Can I keep chickens in Coventry, RI?
Yes — Coventry allows backyard chickens with no permit required. (Ch. 97 Animals Sec. 97-8(E) (Animals and fowl creating nuisance; restrictions on livestock and farm animals), verified June 2026)
The full rules
| Chickens allowed | Yes |
|---|---|
| Maximum hens | No numeric cap |
| Permit required | No |
| Coop rules | Fenced outdoor enclosure must adequately contain animals; enclosure kept clean, sanitary with proper food, water and shelter; Animal Control enforces sanitation violations |
| Code section | Ch. 97 Animals Sec. 97-8(E) (Animals and fowl creating nuisance; restrictions on livestock and farm animals) |
Coventry Sec. 97-8(E) explicitly permits chicken hens and fowl as farm animals on residential lots, requiring only an adequate fenced enclosure kept clean and sanitary. No hen cap, setback, or permit requirement was found in Sec. 97-8. A secondary-source tiered formula (6 hens under 1 acre, 25 hens over 1 acre) was not confirmed in the primary zoning supplementary code.
Common questions
Can I keep chickens in Coventry?
Yes — chickens are allowed in Coventry (Ch. 97 Animals Sec. 97-8(E) (Animals and fowl creating nuisance; restrictions on livestock and farm animals)).
How many chickens can I keep in Coventry?
Coventry sets no numeric cap on hens.
Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Coventry?
No — no permit is required for the base allowance in Coventry.
What law covers backyard chickens in Coventry?
Ch. 97 Animals Sec. 97-8(E) (Animals and fowl creating nuisance; restrictions on livestock and farm animals). Read the official text at the source linked on this page.
The actual law
Ch. 97 Animals Sec. 97-8(E) (Animals and fowl creating nuisance; restrictions on livestock and farm animals) — read the official code
“Sec. 97-8(E) No person shall keep any livestock or farm animals, to include chicken hens and fowl, unless they comply with the following restrictions/conditions: (1) The fenced outdoor enclosure must adequately contain the aforementioned farm animals. (2) The fenced outdoor enclosure must be kept clean, sanitary and have proper food, water and shelter.” 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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