Can I keep chickens in Shelburne, VT?
Yes — Shelburne allows backyard chickens with no permit required. (No specific chicken ordinance (selectboard rejected rooster ban, 2024-2025; general noise ordinance applies), verified June 2026)
The full rules
| Chickens allowed | Yes |
|---|---|
| Permit required | No |
| Coop rules | No specific chicken ordinance. No hen limit. No permit required. General noise ordinance applies; roosters may be subject to noise complaints but no outright ban adopted. |
| Code section | No specific chicken ordinance (selectboard rejected rooster ban, 2024-2025; general noise ordinance applies) |
Shelburne has no specific chicken ordinance. Chickens are allowed with no hen limit and no permit required. Selectboard debated a rooster ban (2024-2025) after neighbor noise complaints but voted to keep status quo and not adopt restrictions. Roosters subject to general noise ordinance; no explicit ban in force. Source: VTDigger (April 2026), animalofthings.com (June 2026).
Common questions
Can I keep chickens in Shelburne?
Yes — chickens are allowed in Shelburne (No specific chicken ordinance (selectboard rejected rooster ban, 2024-2025; general noise ordinance applies)).
Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Shelburne?
No — no permit is required for the base allowance in Shelburne.
What law covers backyard chickens in Shelburne?
No specific chicken ordinance (selectboard rejected rooster ban, 2024-2025; general noise ordinance applies). Read the official text at the source linked on this page.
The actual law
No specific chicken ordinance (selectboard rejected rooster ban, 2024-2025; general noise ordinance applies) — read the official code
“After debating a drafted law, which was based on ordinances in neighboring municipalities, the Shelburne selectboard decided during a meeting last year to keep things as they were.” source
“Shelburne Town Manager Matt Lawless was wary of overregulating how residents raise animals and produce their own food.” 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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