Can I keep chickens in Haverhill, MA?
Yes — Haverhill allows backyard chickens, up to 6 hens with a required permit/registration. Roosters are prohibited. (Haverhill Board of Health Minimum Standards for the Keeping of Domestic Animals (adopted March 2022), verified June 2026)
The full rules
| Chickens allowed | Yes |
|---|---|
| Maximum hens | 6 |
| Roosters | Prohibited |
| Permit required | Yes ($25) |
| Code section | Haverhill Board of Health Minimum Standards for the Keeping of Domestic Animals (adopted March 2022) |
Haverhill's Board of Health adopted a permit process in March 2022 allowing residents to keep up to 6 chickens with a $25 administrative permit. Roosters and cockerels are prohibited in residential urban, high-density, and medium-density zones. The application is straightforward with no public hearing required for hens.
Common questions
Can I keep chickens in Haverhill?
Yes — chickens are allowed in Haverhill (Haverhill Board of Health Minimum Standards for the Keeping of Domestic Animals (adopted March 2022)).
How many chickens can I keep in Haverhill?
Up to 6 hens.
Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Haverhill?
Yes — Haverhill requires a permit or registration before keeping chickens (fee: $25).
Are roosters allowed in Haverhill?
No — roosters are prohibited in Haverhill.
What law covers backyard chickens in Haverhill?
Haverhill Board of Health Minimum Standards for the Keeping of Domestic Animals (adopted March 2022). Read the official text at the source linked on this page.
The actual law
Haverhill Board of Health Minimum Standards for the Keeping of Domestic Animals (adopted March 2022) — read the official code
“allowing residents to keep of less than seven chickens, for example, after completing a simple application, paying a $25 fee and obtaining administrative approval from City Hall” source
“after completing a simple application, paying a $25 fee and obtaining administrative approval from City Hall” source
“The rule does not apply to roosters or cockerel. The male birds may be permitted, however, on a case-by-case basis, but never within a residential urban, residential high or residential medium density zone.” 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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