If you live in the state of Maine and are considering raising chickens in your backyard, you might be in luck. That's because Maine has no statewide law regulating urban chicken keeping. Instead, each municipality is given the authority to enact their own bylaws. These bylaws can either allow or prohibit the keeping of chickens on residential properties. Aside from local laws, there are Homeowners Association (HOA) laws that usually do not allow chickens.
If you live within a HOA community in Maine, your chances of owning chickens are rather low. If you are a property owner desiring to own chickens, you need to be sure chickens are legal to keep where you live. To determine whether chickens are allowed in your locality, you can contact your local animal control office. Alternatively, you can contact your city or town clerk's office or search online for your city's animal ordinance. Meanwhile, I've put together a list of 10 Maine cities that allow residents to own backyard chickens. Contact your local authorities if your city is not listed below.
1. Portland, ME
You can have chickens in your backyard if you live in Portland, Maine. The city has an "Animal and Fowl" ordinance that allows residents to keep a small number of female chickens for personal use. The ordinance allows no more than 6 hens per lot, regardless of how many dwelling units are on the lot. Only female chickens are allowed and they must be kept as pets and for personal use only. The ordinance requires that hens be kept in an enclosure or fenced area. Such enclosure or fenced area must be situated at least 10 feet from any residential structure.
2. Lewiston, ME
You can raise chickens on your property in Lewiston, Maine, subject to specific requirements. According to the city's Chicken Keeping Cheat Sheet, the keeping of up to 6 hens is permitted per lot developed with a single-family dwelling. Chickens must be kept as pets and for personal use only and only female chickens are allowed. According to the Sheet, you must acquire the chickens from an approved source. There is also a lot size requirement of no less than 15,000 square feet for the keeping of chickens. Furthermore, the law requires that you keep your chicken coop at least 20 feet from any property line.
3. South Portland, ME
If you reside in the city of South Portland, Maine, you can have chickens in your backyard. However, you must first obtain an annual building permit from the Department of Planning. This permit is personal to you and therefore may not be assigned to another person. If you are absent from your property for longer than two months, the permit will automatically terminate and become void. With the permit, the maximum number of chickens you can own is 6, excluding roosters.
4. Auburn, ME
In Auburn, ME, female chickens are permitted to be kept for the production of eggs. The keeping of roosters and other crowing fowl is expressly prohibited in Auburn, ME. The maximum number of laying hens you can have depends on the size of your property. According to the city code, a maximum of 6 laying hens are allowed on lots less than 0.49 acres in area. On lots 0.5 acres or larger, 12 or more laying hens are allowed. Laying hens must be kept in an enclosure or fenced area, which is required to be kept clean at all times.
5. Scarborough, ME
The town of Scarborough, ME, has a chicken ordinance allowing backyard chickens in residential zones. The ordinance allows for up to 5 chickens to be kept on lots less than 10,000 square feet. On lots with a lot area of 10,000 square feet or more but less than 40,000 square feet, no more than 10 chickens may be kept. An unlimited number of chickens is allowed to be kept on lots greater than 40,000 square feet. According to the ordinance, only female chickens may be kept on lots less than 10,000 square feet. And on lots less than 40,000 square feet, the chickens must at all times be kept in an enclosure or fenced area.
6. Brunswick, ME
There are restrictions on owning chickens in the Town of Brunswick's growth zone areas. Plus, a $25 license is required. Before you're issued the license, your chicken coop will be inspected by the Animal Control Officer and the Codes Inspector. To make your appointments, contact the Codes Department at 207-725-6651 and the Animal Control Officer at 207-725-6621.
7. Biddeford, ME
You can legally keep chickens on your residential property in the city of Biddeford, Maine. The city's chicken-keeping ordinance requires that you obtain a permit from the Code Enforcement Office for the keeping of chickens. In addition, you are required to obtain a building for the construction of the chicken coop or pen. Under these permits, there is a restriction of 6 female chickens per lot, regardless of the number of dwelling units on the lot. A maximum of 12 female chickens is allowed per lot in the RF and SR-1 Zones. The ordinance prohibits chicken owners from selling eggs, engaging in chicken breeding, or slaughtering chickens.
8. Sanford, ME
In the City of Sanford, ME, a $25 annual permit is required for the keeping of backyard chickens. The permit allows you to own up to 6 backyard chickens, all of which must be females. Hens must be kept as pets and for personal use only, according to the city code. The enclosure or fenced area wherein you keep your hens must be kept in a neat and sanitary condition at all times.
9. Saco, ME
With a permit from the Code Enforcement Office, you can have up to 6 backyard chickens in the city of Saco, ME. According to the city code, a building permit is required in addition to the chicken-keeping permit. The selling of eggs, engagement in chicken breeding, and the slaughtering of chickens for commercial purposes are prohibited. All chickens, as required by the city code, must at all times be kept in a clean, dry, and odor-free enclosure.
10. Westbrook, ME
Backyard chickens are allowed in the city of Westbrook, ME, and the number of chickens one can own depends on the size of one's property. Up to 6 chickens may be kept on lots that are 10,000 to 19,999 square feet in size. On lots 20,000 to 39,999 square feet, a maximum of 12 chickens may be kept. No more than 50 chickens may be kept on lots 40,999 to 79,999 square feet. On lots 80,000 square feet and greater, the number of chickens that may be kept is unlimited, according to the city code.
Related: How many pets can you own in Maine?
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