Can I keep chickens in Saipan, MP?
It's unclear — Saipan's code does not clearly address backyard chickens; confirm with the city. (Saipan Zoning Law of 2013 (as amended through 2024), Article 4, Sections 404-405; 10 CMC §3511 et seq.; NMIAC Title 165, verified June 2026)
The full rules
| Chickens allowed | Unclear |
|---|---|
| Coop rules | No specific backyard poultry rules found. 'Farms' (commercial) are permitted by right in Village Residential zones but subsistence farming for personal use is explicitly excluded from the 'Farms' definition. Intensive agriculture (>200 chickens per animal unit per 1,000 sm) is not allowed in VR zones. Tinian and Rota have no zoning law at all. |
| Code section | Saipan Zoning Law of 2013 (as amended through 2024), Article 4, Sections 404-405; 10 CMC §3511 et seq.; NMIAC Title 165 |
Saipan's zoning law permits 'Farms' (commercial poultry operations) by right in Village Residential zones, but explicitly excludes subsistence farming for personal use from that definition. There is no separate provision permitting or prohibiting backyard chickens kept for personal use in residential zones, creating a regulatory gap. Tinian and Rota have no zoning law; territory-wide CNMI Commonwealth Code has no residential poultry ordinance.
Common questions
Can I keep chickens in Saipan?
It's unclear — Saipan's code does not clearly address chickens; contact the city (Saipan Zoning Law of 2013 (as amended through 2024), Article 4, Sections 404-405; 10 CMC §3511 et seq.; NMIAC Title 165).
How many chickens can I keep in Saipan?
It depends on your lot. 'Farms' (commercial poultry) are permitted by right (P) in Village Residential (VR) zones per Table 1, Section 404. However, Section 405(c) explicitly excludes 'subsistence farming for personal use' from the Farms definition, and no separate provision covers backyard/personal-use poultry. Intensive agriculture (>1 animal unit per 1,000 sm; 1 unit = 200 chickens) is not listed in VR at all..
What law covers backyard chickens in Saipan?
Saipan Zoning Law of 2013 (as amended through 2024), Article 4, Sections 404-405; 10 CMC §3511 et seq.; NMIAC Title 165. Read the official text at the source linked on this page.
The actual law
Saipan Zoning Law of 2013 (as amended through 2024), Article 4, Sections 404-405; 10 CMC §3511 et seq.; NMIAC Title 165 — read the official code
“A use that is not a permitted, conditional or temporary use in Table 1 is prohibited. [Table 1 shows Farms as P in Village Residential; no row exists for subsistence or backyard poultry.]” source
“Zoning Permits are presently only required on Saipan. Tinian and Rota have not adopted their own zoning law yet. The Zoning Act can be found at 10 CMC §3511 et. seq. Zoning Regulations can be found at Title 165 of the Administrative Code.” source
“Farms (with and without farm residences) that include commercial orchards, raising of crops, livestock, cattle, horses, or poultry except Intensive Agriculture. This use may include retail sale of products from the farm site. Subsistence farming for personal use shall be excluded from this definition.” source
“Agriculture, Intensive. These uses include: any agricultural uses such as feed lots, hog farms, cow pastures, and poultry operations where animals are tightly confined in buildings or outdoor pens or pastures with more than one animal unit per 1,000 sm. One animal unit is equal to: one horse; two cattle; four calves (under one year); 5 pigs; 7 goats; or 200 chickens or other poultry.” 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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