New Hampshire Backyard Chicken Laws: Permits, Limits, and Setbacks by City and County
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Overview of New Hampshire Chicken Laws
New Hampshire does not set a hen number. Towns do. Manchester allows up to 6 hens on a lot of at least 1/2 acre and bars roosters. Nashua allows up to 6 hens with a city permit. Concord allows up to 5 hens and bars roosters. Portsmouth allows up to 4 hens with a license. Laconia allows up to 5 hens on a lot of at least 1/4 acre. Dover and Rochester allow up to 6 hens.
Official Sources & Data Integrity
We reference New Hampshire municipal bylaws and ordinances from verified platforms like ecode360.com, municode.com, and local government websites at the time of publication.
New Hampshire Department of Agriculture - Livestock & Poultry License Applications
Note: Not specified means no specific hen limit or rule 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: New Hampshire ordinances may change without notice. Always verify the current rules with your local jurisdiction and any HOA before you build your coop.
New Hampshire Ordinances by City & County
Belknap County, NH
Alton, NH
No published ordinance
Barnstead, NH
No published ordinance
Belmont, NH
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Required for coops over 200 sq ft | Setback: Not specified
Center Harbor, NH
No published ordinance
Gilford, NH
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Not specified
Gilmanton, NH
No published ordinance
Laconia, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 5 hens on a lot of at least 1/4 acre | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Side or rear yard; 20 ft from lot lines
Meredith, NH
No published ordinance
New Hampton, NH
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 20 ft
Sanbornton, NH
No published ordinance
Tilton, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 10 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 15 ft
Carroll County, NH
Albany, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 25 ft
Bartlett, NH
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Not specified | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Rear or side yard
Brookfield, NH
No published ordinance
Chatham, NH
No published ordinance
Conway, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 12 hens | Roosters: Not specified | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 25 ft
Eaton, NH
No published ordinance
Effingham, NH
No published ordinance
Freedom, NH
No published ordinance
Hart's Location, NH
No published ordinance
Jackson, NH
No published ordinance
Madison, NH
No published ordinance
Moultonborough, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 12 hens | Roosters: Not specified | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 20 ft
Ossipee, NH
No published ordinance
Sandwich, NH
No published ordinance
Tamworth, NH
No published ordinance
Tuftonboro, NH
No published ordinance
Wakefield, NH
No published ordinance
Wolfeboro, NH
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 20 ft
Cheshire County, NH
Alstead, NH
No published ordinance
Chesterfield, NH
No published ordinance
Dublin, NH
No published ordinance
Fitzwilliam, NH
No published ordinance
Gilsum, NH
No published ordinance
Harrisville, NH
No published ordinance
Hinsdale, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 12 hens | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Rear yard; 15 ft
Jaffrey, NH
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 20–25 ft in residential zones
Keene, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens on lots under 1 acre | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Rear yard
Marlboro, NH
No published ordinance
Marlow, NH
No published ordinance
Nelson, NH
No published ordinance
Richmond, NH
No published ordinance
Rindge, NH
No published ordinance
Roxbury, NH
No published ordinance
Stoddard, NH
No published ordinance
Sullivan, NH
No published ordinance
Swanzey, NH
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 20 ft from property lines
Troy, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 12 hens | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 10 ft
Walpole, NH
No published ordinance
Westmoreland, NH
No published ordinance
Winchester, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 10 hens | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 20 ft from side and rear lines
Coos County, NH
Berlin, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: Not specified
Carroll, NH
No published ordinance
Clarksville, NH
No published ordinance
Colebrook, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 12 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Not specified
Columbia, NH
No published ordinance
Dalton, NH
No published ordinance
Dummer, NH
No published ordinance
Errol, NH
No published ordinance
Gorham, NH
No published ordinance
Jefferson, NH
No published ordinance
Lancaster, NH
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Not specified | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 10 ft
Milan, NH
No published ordinance
Northumberland, NH
No published ordinance
Pittsburg, NH
No published ordinance
Shelburne, NH
No published ordinance
Stark, NH
No published ordinance
Stewartstown, NH
No published ordinance
Stratford, NH
No published ordinance
Whitefield, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 12 hens | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Not specified
Grafton County, NH
Alexandria, NH
No published ordinance
Ashland, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 15 ft
Bath, NH
No published ordinance
Benton, NH
No published ordinance
