Can I keep chickens in Rutland, VT?
Yes, with conditions — Rutland allows chickens only in certain zones or lot configurations. (Title 17 Public Health §3122 (Keeping of Fowl); Title 31 Land Development Regulations (residential zone use tables — poultry not listed as permitted/conditional use), verified June 2026)
The full rules
| Chickens allowed | Conditional (zone / lot rules) |
|---|---|
| Coop rules | Under §3122, all fowl must be confined in an enclosure and not permitted to run at large. Buildings and yards must be deodorized. Fowl may not be kept in a manner offensive to neighboring residents (causing odors or nuisance). However residential zone use tables do not list poultry as a permitted or conditional use. |
| Code section | Title 17 Public Health §3122 (Keeping of Fowl); Title 31 Land Development Regulations (residential zone use tables — poultry not listed as permitted/conditional use) |
Rutland's §3122 (read directly from ecode360 June 2026) allows fowl if kept in a confined enclosure and not creating a nuisance, but the Title 31 Land Development Regulations do not list poultry as a permitted or conditional use in standard residential zones (SFR, MR-1, MR-2). Chickens are therefore only definitively permitted on agriculturally-zoned or unplatted land within city limits. A 2017 enforcement action confirmed this interpretation. Residents in standard residential zones would need a variance.
Common questions
Can I keep chickens in Rutland?
Yes, with conditions — Rutland allows chickens only in certain zones or situations (Title 17 Public Health §3122 (Keeping of Fowl); Title 31 Land Development Regulations (residential zone use tables — poultry not listed as permitted/conditional use)).
How many chickens can I keep in Rutland?
It depends on your lot. Permitted only on agriculturally-zoned or unplatted land. Not a permitted or conditional use in standard residential zones (SFR, MR-1, MR-2) per Title 31 use tables.. Rules vary by zoning district — check the full summary for your zone.
What law covers backyard chickens in Rutland?
Title 17 Public Health §3122 (Keeping of Fowl); Title 31 Land Development Regulations (residential zone use tables — poultry not listed as permitted/conditional use). Read the official text at the source linked on this page.
The actual law
Title 17 Public Health §3122 (Keeping of Fowl); Title 31 Land Development Regulations (residential zone use tables — poultry not listed as permitted/conditional use) — read the official code
“No fowl shall be kept within such place or manner as to be offensive or cause a nuisance to persons residing in the vicinity... All fowl so kept within the city limits shall be confined in an enclosure, and shall not be permitted to run at large (§3122 — read directly from ecode360 June 2026).” source
“Residential zone use tables (SFR, MR-1, MR-2) do not list poultry as a permitted or conditional use; confirmed by 2017 enforcement action and planning department.” 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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