NEWTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT
RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE KEEPING OF ANIMALS AND LIVE FOWL
The City of Newton Health Department hereby orders that the following regulations
be and are hereby adopted this First Day of November 1982 to become effective on
November 15, 1982 under authority of Sections 31, 122 and 155 of Chapter Ill of the
General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. All other regulations previously
adopted regarding the keeping of animals and live fowl and the licensing of stables
are hereby repealed.
SECTION 1. LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
1.1 Any person desiring to keep animals or live fowls shall apply to the Newton
Health Department for a license. Such license shall contain a statement of
the number and kind of creatures licensed and such conditions as may be re-
quired by the Department. Rodentera up to five in number are exempt from
licensure. Licenses may be issued for a period of time not to exceed two
years; they expire on September 30th and are not transferable.
1.2 Any person holding a valid license on the date of promulgation of these
standards will be considered eligible for continued licensure notwith-
standing non-compliance with the new distance requirements for the location
of structures.
SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS – For the purposes of this chapter the following definitions,
and such other animals within these categories as the Health Department may
subsequently recognize, shall apply.
2.1 ANIMALS: Horses, ponies, goats, swine, cattle, sheep, donkeys, mules, etc.,
which are kept or harbored as domesticated animals, excepting dogs and cats.
Dogs must be licensed according to the provisions of Newton City Ordinances
and of State Law (Mass. General Laws c. 140 4 137.) Wild animals, birds,
fish, reptiles and amphibians may be kept as pets subject to the licensing
requirements of State Law (Mass. General Laws c. 131 ºº 23, 25 and 26A.
Those wild animals which may be kept without a state license are listed
in 321 Code Mass. Reg. 9.01.)
2.2 LIVE FOWL: Chickens, pigeons, roosters, capons, hens, turkeys, pheasants,
guinea fowl, ducks and geese other than wild species.
2.3 RODENTERA: Include rats, mice, rabbits, mink, guinea pigs, hamsters, chin-
chillas and squirrels.
2.4 PERSON: Every individual, partnership, corporation, firm, association or group.
2.5 STABLE: A building having stalls or compartments in which large animals such
as horses, donkeys, mules, cattle or ponies are housed.
2.6 SHELTER: A structure for housing small animals.
2.7 COOP: Small building for housing live fowl.
SECTION 3. RESTRICTIONS
3.1 No person shall keep any animals or live fowl in any building used as a dwelling.
SECTION 4. SHELTERS
4.1 LOCATION: Al] shelters shall be located not less than 200 feet from the high
water mark of any known source of drinking water supply or any tributary thereof,
or less than 50 feet from any well.
4.2 CONSTRUCTION: All structures used to house small animals shall be so constructed
as to protect from dampness, deterioration and accessibility to rodents.
4.3 FLOORS: Floor surfaces shall be so constructed as to be easily cleanable.
4.4 FEED STORAGE: The owner shall provide for tightly covered and vermin-proof
storage of dry animal feed.
4.5 LIGHTING AND VENTILATION: Each shelter shall be provided with adequate lighting
;n-d ventilation.
4.6 SCREENING: All windows and doors should be provided with screens to prevent
the entrance of flies and other flying insects.
4.7 MANURE STORAGE: A ventilated, watertight storage facility constructed of
durable material for the storage of animal wastes shall be provided and be
so located as to promote regular removal of manure so as to prevent objectionable
conditions. Manure shall be stored not less than 2DO feet from the high water
mark of any known source of drinking water supply or any tributary thereof,
or less than 50 feet from any well.
SECTION 5. COOPS
5.1 LOCATION: All coops and other such buildings shall be located not less than
200 feet from the high water mark of any known source of drinking water supply
or any tributary thereof, or less than 50 feet from any well.
5.2 CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS: All coops, hutches or other such buildings used
To-house poultry shall be of durable construction. Such structures shall be
elevated at least to a height which allows for adequate cleaning and designed
so as to prevent the harborage or shelter of rodents.
5.3 VENTILATION: All coops, structures or other such buildings used to house
poultry shall be properly ventilated and kept dry.
5.4 SCREENING: All windows and doors should be provided with screens to prevent
the entrance of flies and other flying insects.
5.5 MAINTENANCE OF FACILITIES:
A. Nests shall be movable and cleaned frequently.
B. Perches and areas beneath perches shall be cleaned frequently.
C. Feed stations shall be maintained in proper sanitary conditions.
D. Interior of coops, hutches, structures, etc. shall be whitewashed
(or equivalent treatment) at least once a year.
