Chickens, bees and urban farming in Montgomery County, MD

The details

• A 6,000 sq ft lot can keep up to six hens.High confidence
• Only hand tools or walk-behind equipment. Structures may cover no more than 10% of the lot.High confidence
• Check the use table for your zone, because urban farming is a limited use.Medium confidence

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Common questions

Can I keep backyard chickens or bees in Montgomery County?

Hens are allowed under the urban farming standards: one bird per 1,000 sq ft of lot, no roosters, on a farm area of at least 2,500 sq ft, with coops 15 ft from every lot line and no taller than 14 ft. Bees are allowed without the minimum area.

Sources

1. Montgomery County Zoning Ordinance § 59-3.2.9, Urban Farming (amlegal, zoning updated April 13, 2026). Checked 2026-10-21
   Urban Farming means the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, flowers, and ornamental plants, as well as the limited keeping and raising of fowl or bees... 1. The minimum area for an urban farm is 2,500 square feet. This standard does not apply to the keeping …
2. Montgomery County Zoning Ordinance Article 59-3 use standards (Zoneomics copy of the official text). Checked 2026-10-21
   [Urban farming] One fowl may be kept for every 1,000 square feet of lot or parcel area; roosters are prohibited... [This standard] does not apply to the keeping of bees... Home Occupation (No Impact): the maximum number of visits and deliveries... is 5 per …