Baltimore County chicken laws let you keep backyard hens on a residential lot of any size, but what you need to do depends on whether your property is under or over one acre. Lots under one acre require a Backyard Chicken License from the Department of Permits, Approvals, and Inspections, which costs $33, renews annually, limits you to hens only, and caps flock size by square footage. Lots of one acre or more fall under a different zoning rule, need no license, and have no numeric cap as long as the birds don’t become a nuisance.
Does Your Lot Need a License
The first question is lot size, because the county runs two separate regulatory tracks.
If your lot is under one acre, you need a Backyard Chicken License. The property must be owner-occupied with a single-family detached dwelling, which means renters and townhome owners don’t qualify. Hens only — no roosters, ducks, geese, or other fowl.1Baltimore County Government. Baltimore County Bill No. 113-21 – Backyard Chickens and Hens
If your lot is one acre or larger, Baltimore County Zoning Regulations § 100.6 governs instead. That provision allows chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese, and pigeons on non-commercial tracts with no numerical limit, provided the poultry doesn’t create a nuisance.2Baltimore County Government. Baltimore County Zoning Regulations Section 100.6 – Land Used for Stabling and Pasturing of Animals No Backyard Chicken License is required at this size, and the small-lot restrictions on roosters, setbacks, and flock numbers don’t apply. The practical constraint is neighbor complaints about noise, odor, or pests, which can bring county intervention under general nuisance rules.
How Many Hens You Can Keep
On a lot under one acre, the hen cap scales with square footage:3Baltimore County Government. Backyard Chicken License Application
- 10,000 square feet: 4 hens
- 20,000 square feet: 6 hens
- 30,000 square feet: 8 hens
- 40,000 square feet: 10 hens
These are hard ceilings. A zoning variance cannot raise them. If your lot size falls between the listed tiers, check with the Zoning Review Office to confirm which tier governs.
Roosters are prohibited outright on any lot under one acre. Baltimore County Code § 13-7-311 independently bans roosters, along with ducks, geese, and livestock, on residential properties smaller than one acre. Hens were specifically exempted when the backyard chicken law passed in 2021; roosters were not.4Baltimore County Government. Baltimore County Bill No. 113-21 – Section 13-7-311 Housing of Fowl and Livestock If a chick you bought as a pullet turns out to be a cockerel, you’ll need to rehome it.
Where the Coop and Run Can Go
The coop and the outdoor run are regulated separately, each with its own setbacks and construction standards. Missing either one will hold up your license, and none of the distances can be reduced through a variance.
Coop Placement and Construction
The coop must sit in the rear yard. On corner lots, it has to be in the half of the rear yard that doesn’t face a street. Setbacks: at least 10 feet from every lot line and at least 30 feet from any neighboring dwelling.5Baltimore County Government. Baltimore County Bill No. 113-21 – Section 418 Backyard Chickens and Hens
The structure itself has to be built from durable, weather-resistant material that protects the hens year-round. The coop must be elevated at least eight inches above ground to block rodent access, unless you install concrete footers, aprons, or other dig-deterrent barriers. Maximum height is eight feet. Each hen needs at least three square feet of interior space, and the design has to allow easy cleaning and enough air circulation to keep odors down.5Baltimore County Government. Baltimore County Bill No. 113-21 – Section 418 Backyard Chickens and Hens
Outdoor Run or Free-Range Area
Every licensed property must have an outdoor run or fenced free-range area where hens can roam under the direct supervision of the license holder or another responsible person. The run must be set back at least 10 feet from any side or rear property line and at least 25 feet from any neighboring residence.5Baltimore County Government. Baltimore County Bill No. 113-21 – Section 418 Backyard Chickens and Hens
The run has to be fully fenced at a height that complies with county fence regulations, tall enough to contain the hens and keep predators out. Each hen needs at least four square feet of outdoor space. Keep the area clear of odors and anything that attracts rodents or pests.
