Maine Backyard Chicken Laws: Permits, Limits, and Setbacks by City and Town
Last Updated:
Is it legal to keep chickens in city limits or residential areas in Maine?
Yes. Title 7, §219-D bars a town from banning hens on residential property. Local codes can still cap the flock, place the coop, and keep roosters out. Portland allows up to 4 hens. Lewiston, South Portland, and Sanford allow up to 6 hens with a $30 annual permit fee. Biddeford allows 6 hens, or 12 in the RF and SR-1 zones. Those city rules do not allow roosters.
Official Sources & Data Integrity
We reference Maine municipal bylaws and ordinances from verified platforms like ecode360.com, municode.com, and local government websites at the time of publication. You can review state-level rules via Maine Poultry Health Program
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: Maine ordinances may change without notice. Always verify the current rules with your local jurisdiction and any HOA before you build your coop.
Maine Ordinances by City & County
Androscoggin County, ME
Auburn, ME
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens on lots under 0.5 acre; up to 12 hens on 0.5 acre or larger | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Not specified
Durham, ME
No published ordinance
Greene, ME
No published ordinance
Lewiston, ME
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens on a single-family lot of at least 15,000 sq ft | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Rear or side yard; 20 ft from property lines
Lisbon, ME
No published ordinance
Livermore Falls, ME
No published ordinance
Mechanic Falls, ME
No published ordinance
Minot, ME
No published ordinance
Poland, ME
No published ordinance
Sabattus, ME
No published ordinance
Turner, ME
No published ordinance
Aroostook County, ME
Caribou, ME
No published ordinance
Fort Fairfield, ME
No published ordinance
Fort Kent, ME
No published ordinance
Houlton, ME
No published ordinance
Madawaska, ME
No published ordinance
Presque Isle, ME
No published ordinance
Cumberland County, ME
Bridgton, ME
No published ordinance
Brunswick, ME
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens on a single-family lot in the growth area | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: Not specified
Cape Elizabeth, ME
No published ordinance
Casco, ME
No published ordinance
Cumberland, ME
No published ordinance
Falmouth, ME
No published ordinance
Freeport, ME
No published ordinance
Gorham, ME
No published ordinance
Gray, ME
No published ordinance
Harpswell, ME
No published ordinance
Harrison, ME
No published ordinance
Naples, ME
No published ordinance
New Gloucester, ME
No published ordinance
North Yarmouth, ME
No published ordinance
Portland, ME
Hen Limit: Up to 4 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 10 ft from residences
Raymond, ME
No published ordinance
Scarborough, ME
Hen Limit: Up to 5 hens on lots under 10,000 sq ft; up to 10 hens on 10,000–40,000 sq ft; no numeric cap on lots over 40,000 sq ft | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Not specified
South Portland, ME
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required, $25 annual | Setback: 20 ft from side and rear property lines
Standish, ME
No published ordinance
Westbrook, ME
No published ordinance
Windham, ME
No published ordinance
Yarmouth, ME
No published ordinance
Franklin County, ME
Farmington, ME
No published ordinance
Jay, ME
No published ordinance
Wilton, ME
No published ordinance
Hancock County, ME
Bar Harbor, ME
No published ordinance
Blue Hill, ME
No published ordinance
Bucksport, ME
No published ordinance
Ellsworth, ME
No published ordinance
Hancock, ME
No published ordinance
Kennebec County, ME
Augusta, ME
No published ordinance
Belgrade, ME
No published ordinance
Benton, ME
No published ordinance
Chelsea, ME
No published ordinance
China, ME
No published ordinance
Clinton, ME
No published ordinance
Farmingdale, ME
No published ordinance
Fairfield, ME
No published ordinance
Gardiner, ME
No published ordinance
Hallowell, ME
No published ordinance
Litchfield, ME
No published ordinance
Monmouth, ME
No published ordinance
Oakland, ME
No published ordinance
Pittston, ME
No published ordinance
Readfield, ME
No published ordinance
Sidney, ME
No published ordinance
Vassalboro, ME
No published ordinance
Waterville, ME
