South Portland Maine Chicken Ordinance
| Are Chickens Allowed in this location | Yes |
| Max Chickens Allowed | 6-ZONING ORDINANCES APPLY |
| Roosters Allowed | No |
| Permit Required | Yes |
| Coop Restrictions | -Hens must be in fenced enclosure at all times, in solid henhouse at night and in enclosed pen (or fenced yard with supervision) in daylight. -Coops must be kept clean, dry and odor-free at all times. Coops must be predator-proof (see below for tips) -Henhouse: must have locking doors and windows. Opening windows need wire of less than 1 |
| City/Organization Contact name | South Portland Department of Planning and Development, 62 E Street, South Portland ME 04106 207- 767-7603. |
| Additional Information | http://southportland.govoffice.com/vertical/Sites/{7A5A2430-7EB6-4AF7-AAA3-59DBDCFA30F2}/uploads/{3BF42F42-5556-44A7-B300-A55999FBD96F}.DOC------------------------------------------------ A synopsis of the laws, as well as instructions on obtaining a permit, can be found at http://www.SoPoChickens.org. Sec. 3-52 states that an annual permit ($25) is required. In addition, a one-time coop-building permit is required ($25). Sec. 3-54 states that only 6 female chickens (no roosters) may be kept on each property, no matter how many families live in the building. Sec. 3-55. states that chickens cannot be kept for any commercial purposes (ie selling eggs). Sec. 3-56 describes enclosures: a) Chickens must be kept in an enclosure or fenced area at all times. During daylight hours, chickens may be allowed outside of their chicken pens in a securely fenced yard if supervised. Chickens shall be secured within the henhouse during non-daylight hours. (b) Enclosures must be clean, dry, and odor-free, kept in a neat and sanitary condition at all times, in a manner that will not disturb the use or enjoyment of neighboring lots due to noise, odor or other adverse impact. (c) The hen house and chicken pen must provide adequate ventilation and adequate sun and shade and must both be impermeable to rodents, wild birds, and predators, including dogs and cats. (d) Henhouses. (1) A henhouse shall be provided and shall be designed to provide safe and healthy living conditions for the chickens while minimizing adverse impacts to other residents in the neighborhood. (a) The structures shall be enclosed on all sides and shall have a roof and doors. Access doors must be able to be shut and locked at night. Opening windows and vents must be covered with predator- and bird-proof wire of less than one (1) inch openings. (b) The materials used in making the structure shall be uniform for each element of the structure such that the walls are made of the same material, the roof has the same shingles or other covering, and any windows or openings are constructed using the same materials. The use of scrap, waste board, sheet metal, or similar materials is prohibited. The henhouse shall be well-maintained. (c) The structure shall be painted; the color shall be uniform around the structure and shall be in harmony with the surrounding area. (2) Henhouses shall only be located in rear yards, as defined in Sec. 27-55. For a corner lot or other property where no rear yard exists, a side yard may be used as long as the setbacks generally applicable in the zoning district are met. In no case may a henhouse be placed in the front yard. (3) If a henhouse is proposed to be located less than twenty (20) feet from any side or rear property line, the Code Enforcement Officer shall notify abutting property owners by mail at least twenty (20) days before issuing a permit, except that the permit may be issued in fewer than 20 days if all abutters have responded before the expiration of that time. For henhouses proposed to be located within twenty (20) feet from the side or rear property line, the burden of proof is on the applicant to demonstrate that the proposal will meet the criteria of this article and will not adversely impact the use or enjoyment of abutting properties. (e) Chicken Pens. (1) An enclosed chicken pen must be provided consisting of sturdy wire fencing buried at least 12 in the ground. The pen must be covered with wire, aviary netting, or solid roofing. The use of chicken wire is not permitted. additional restrictions can be found in the full ordinance text and describe noise/odor control, predator control, waste management, and complaints. |
| Link for more Information | http://www.southportland.org/index.asp? 0DEB23A29} |
| Information Last Updated | 2010-05-18 13:41:20 |
NOTE: This information was submitted by a member of our chicken forum. Please make sure to double check that this information is accurate before you proceed with raising chickens. Learn more about local chicken laws and ordinances.
