Do I need a permit for a chicken coop in New Hampshire?
There's no one New Hampshire answer we can point to. In the towns we've verified so far, it ranges from "no permit mentioned" to a Zoning Board hearing. Here's what each town's official text says, checked October 28, 2026.
Town by town
| Town | Permit or approval | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Concord | Not stated in the ordinance; ask Concord Code Administration | Concord Code of Ordinances § 28-5-50, Keeping of Chickens as Pets Accessory to a Residential Use |
| Dover | Not stated in the definition; check your district's use table or ask Dover Planning | Dover Code Chapter 170 (Zoning), Article II Terminology, "Farm Animals for Family Use" |
| Hampton | Yes. Building Inspector approval is required, and the Building Department approves henhouses and fenced areas | Hampton Zoning Ordinance § 6.3, Keeping of Domesticated Chickens (2026 edition) |
| Laconia | Allowed as of right (P) in RR1, RR2, RS, SFR, RG, RA, CR, UC and C districts; not allowed in IP, I and AI | Laconia City Code § 235-41(O), Keeping of chickens (adopted 2025) |
| Lebanon | Yes. A Zoning Permit (fee listed as $31) with a site plan is required before you build the coop or get hens | Lebanon Zoning Ordinance § 611, Keeping of Chickens |
| Manchester | Not stated in these sections; ask Manchester Planning & Community Development about a permit for the henhouse | Manchester Zoning Ordinance (effective March 1, 2026) § 4.6.1(C) Domestic Keeping of Chickens and § 5.6.5(G) Henhouses |
| Nashua | Not stated in the ordinance; ask Nashua Building Safety about any coop permit | Nashua Revised Ordinances § 190-31.1, Keeping of chickens |
| Portsmouth | Yes. You need a Zoning Board of Adjustment special exception (or a variance), then a building permit for the coop | Portsmouth Zoning Ordinance § 10.440, Table of Uses, Use 17.20 "Keeping of farm animals" |
| Rochester | Not required in the current text. A 2025 proposed update would add a permit for coops and a 7,500 sq ft minimum lot, so check with Building, Zoning & Licensing | Rochester Code § 275-23.2(A)(3)(f), Chickens, fowl and other small livestock |
"Not stated in the ordinance" means we read the official text and it doesn't cover that point. "Not verified yet" means we haven't checked. Neither one means "no restriction".
What the patterns mean
- Approval before hens: Portsmouth (Zoning Board special exception, then a building permit), Lebanon (Zoning Permit with a site plan) and Hampton (Building Inspector approval).
- Allowed by district: Laconia lists the districts where chickens are allowed as of right.
- Not stated: where the chicken section doesn't mention a permit, a coop can still need a building or zoning permit under the town's general rules for sheds and accessory structures. Ask before you build.
If your town isn't listed
- Find your town's zoning ordinance on the town website (often under Planning, Building, or Code Enforcement) and search it for "chicken," "poultry," "fowl," "livestock," and "agricultur."
- Check the use table for your zoning district (your district is on the town's zoning map or tax card).
- If nothing mentions chickens, read our silent-code explainer: NH law may treat them as allowed.
- Call or email the town's zoning administrator or code officer, and ask for the answer in writing.
- Check your HOA, condo, or deed rules and any lease. They can ban chickens even where the town allows them.
General information, not legal advice. Always confirm with your town.