Can I keep chickens in Fall River, MA?
Yes — Fall River allows backyard chickens with a required permit/registration. Roosters are prohibited. (Fall River Board of Health Regulation: Minimum Standards for the Keeping of Animals (adopted 2/18/2021), verified June 2026)
The full rules
| Chickens allowed | Yes |
|---|---|
| Maximum hens | No numeric cap |
| Roosters | Prohibited |
| Permit required | Yes ($100) |
| Coop rules | Coop floor must be hardware cloth or concrete, or walls sunk 2 ft into ground to prevent predator access; manure management plan required; permit holders must notify abutters within 300 ft in writing; annual permit expires May 31 |
| Code section | Fall River Board of Health Regulation: Minimum Standards for the Keeping of Animals (adopted 2/18/2021) |
Fall River regulates chicken keeping through a Board of Health regulation adopted February 18, 2021. A permit is required ($50 application + $100 annual fee). Roosters and cockerels are explicitly prohibited. Abutters within 300 feet must be notified in writing. Coops must have hardware cloth floors or walls sunk 2 feet into the ground.
Common questions
Can I keep chickens in Fall River?
Yes — chickens are allowed in Fall River (Fall River Board of Health Regulation: Minimum Standards for the Keeping of Animals (adopted 2/18/2021)).
How many chickens can I keep in Fall River?
Fall River sets no numeric cap on hens.
Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Fall River?
Yes — Fall River requires a permit or registration before keeping chickens (fee: $100).
Are roosters allowed in Fall River?
No — roosters are prohibited in Fall River.
What law covers backyard chickens in Fall River?
Fall River Board of Health Regulation: Minimum Standards for the Keeping of Animals (adopted 2/18/2021). Read the official text at the source linked on this page.
The actual law
Fall River Board of Health Regulation: Minimum Standards for the Keeping of Animals (adopted 2/18/2021) — read the official code
“hardware cloth floor or 2 ft sunk into ground required; manure and pest management plans required; abutters within 300 ft notified” source
“$50 application fee; $100 annual permit fee; permit expires May 31” source
“The keeping of roosters, cockerels and non-exempt wild animals...is prohibited within Fall River” source
Last verified June 15, 2026. Always confirm with your municipality — HOA rules can be stricter than city code. How we verify →
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