🐔 Can I keep poultry (chickens) in my yard in Malta?

With conditions

Quick answer

You can — but not simply "a few chickens in the yard with no thought at all". Keeping poultry in Malta needs a licence and registration through the Veterinary Regulation Directorate, which also enters you in the national livestock database. Other rules come with the licence: under the Animal Welfare Act (Cap. 439), the birds must be kept with shelter, food, water and proper conditions, and mistreatment is an offence. The myth: that "a few chickens need no permit". Beyond the licence, smell, mess or persistent noise can become a nuisance under public health and civil law, the local council may have its own rules, and during avian influenza biosecurity measures can be imposed. The exact limits of what is allowed in a residential area are not always clearly published, so it is best to check with the Directorate before you start.

📋 The rules

Keeping poultry needs an application for a licence and registration through the Veterinary Regulation Directorate.
Under Cap. 439, poultry must be kept with shelter, food, water and proper care; mistreatment is a welfare offence.
Smell, mess or persistent noise can be treated as a nuisance under public health and civil law, with the council or authorities stepping in.
During an avian influenza outbreak, biosecurity measures can be imposed, including keeping the birds enclosed.
Even for home consumption, slaughter must be done humanely; selling the meat brings far stricter requirements.

🔓 Exceptions

The obligations and limits can vary with the number and type of poultry and whether the keeping is for home use or commercial.
The local council can impose additional conditions in residential areas, such as distances from neighbours' homes or limits on roosters.
During an animal-health emergency, temporary biosecurity rules can override what is normally allowed.

⚠️ Penalties & fines

Keeping poultry without the required licence or registration can lead to action by the Veterinary Directorate and an order to stop or regularise. Under Cap. 439, mistreatment or a lack of proper shelter, food and water is a welfare offence that can bring fines and even the removal of the animals. Smell, mess or persistent noise can build into a nuisance complaint under public health or civil law, with the authorities or local council stepping in. During an avian influenza outbreak, measures — such as keeping the birds enclosed — can be introduced, and non-compliance can bring penalties and the risk that the flock is culled. Remember that even for home consumption, slaughter must be done humanely. Check with the Directorate before you start, because the exact limits of what is allowed in a residential area are not always clearly published.

📎 Official sources

Last verified: 2026-07-12

❓ Frequently asked

Do you need a licence to keep a few chickens?

Yes, keeping poultry needs an application for a licence and registration through the Veterinary Regulation Directorate, which also enters you in the national livestock database. The idea that "a few chickens" need no paperwork is common but mistaken.

What welfare rules apply?

Under the Animal Welfare Act (Cap. 439), poultry must be kept with shelter, food, water and proper conditions, and mistreatment is an offence. Welfare applies just as much to a few chickens in a yard as it does to a larger farm.

Can neighbours complain about the smell or noise?

Yes, even with a licence, poultry that create smell, mess or persistent noise can be treated as a nuisance under public health and civil law. The local council or health authorities can step in if a serious inconvenience is created for the neighbourhood.

Can I slaughter a chicken for home use?

Slaughter of animals is regulated, and even for home consumption the welfare and hygiene rules must be followed so there is no unnecessary suffering or health risk. Selling the meat to others brings in far stricter approval requirements.

What are the rules against bird flu?

Anyone keeping poultry can be subject to biosecurity measures and registration linked to avian influenza, which can include keeping the birds enclosed during an outbreak. The exact rules can change with the situation, so it is best to check with the Veterinary Directorate.

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