How to find your zoning district and read the use table
Most town chicken rules depend on your zoning district. Here's how to find yours and read the rule that applies.
1. Find your district
- Look up your address on the town's zoning map or online GIS map. For example, Lebanon's planning office says you can look up your property in the city's GIS tool and switch to the zoning theme to see the district label (Lebanon FAQ).
- Your tax card often lists the district too.
- When in doubt, call the planning or zoning office and give them your address.
2. Read the use table
Many zoning ordinances have a table of uses with a letter for each district. In Portsmouth's table, use 17.20 "Keeping of farm animals" is S (special exception) in the R, SRA and SRB districts and N (not allowed) elsewhere (Portsmouth Zoning Ordinance § 10.440). Laconia marks chickens P (permitted) in listed residential and commercial districts.
3. Search for the right words
Search the ordinance for "chicken," "poultry," "fowl," "livestock," "farm animals" and "agricultur." If none of them appear for your district, read what a silent code means.
4. Get it in writing
Ask the zoning administrator to confirm the answer by email, and keep it with your property records.
General information, not legal advice. Always confirm with your town.