Bethlehem, NH
No published ordinance
Bridgewater, NH
No published ordinance
Bristol, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 6–10 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: Not specified
Campton, NH
No published ordinance
Canaan, NH
No published ordinance
Dorchester, NH
No published ordinance
Easton, NH
No published ordinance
Ellsworth, NH
No published ordinance
Enfield, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 12 hens | Roosters: Not specified | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Not specified
Franconia, NH
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Not specified | Permit: Required | Setback: Not specified
Grafton, NH
No published ordinance
Groton, NH
No published ordinance
Hanover, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 10 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: Not specified
Haverhill, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not specified | Permit: Required for 7 or more | Setback: Not specified
Hebron, NH
No published ordinance
Holderness, NH
No published ordinance
Landaff, NH
No published ordinance
Lebanon, NH
Hen Limit: 2 hens per acre | Roosters: Not specified | Permit: Required | Setback: Not specified
Lincoln, NH
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Not specified | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 20 ft
Littleton, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 4 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Not specified
Lyman, NH
No published ordinance
Lyme, NH
No published ordinance
Monroe, NH
No published ordinance
Orange, NH
No published ordinance
Orford, NH
No published ordinance
Piermont, NH
No published ordinance
Plymouth, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not specified | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 15 ft
Rumney, NH
No published ordinance
Sugar Hill, NH
No published ordinance
Thornton, NH
No published ordinance
Warren, NH
No published ordinance
Waterville Valley, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 4 hens | Roosters: Not specified | Permit: Required | Setback: Not specified
Wentworth, NH
No published ordinance
Woodstock, NH
No published ordinance
Hillsborough County, NH
Amherst, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: Not specified
Antrim, NH
No published ordinance
Bedford, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 6–10 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: Not specified
Bennington, NH
No published ordinance
Brookline, NH
No published ordinance
Deering, NH
No published ordinance
Francestown, NH
No published ordinance
Goffstown, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 10 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: Not specified
Greenville, NH
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Not specified | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Rear yard; 15 ft
Hancock, NH
No published ordinance
Hillsborough, NH
No published ordinance
Hollis, NH
No published ordinance
Hudson, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 5 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: Not specified
Litchfield, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 12 hens | Roosters: Not specified | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 20 ft
Lyndeborough, NH
No published ordinance
Manchester, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens on lots of at least 1/2 acre | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Side or rear yard; 20 ft from property lines
Mason, NH
No published ordinance
Merrimack, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 10 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Not specified
Milford, NH
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Not specified | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 15 ft
Mont Vernon, NH
No published ordinance
Nashua, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 45 ft from a building occupied by humans
New Boston, NH
No published ordinance
New Ipswich, NH
No published ordinance
Pelham, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 12 hens | Roosters: Not specified | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 15 ft
Peterborough, NH
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Not specified
Sharon, NH
No published ordinance
Temple, NH
No published ordinance
Weare, NH
No published ordinance
Wilton, NH
No published ordinance
Windsor, NH
No published ordinance
Merrimack County, NH
Allenstown, NH
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 20 ft from property lines
Andover, NH
No published ordinance
Boscawen, NH
No published ordinance
Bow, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 12 hens | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 20 ft from property lines
Bradford, NH
No published ordinance
Canterbury, NH
No published ordinance
Chichester, NH
No published ordinance
Concord, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 5 hens on a single-family lot of at least 1/4 acre | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: Rear yard; 20 ft from property lines
Danbury, NH
No published ordinance
Dunbarton, NH
No published ordinance
Epsom, NH
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 15 ft from side and rear lines
Franklin, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 6–10 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 10 ft
Henniker, NH
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 25 ft from property lines
Hill, NH
No published ordinance
Hooksett, NH
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Not specified
Hopkinton, NH
No published ordinance
Loudon, NH
