Can I keep chickens in Malden, MA?
No — Malden does not allow backyard chickens in residential zones. (No ordinance found; City Council failed to pass permitting ordinance (March 2024: 2-5; November 2024: 3-4), verified June 2026)
The full rules
| Chickens allowed | No |
|---|---|
| Code section | No ordinance found; City Council failed to pass permitting ordinance (March 2024: 2-5; November 2024: 3-4) |
Malden has no municipal ordinance permitting backyard chickens. Two separate City Council bills to allow backyard chicken keeping were defeated in 2024 (March vote: 2-5; November vote: 3-4). The Board of Health regulations do not include any animal or fowl keeping provisions.
Common questions
Can I keep chickens in Malden?
No — chickens are not allowed in Malden (No ordinance found; City Council failed to pass permitting ordinance (March 2024: 2-5; November 2024: 3-4)).
What law covers backyard chickens in Malden?
No ordinance found; City Council failed to pass permitting ordinance (March 2024: 2-5; November 2024: 3-4). Read the official text at the source linked on this page.
The actual law
No ordinance found; City Council failed to pass permitting ordinance (March 2024: 2-5; November 2024: 3-4) — read the official code
“Board of Health Health Regulations — sections cover extermination, dumpsters, dwellings, nuisance, food, body art, and tobacco; no animal or fowl keeping section found” source
“Malden City Council bills to allow backyard chickens failed in March 2024 (2-5 vote) and November 2024 (3-4 vote)” 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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