Backyard Chickens in Cambridge, Massachusetts

Can you keep chickens in Cambridge?

Thinking about keeping hens in Cambridge? The city legalized backyard hen-keeping in 2023, and Peggy's Happy Chickens has combed through the Cambridge Public Health Department's official regulation so you don't have to. Here's exactly what's allowed, what's required, and how to keep your flock safe, legal, and happy in the heart of Massachusetts.

Yes – with conditions

Yes — Cambridge legalized backyard hen-keeping through a November 2023 zoning amendment, and the Cambridge Public Health Department Regulation for the Keeping of Hens (effective March 21, 2024) governs the practice. No person may keep hens without first obtaining an annual permit from the Commissioner of Public Health (Section 6.a). Up to six (6) hens are allowed per lot unless the Commissioner explicitly authorizes more (Section 5.a.i), and roosters are banned outright — 'No person shall allow Roosters to be kept in Cambridge at any time' (Section 5.a.ii). Hen enclosures must sit at least 5 feet from a property line (or closer if screened by a solid fence/wall) and at least 100 feet from any wetland (Section 5.b.iii, v). Selling processed or cooked eggs requires a separate retail food permit from the City's Inspectional Services Department (Section 7).

Read the ordinance ↗

The rules at a glance

Hens in city limits: Allowed
How many hens: 6
Roosters: No
Permit required: Yes
Permit cost: $50
Setback from property line: 5 ft.

Peggy knows Cambridge

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

Under the regulation, hens must be kept in a combined Henhouse and Hen Run ('Hen Enclosure') (Section 5.b.i):

Henhouse: minimum 2 sq ft of interior floor area per hen, fully enclosed with walls and a roof, gap-free construction, must be accessible for cleaning, and marked with the hen keeper's name and contact info.
Hen Run: minimum 4 sq ft of interior floor area per hen, fully enclosed, gap-free, may be attached to or separate from the henhouse.
Structural pest-exclusion controls are required (e.g., 19-gauge hardware cloth with ≤1/2" gaps buried 6 inches deep, or elevating the henhouse at least 8 inches off the ground).
Enclosures must be located at least 5 feet from any property line (closer only if a solid wall/fence separates the enclosure from the neighboring lot) and at least 100 feet from any wetland; siting must prevent runoff onto adjacent lots.
An approved Manure Management Plan and Pest Management Plan are required as part of the permit application; henhouses must be cleaned at least bi-weekly.
Hens must have constant access to fresh, non-stagnant water and must be kept from interacting with wild waterfowl to reduce avian-flu risk.
Permits are non-transferable, must be renewed annually (expiring April 30), and abutting neighbors must be notified before a permit is approved. Application fee is $50; renewal fee is $25.
Selling farm-fresh eggs requires storage at 45°F or below; selling cooked/processed egg products requires a separate retail food permit.

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Cambridge

🌡️ Climate

USDA Hardiness Zone 6b–7a; Humid Continental Climate

Cambridge sits within a humid continental climate zone with cold, snowy winters (often dipping into the teens °F or lower) and warm, humid summers. Coops should be well-insulated and draft-free but ventilated to prevent moisture buildup and frostbite risk on combs/wattles in winter, while providing shade and airflow in the humid summer months.

🦝 Who's after your hens

RaccoonHawkFoxCoyoteOpossumSkunk

Dense urban Cambridge neighborhoods still see raccoons, opossums, and skunks raiding coops at night, while red-tailed hawks pose a daytime threat to free-ranging hens. Coyotes and foxes are increasingly reported in the greater Boston/Cambridge area, especially near parks, cemeteries, and the Charles River corridor. The city's own hen regulation requires structural pest/predator exclusion (buried hardware cloth, gap-free construction) precisely because of this predator pressure.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Plymouth Rock, Rhode Island Red, Wyandotte, Orpington, Australorp, Chantecler (cold-hardy dual-purpose breeds well suited to New England winters)

Our package comes with two Rhode Island Reds – hardy in heat and cold, and friendly with kids.

Questions people ask about Cambridge

▸How many hens can I legally keep in Cambridge?

Up to six (6) hens per lot are allowed under Section 5.a.i of the Cambridge Public Health Department's henkeeping regulation, unless the Commissioner grants explicit authorization for more.

▸Can I keep a rooster in Cambridge?

No. Roosters are prohibited at all times under the regulation, regardless of lot size or permit status.

▸Do I need a permit to keep hens in Cambridge?

Yes. You must obtain an annual permit from the Cambridge Public Health Department before keeping any hens, submitting a site plan, manure and pest management plans, and proof that abutters were notified. The application fee is $50, with a $25 annual renewal fee, and permits expire every April 30.

▸How far from my property line does my coop need to be?

Hen enclosures (henhouse and run) must be at least 5 feet from any property line, though they may be closer if a solid wall or fence separates the enclosure from the neighboring lot. Enclosures must also be at least 100 feet from any wetland.

▸Can I sell eggs from my Cambridge backyard flock?

Farm-fresh eggs can be sold if stored at 45°F or below, per state health requirements. However, selling cooked or processed eggs or egg products requires a separate retail food permit from the Cambridge Inspectional Services Department.

City rules change, and this page is a summary rather than legal advice. Please confirm with Cambridge or your HOA before you order – and call us on (559) 321-7271 if you'd like a hand. Last checked September 16, 2026.