No published ordinance
New London, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 12 hens | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Rear yard
Newbury, NH
No published ordinance
Northfield, NH
No published ordinance
Pembroke, NH
No published ordinance
Pittsfield, NH
No published ordinance
Salisbury, NH
No published ordinance
Sutton, NH
No published ordinance
Warner, NH
No published ordinance
Webster, NH
No published ordinance
Rockingham County, NH
Atkinson, NH
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 30 ft from property lines
Auburn, NH
No published ordinance
Brentwood, NH
No published ordinance
Candia, NH
No published ordinance
Danville, NH
No published ordinance
Deerfield, NH
No published ordinance
Derry, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 12 hens on lots under 1 acre | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 15 ft from property lines
East Kingston, NH
No published ordinance
Epping, NH
No published ordinance
Exeter, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 4 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: Rear yard; 20 ft from property lines
Fremont, NH
No published ordinance
Greenland, NH
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Rear yard; 20 ft
Hampstead, NH
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 15 ft
Hampton, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 5 hens on small lots | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Rear yard; 10 ft from property lines
Hampton Falls, NH
No published ordinance
Kensington, NH
No published ordinance
Kingston, NH
No published ordinance
Londonderry, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 10 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 20 ft from side and rear lines
New Castle, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 3 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: Not specified
Newfields, NH
No published ordinance
Newington, NH
No published ordinance
Newmarket, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 20 ft from any dwelling not occupied by the owner
Newton, NH
No published ordinance
North Hampton, NH
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Rear yard; 25 ft from property lines
Northwood, NH
No published ordinance
Nottingham, NH
No published ordinance
Plaistow, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 10 hens | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 15 ft
Portsmouth, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 4 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 20 ft from the street line; 10 ft from side and rear lines
Raymond, NH
No published ordinance
Rye, NH
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 20 ft from side and rear lines
Salem, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: Rear yard; 15 ft from lot lines
Sandown, NH
No published ordinance
Seabrook, NH
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 15 ft
South Hampton, NH
No published ordinance
Stratham, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 12 hens | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 25 ft
Windham, NH
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Rear yard; 20 ft from property lines
Strafford County, NH
Barrington, NH
No published ordinance
Dover, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: Rear yard; 20 ft from adjacent dwellings; 10 ft from property lines
Durham, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 4 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Rear yard; 20 ft from property lines
Farmington, NH
No published ordinance
Lee, NH
No published ordinance
Madbury, NH
No published ordinance
Middleton, NH
No published ordinance
Milton, NH
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 15 ft from side and rear lines
New Durham, NH
No published ordinance
Rochester, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Rear yard; 10 ft from property lines
Rollinsford, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 12 hens | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 20 ft
Somersworth, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 20 ft from neighboring dwellings; 10 ft from property lines
Strafford, NH
No published ordinance
Sullivan County, NH
Acworth, NH
No published ordinance
Charlestown, NH
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 20 ft
Claremont, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Rear yard; 10 ft
Cornish, NH
No published ordinance
Croydon, NH
No published ordinance
Goshen, NH
No published ordinance
Langdon, NH
No published ordinance
Lempster, NH
No published ordinance
Newport, NH
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 15 ft from property lines
Plainfield, NH
No published ordinance
Springfield, NH
No published ordinance
Sunapee, NH
Hen Limit: Up to 12 hens | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 20 ft
Unity, NH
No published ordinance
Washington, NH
No published ordinance
Selling Backyard Eggs in New Hampshire
Small direct-to-consumer egg sales allowed under cottage food rules with no permit for very small scale. Label eggs as ungraded and follow safe handling. Larger sales may need licensing.
New Hampshire 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.
Essential Guides for Backyard Chicken Success
Once approved to build your coop by your local jurisdiction in New Hampshire, the next step is learning how to keep your flock healthy, safe, and productive. CityHubGo’s backyard chicken resources cover everything from choosing the right breeds and feeding your hens to predator protection, coop maintenance, and daily flock care. View our Ultimate Backyard Chicken Coop Management Guide.