Rhode Island Backyard Chicken Laws: Permits, Limits and Setbacks by City and County
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Rhode Island Quick Overview
Rhode Island does not set a hen number. Cities do. Providence allows 1 hen per 800 sq ft, up to 6 hens, and bars roosters. Cranston uses the same lot formula with a cap of 10 hens and allows one rooster if it sits 150 ft from other homes. Woonsocket caps hens at 5. Newport caps hens at 6. East Providence and Central Falls do not allow poultry. Warwick treats hens as livestock and requires a special use permit on at least 5 acres.
Official Sources & Data Integrity
We reference Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island DEM Regulations Portal
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: Rhode Island ordinances may change without notice. Always verify the current rules with your local jurisdiction and any HOA before building a coop.
Rhode Island Ordinances by City & County
Bristol County, RI
Barrington, RI
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: Not specified
Bristol, RI
No published ordinance
Warren, RI
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 20 ft from dwellings
Kent County, RI
Coventry, RI
No published ordinance
East Greenwich, RI
No published ordinance
Warwick, RI
Hen Limit: Allowed only by special use permit on at least 5 acres | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: Not specified
West Greenwich, RI
No published ordinance
West Warwick, RI
No published ordinance
Newport County, RI
Jamestown, RI
No published ordinance
Little Compton, RI
No published ordinance
Middletown, RI
No published ordinance
Newport, RI
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Not specified
Portsmouth, RI
No published ordinance
Tiverton, RI
No published ordinance
Providence County, RI
Burrillville, RI
No published ordinance
Central Falls, RI
Central Falls, RI has a total ban on poultry within city limits
Cranston, RI
Hen Limit: 1 hen per 800 sq ft of lot area, up to 10 hens | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Side or rear yard; 20 ft from neighboring dwellings; roosters 150 ft from other homes
Cumberland, RI
Hen Limit: Up to 5 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 25 ft from property lines
East Providence, RI
East Providence, RI has a total ban on poultry within city limits
Foster, RI
No published ordinance
Glocester, RI
No published ordinance
Johnston, RI
No published ordinance
Lincoln, RI
No published ordinance
North Providence, RI
North Providence, RI has a total ban on poultry within city limits
North Smithfield, RI
No published ordinance
Pawtucket, RI
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Not specified | Permit: Required | Setback: Not specified
Providence, RI
Hen Limit: 1 hen per 800 sq ft of lot area, up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Coop 20 ft from any dwelling; enclosure 20 ft from property lines
Scituate, RI
No published ordinance
Smithfield, RI
No published ordinance
Woonsocket, RI
Hen Limit: 1 hen per 800 sq ft of lot area, up to 5 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 15 ft from rear and side lines; 25 ft from neighboring dwellings
Washington County, RI
Charlestown, RI
No published ordinance
Exeter, RI
No published ordinance
Hopkinton, RI
No published ordinance
Narragansett, RI
No published ordinance
New Shoreham, RI
No published ordinance
North Kingstown, RI
No published ordinance
Richmond, RI
No published ordinance
South Kingstown, RI
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Not specified | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Not specified
Westerly, RI
Hen Limit: Up to 30 hens | Roosters: Not specified | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 100 ft from the nearest residence
Selling Backyard Eggs in Rhode Island
Under the Rhode Island Food Safety Act and RIDEM guidelines, backyard producers are exempt from a Food Business License when selling whole, ungraded eggs directly to consumers. To remain compliant cartons must display the producer's name, address, and packing date. If eggs are not graded by a certified inspector, they must be labeled as "Ungraded."
Rhode Island State Poultry Slaughter Rules
Individuals may slaughter poultry of their own raising for their own consumption or for the use of their household and non-paying guests without a state license, provided it is done under sanitary conditions.
Essential Guides for Backyard Chicken Success
Even in the smallest state of Rhode Island, space is key; our compact predator-proof coop designs allow you to raise a healthy flock on a tiny lot. For healthy flock maintenance, view our Ultimate Backyard Chicken Coop Management Guide.