Are Chickens Allowed in Pawtucket, Rhode Island?
No — in most cases, keeping chickens (or “other fowl”) in Pawtucket is prohibited under the city’s ordinances. The law bans or severely restricts poultry unless special permission is given by the Animal Control Officer. Below is a detailed look at what Pawtucket’s code says, possible exceptions, and what steps to check if you’re hoping to keep chickens.
Relevant Code / What the Law Says
- Pawtucket City Code, Chapter 116 (Animals), Article III “Keeping of Animals,” includes provisions under § 116-8 (“Raising or breeding of animals prohibited”) and § 116-8.1 (“Keeping of certain animals restricted”).
- § 116-8 states that raising or breeding animals is prohibited in the City by the zoning ordinance.
- § 116-8.1 clarifies that no owner, keeper, or occupant of any dwelling may keep or permit to be kept any sheep, hogs, goats, cattle, horses, geese, ducks, rabbits or other fowl in any dwelling, cellar or garage, or within the city, except under “such special conditions as may be prescribed by the Animal Control Officer.”
- The ordinance does allow exceptions — if you obtain permission via the Animal Control Officer, then keeping certain fowl might be allowed under those special conditions.
What “Special Conditions” Could Mean
The code does carve out the possibility that chickens or other fowl could be permitted under special conditions. Here’s what that likely implies:
- You would need permission from the Animal Control Officer, because the code explicitly authorizes them to set those “special conditions.”
- You’d likely have to meet requirements around coop location, cleanliness, odor/pest control, containment so the fowl don’t roam freely, perhaps fencing, etc.—basically rules that reduce nuisance and health risks.
- Whether you can do it may depend on your lot’s zoning, property size, neighborhood density, and how close neighbors are (because noise or smell complaints are often what ordinances aim to prevent).
Practical Implications
- If you try to keep chickens in Pawtucket without special permission, you are likely in violation of § 116-8.1. That could lead to fines or orders to remove the animals.
- Many residents understand that Pawtucket does not allow chickens or fowl generally, which means finding examples of people keeping them legally is rare.
- Because the prohibition includes “other fowl,” chickens are typically considered part of that class, so they are explicitly caught by the prohibition unless you get the special approval.
“What If I Asked / Applied?” — Things to Do
- Contact Pawtucket’s Animal Control Office or Animal Control Officer directly. Ask whether the “special conditions” extension has been used recently, and what criteria must be met.
- Determine your property’s zoning classification. If your parcel is unusually large or less densely surrounded by other homes, that might improve chances.
- Prepare a clear site plan: where coop/fowl would be, how far from neighboring homes or property lines, how to control noise, odor, and ensure predator protection.
- Be ready to agree to conditions—perhaps restrictions on the number of chickens, confinement rules, sanitation, inspections, etc.
- Check for any state or county rules that overlay city rules — sometimes state law or county health codes have additional restrictions.
Summary / Bottom Line
In short: no, chickens are not generally allowed in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, according to the city code. The law forbids keeping chickens (“other fowl”) in a dwelling or within the city unless you get special permission from the Animal Control Officer. If you want to try, you would need to apply for that exception and satisfy whatever conditions the city enforces.
