Can You Own Goats or Sheep in Connecticut?

Two white goats in snow

Raising goats or sheep in your backyard in Connecticut can be a rewarding task. However, before you get started, it's strongly encouraged that you contact your local animal control or zoning office to check and see if urban livestock keeping is allowed in your municipality. While some Connecticut cities allow goats or sheep in residential zones, others do not. So whether or not you can own a pet goat or sheep depends on where you reside in the state. The following Connecticut municipalities, for example, allow urban livestock farming.

Stamford, CT

Farm animals are allowed in Stamford, CT. According to the Stamford City Code, you may keep sheep or goats as long you don't permit them to go at large. Also, you may not keep your animals in any building or enclosure that is less than 50 feet from any dwelling or apartment house in the city. All enclosures in which livestock animals are kept are required to be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition. The Director of Health may order you to clean your animal enclosure when, in his/her judgment, conditions therein are unsanitary.

East Hartford, CT

You can keep goats or sheep in the Town of East Hartford, but not without first obtaining written permission from the Director of Health. You also need one acre of land to own goats or sheep in the Town, as required by the Town Code. Once you're granted a livestock-keeping permit, you must not permit your animals to go at large in any street. However, no goat or sheep running at large by accident with the owner in immediate pursuit of it will be deemed a stray. All yards or enclosures in which goats or sheep are kept are required to be maintained in a sanitary condition and subject to inspection by the Director of Health.

New Hartford, CT

No permit is required to keep goats or sheep on a residential property in New Hartford, CT. Per the Town's Zoning Regulations, one goat or sheep is allowed for the first 20,000 square feet of parcel area. Then for each additional 10,000 square feet of parcel area, one additional animal is allowed. All livestock animals are required to be kept in a fenced enclosure designed to prevent them from crossing or overhanging any property line. Further, such enclosures are required to be located no less than 100 feet away from all property lines.

Waterbury, CT

In Waterbury, CT, you can keep sheep or goats in your backyard once you obtain a permit from the Board of Health. According to the city's municipal code, you must see to it that your animals do not by noise disturb the quiet or repose of any person in the vicinity.

Norwalk, CT

Under certain conditions, keeping sheep or goats on residential property is permitted in Norwalk, CT. According to Norwalk's municipal code, you may not keep your sheep or goats in an enclosure that is less than 50 feet from any property boundary. Also, your sheep or goat enclosure may not be located less than 25 feet from any dwelling. All livestock enclosures are required to be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition.

West Haven, CT

Farm animals, including goats and sheep, are permitted in all districts across West Haven, CT. According to the City's Zoning Laws, you must keep your goats or sheep at least 25 feet from all adjoining property lines. If the animals are housed overnight in a structure, such a structure is required to be located 100 feet from any dwelling unit. A mini goat or sheep less than 100 pounds in weight kept on a property as a pet isn't considered a farm animal in West Haven.

Norwich, CT

You can own goats or sheep in Norwich, CT, provided you're granted a permit by the Director of Health. Under the permit, you're required to keep your animals more than 25 feet from any property line and more than 75 feet from any private water supply well. Furthermore, you're required to keep your goats or sheep more than 100 feet from any neighboring, livable structure. For more details, please refer to Norwich's municipal code.

Trumbull, CT

Goats and sheep keeping are permitted in Trumbull, CT, subject to certain rules. Per Chapter 4, Sec. 4-2 of Trumbull's Code of Ordinances, you may not keep goats or sheep in such a manner as may, in the opinion of the Director of Health, constitute a threat to public health. Furthermore, you must not permit your animals to run at large or disturb your neighbors.

New Milford, CT

The keeping of livestock is permitted in New Milford, CT, subject to certain limitations and conditions. By ordinance, you're permitted to keep up to 5 goats or sheep on a property not less than 32,670 square feet (three-fourths (3/4) of an acre of land). Then for every additional one-half an acre of land, 5 additional goats or sheep are allowed. There is no restriction on the number of livestock kept on parcels of land containing 5 acres or more. All structures associated with the keeping of livestock are required to be located at least 50 feet from any property line.

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