Can I keep chickens in Worcester, MA?
No — Worcester does not allow backyard chickens in residential zones. (City of Worcester Zoning Ordinance (1991, as amended 2019); Urban Agriculture Ordinance 2019, verified June 2026)
The full rules
| Chickens allowed | No |
|---|---|
| Code section | City of Worcester Zoning Ordinance (1991, as amended 2019); Urban Agriculture Ordinance 2019 |
Worcester prohibits backyard chickens in residential districts. The 2019 Urban Agriculture Ordinance defines agriculture as explicitly excluding the raising of animals and livestock. The city manager rejected a proposal to allow chickens as recently as 2026.
Common questions
Can I keep chickens in Worcester?
No — chickens are not allowed in Worcester (City of Worcester Zoning Ordinance (1991, as amended 2019); Urban Agriculture Ordinance 2019).
What law covers backyard chickens in Worcester?
City of Worcester Zoning Ordinance (1991, as amended 2019); Urban Agriculture Ordinance 2019. Read the official text at the source linked on this page.
The actual law
City of Worcester Zoning Ordinance (1991, as amended 2019); Urban Agriculture Ordinance 2019 — read the official code
“agriculture — the growing and harvesting of food crops, flowers or other plants, but excluding the raising of animals and livestock” 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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