Coop Ready Massachusetts Boston
Allowed with a permit
Yes, with a permit. Boston allows backyard hens, but you need a permit first.
Approval goes through the Zoning Board of Appeals, with a chance for abutters to comment and a certified plot plan. Up to 6 replacement chicks are also allowed.
Hen limit
6
Roosters
Banned
Permit
Yearly ISD permit
Coop placement
Rear yard; 5 ft from lot lines
Source linked These rules come from the source linked below. Confirm current details with the city.
Read the official Boston rules ↗ Checked October 2026.
Will your coop fit in Boston?
Draw your lot, your house and your neighbor's house on a satellite map, drop in a coop, and Coop Ready measures the distances and compares them with the Boston rules above. Free, no account.
Backyard chicken questions in Boston
How many chickens can I have in Boston?
Up to 6 hens on a typical home lot.
Are roosters allowed in Boston?
No. Boston bans roosters on typical home lots.
Do I need a permit for backyard chickens in Boston?
The permit rule in Boston: yearly ISD permit.
How far does a chicken coop have to be from my neighbor in Boston?
Where the coop can go in Boston: rear yard; 5 ft from lot lines.
Can my HOA ban chickens if Boston allows them?
Yes. HOA rules, deed restrictions and leases can be stricter than city code. Read yours before you build.
More from Coop Ready
- Rooster laws by city
- Cities that ban chickens
- HOA chicken rules
- Arizona chicken laws
- California chicken laws
- Florida chicken laws
- Georgia chicken laws
- Texas chicken laws
See every city on Coop Ready → · Coop size calculator · Chicken laws study · Backyard chickens 101
Coop Ready is a planning aid, not legal advice. City codes change, and zoning, HOA rules and your exact parcel can change what is allowed. Confirm with Boston before you build.