No published ordinance
West Gardiner, ME
No published ordinance
Windsor, ME
No published ordinance
Winslow, ME
No published ordinance
Winthrop, ME
No published ordinance
Knox County, ME
Camden, ME
No published ordinance
Rockland, ME
No published ordinance
Rockport, ME
No published ordinance
St. George, ME
No published ordinance
Thomaston, ME
No published ordinance
Union, ME
No published ordinance
Warren, ME
No published ordinance
Lincoln County, ME
Boothbay, ME
No published ordinance
Bristol, ME
No published ordinance
Jefferson, ME
No published ordinance
Waldoboro, ME
No published ordinance
Wiscasset, ME
No published ordinance
Oxford County, ME
Bethel, ME
No published ordinance
Fryeburg, ME
No published ordinance
Mexico, ME
No published ordinance
Norway, ME
No published ordinance
Oxford, ME
No published ordinance
Paris, ME
No published ordinance
Rumford, ME
No published ordinance
Penobscot County, ME
Bangor, ME
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Not specified
Brewer, ME
No published ordinance
Carmel, ME
No published ordinance
Corinth, ME
No published ordinance
Dexter, ME
No published ordinance
Glenburn, ME
No published ordinance
Hampden, ME
No published ordinance
Hermon, ME
No published ordinance
Holden, ME
No published ordinance
Levant, ME
No published ordinance
Lincoln town, ME
No published ordinance
Milford, ME
No published ordinance
Millinocket, ME
No published ordinance
Newport, ME
No published ordinance
Old Town, ME
No published ordinance
Orono, ME
No published ordinance
Orrington, ME
No published ordinance
Piscataquis County, ME
Dover-Foxcroft, ME
No published ordinance
Sagadahoc County, ME
Bath, ME
No published ordinance
Bowdoin, ME
No published ordinance
Bowdoinham, ME
No published ordinance
Richmond, ME
No published ordinance
Topsham, ME
No published ordinance
Woolwich, ME
No published ordinance
Somerset County, ME
Madison, ME
No published ordinance
Norridgewock, ME
No published ordinance
Pittsfield, ME
No published ordinance
Skowhegan, ME
No published ordinance
Waldo County, ME
Belfast, ME
No published ordinance
Searsport, ME
No published ordinance
Winterport, ME
No published ordinance
Washington County, ME
Calais, ME
No published ordinance
York County, ME
Acton, ME
No published ordinance
Alfred, ME
No published ordinance
Arundel, ME
No published ordinance
Berwick, ME
No published ordinance
Biddeford, ME
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens; up to 12 hens in the RF and SR-1 zones | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: Rear yard; 10 ft from property lines
Buxton, ME
No published ordinance
Eliot, ME
No published ordinance
Hollis, ME
No published ordinance
Kennebunk, ME
No published ordinance
Kennebunkport, ME
No published ordinance
Kittery, ME
No published ordinance
Lebanon, ME
No published ordinance
Limerick, ME
No published ordinance
Limington, ME
No published ordinance
Lyman, ME
No published ordinance
North Berwick, ME
No published ordinance
Old Orchard Beach, ME
No published ordinance
Saco, ME
No published ordinance
Sanford, ME
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required, $30 annual | Setback: 25 ft from residences on the same and abutting lots
Shapleigh, ME
No published ordinance
South Berwick, ME
No published ordinance
Waterboro, ME
No published ordinance
Wells, ME
No published ordinance
York, ME
No published ordinance
Selling Backyard Eggs in Maine
Direct farm-to-consumer sales from your own flock have minimal hurdles, though ungraded cartons must still follow state labeling and refrigeration standards enforced by the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. Commercial retail or grocery store distribution requires formal licensing.
Maine Poultry Slaughter Rules
You may process birds you raise for your own household consumption and invited guests without a state license. Small-scale producers selling under the state's Under-1K exemption can process up to 1,000 whole birds annually on-site, provided they register free with the state and keep strict sales records.
Essential Guides for Backyard Chicken Success
Ready to build a coop? Use our Step-by-Step DIY Chicken Coop Guide to construct a solid shelter for your birds.
After the hens are in, focus on maintaining a healthy, productive, and neighbor-friendly flock. view our Ultimate Backyard Chicken Coop Management Guide