers.
Already keeping a flock? Set your hens up for success in the Constitution State. Learn how to choose cold-tolerant breeds, manage winter weather and seasonal mud, and protect against common local predators such as raccoons, foxes, coyotes, and hawks. Our practical guides help you maintain a healthy, productive, and neighbor-friendly flock year-round.
Complete Resource: View Our Ultimate Backyard Chicken Management Guide