5.6 MANURE STORAGE: A ventilated, watertight storage facility constructed of
durable material for the storage of poultry wastes shall be provided and
so located as to promote regular removal of manure so as to prevent objectionable
conditions. Manure shall be stored not less than 200 feet from the high
water mark of any known source of drinking water supply or any tributary
thereof, or less than 50 feet from any well.
SECTION 6 STABLES
6.1 LICENSING OF STABLES: No person shall erect, occupy, or use for a stable
any building in the City ot Newton unless he has filed an application, on
a prescribed from, with the Health Department and received a license from
said Health Department.
6.2 LOCATION:
A. Stables shall be located not less than 200 feet from any church or
meeting house erected and used for the public worship of God, school,
Hospital, nursing home or rest home.
B. Not less than 200 feet from the high water mark of any source of
drinking water supply or any tributary thereof, or less than 50 feet
from any well.
C. Not less than 50 feet of any room where milk is handled.
6.3 CONSTRUCTION: Stable buildings shall be of durable construction to protect
the building from deterioration or damage by rodents, termites and dampness.
Applicant must submit a copy of the City of Newton Building Permit.
6.4 FLOORS: Floors in horse stalls shall be paved with wooden blocks sealed in
asphalt or other material approved by the Board of Health and shall be sloped
to facilitate proper drainage. Floors in the feed and tack rooms should be
of concrete construction.
6.5 DRAINAGE: The stable building shall be provided with a sanitary drainage
system connected to the public sewerage system; provided that if because
of distance or ground conditions, connection to a public sewerage system
is not practicable, any other means of subsurface disposal of sewage may
be installed, if approved by the board of health and is in compliance with
Title V of The State Environmental Code.
6.6 HOSE BIB WATER OUTLETS: The stable shall be provided with a sufficient
number of hose bib water outlets so that the stable can be hosed down
and maintained in a clean condition.
6.7 LIVING AND SLEEPING QUARTERS: Stables shall not be used for human habitation,
except upon written permission of the board of health. If permitted by the
board of health, such living and sleeping quarters shall meet the require-
ments of Chapter IM of The State Sanitary Codes
6.8 WATER TROUGH: A drinking water trough shall be provided in the corral area
for the animals.
6.9 CORRALS AND PADDOCK: Corrals and paddock areas should be gently sloping
‘To minimize standing pools of surface water. Area drains should be installed
whenever possible
6.10 FEED STORAGE: Grain feeds shall be stored in covered metal or metal-lined
bins or containers.
6.11 INSECT CONTROL: Whenever necessary, insecticides should be applied to the
interior walls, ceilings, and stall area in order to control fly populations.
Space sprays and resin strips impregnated with insecticide may also be used.
6.12 SCREENING: Openings to the outer air shall be effectively screened against
the entrance of flies and other flying insects.
6.13 MANURE STORAGE: A ventilated, watertight storage facility constructed of
concrete or other durable material shall be provided for the storage of
manure and so located as to promote regular removal of manure from inside
the stable. Manure shall be removed from the stable at least daily and
shall be placed in the manure storage container. No manure or used
bedding shall be permitted to remain uncontained outside the stable
more than 48 hours. Manure storage facilities shall be emptied as
often as necessary in order to prevent a health nuisance. Manure shall
be stored not less than 200 feet from the high water mark of any known
source of drinking water supply or tributary thereof, or less than
50 feet from any well.
6.14 WATER SUPPLY: An adequate quantity of safe water shall be provided for
each stable.
6.15 LIGHTING AND VENTILATION: Each stable shall be provided with adequate
light and ventilation.
6.i6 PENALTY: Failure to obtain a stable license shall be punishable by a
fine of five dollars for each day such violation continues (Mass. General
Laws c. III º 157).
SECTION 7. RESTRICTION TO PREMISES
All animals, rodentera, and live fowl shall be kept in an approved building,
run, or enclosure. They shall not be permitted to roam unrestricted outside
the building, run or enclosure. Any such animal, rodentera, or live fowl
shall be deemed to be at large when it shall be off the premises or outside
the building, run or enclosure owned or rented by its owner and unaccompanied
by the owner, agent or employee of the owner or caretaker.
SECTION 8. REVOCATION OF LICENSES
All licenses granted for the keeping of animals or live fowl may be revoked
by the Health Department upon a written finding that such revocation is
necessary for the public health or safety, or that conditions of the
license have been violated. The writing shall state the reasons for
revocation.
SECTION 9. PENALTY
g.i The penalty for a violation of any of the above regulations for which no
penalty is otherwise provided shall be a fine of not more than twenty
dollars (Mass. General Laws c. Ill g 31).