Dogs & animal control — Woonsocket, Rhode Island

Do I need a dog licence? What are the leash rules?

In the City of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, dogs & animal control rules are set by Woonsocket Zoning Ordinance — Backyard Chicken Keeping (Sec. 4.4) and Farm Animals (Sec. 6.13), verified 2026-06-05. Max animals: no more than one (1) hen per eight hundred (800) square feet of total lot area with a maximum of five (5) hens on any one lot; no roosters.

Woonsocket Zoning Ordinance — Backyard Chicken Keeping (Sec. 4.4) and Farm Animals (Sec. 6.13) adopted ordinance

leash rule	Hens must be confined between 9:00 PM and 8:00 AM; when not confined must be supervised, kept within enclosed fenced yard, and not allowed onto abutting property	Backyard Chicken Keeping (b)
max animals	no more than one (1) hen per eight hundred (800) square feet of total lot area with a maximum of five (5) hens on any one lot; no roosters	definition 'Backyard Chicken Keeping'

scout note

Farm animals prohibited in all zoning districts (no agricultural zoning). Backyard chicken keeping permitted as Special Use in R-1, R-2, R-3 only (no roosters, max 5 hens, coop setbacks, confinement rules).

Woonsocket Dog & Animal Laws (City Website)

Dog limits: max 3 dogs in single-family home, max 1 in apartment. Leash law required. Barking >15 minutes straight deemed Disturbing the Peace. Farm animals prohibited (no rabbits, cows, goats, pigs, roosters, sheep).

Machine-readable: animal-control.json · Official website: none on record · Last verified 2026-06-05 · Dogs & animal control across Rhode Island · Dogs & animal control in other municipalities