Sanitation
Coops, runs, and free-range areas have to stay clean, dry, free of debris, and in good repair. Feed storage is a bigger deal than most new keepers expect. Unsecured feed draws rats, and if your property is part of a county rat eradication program, the county will not issue a chicken license at all.6Baltimore County Government. Zoning Use Permit – Backyard Chicken License Use sealed, pest-resistant containers, and manage manure so it doesn’t produce runoff or odor complaints.
How to Apply
The license comes from the Zoning Review Office within the Department of Permits, Approvals, and Inspections. You’ll need to submit three things along with payment:6Baltimore County Government. Zoning Use Permit – Backyard Chicken License
- A completed application form with your contact information, the address, lot size, and the breed and number of hens you plan to keep.
- An engineered scaled site plan showing the coop, the run or free-range area, fences, and lot boundaries, demonstrating that every setback is met.
- A written statement describing how you’ll manage litter, provide potable water and feed, store feed (including the container type), and what materials you’ll use to build the coop.
You also have to attach proof that you’ve registered, or are exempt from registration, with the Maryland Department of Agriculture. Every poultry keeper in Maryland must register with MDA regardless of flock size under Maryland Agriculture Code § 3-804, and the county’s licensing law incorporates that requirement.7Maryland Department of Agriculture. Maryland Agriculture Code Ann. Section 3-804 – Registration The state uses the registry for disease tracking, including avian influenza outbreak notifications, and records are kept confidential except when disclosure is needed to protect public health.8Maryland Department of Agriculture. Backyard Flock Registration The registration form is available on the MDA website.9Maryland Department of Agriculture. Maryland Department of Agriculture Mandatory Poultry Registration
The application fee is $33, paid online through the county’s Citizen Access portal with a credit card. Select “Zoning Review Fee” as the transaction type, enter “Backyard Chickens” as the reference number, and submit the payment receipt with the application.
The Director of Permits, Approvals, and Inspections reviews the file and can attach additional conditions to the license to protect neighbors from unsanitary conditions, unreasonable noise, or odors. The director will not issue a license if the property fails zoning requirements or if conditions pose a risk to public health or safety.10Baltimore County Government. Baltimore County Bill No. 113-21 – Section 12-2-404
Renewing Each Year
The Backyard Chicken License is not a one-time permit. It must be renewed every year by June 30. A 50% penalty takes effect after July 31, raising the fee from $33 to $49.50.3Baltimore County Government. Backyard Chicken License Application Letting the license lapse entirely means you’re keeping hens without authorization and are exposed to enforcement.
Eggs, Meat, and Selling
The license lets you keep hens as pets and eat the eggs they lay. It does not authorize slaughter for meat. One narrow exception applies: hens maintained for consumption as part of a religious observance.11Baltimore County Government. Baltimore County Bill No. 113-21 – Section 12-2-403
Selling eggs is allowed if you register with MDA for an egg registration number. There’s no fee for flocks under 3,000 birds, and the egg registration also satisfies the mandatory poultry premises registration. Egg cartons must carry your name, address, phone number, flock lot number, egg registration number, grade, and size. Reused commercial cartons must have the original producer’s branding, grade shields, and sell-by dates completely covered.
What Happens if You Break the Rules
The Director of Permits, Approvals, and Inspections has authority to revoke a license or refuse renewal if conditions on the property violate the requirements. Neighbors who experience odor, pest, or noise problems, including noise from an illegal rooster, can report violations to the county, which can trigger an inspection.
In more serious cases involving neglect or cruelty, such as malnourished birds, unsanitary living conditions, or untreated injuries, the county can seize the animals. Owners who want to contest a seizure must file legal action to try to regain custody; otherwise, the county takes ownership. Courts handling animal cruelty cases have imposed plea agreements that include probation and limits on the number of animals a person can keep in the future.12WBAL-TV 11. Dozens of Animals Again Seized from Halethorpe House in Custody of Baltimore County