Learning about your city or town's chicken-keeping rules is the first step to being a responsible chicken owner. If you're considering raising chickens in your backyard, contact your local animal control or city/town clerk to determine whether such a practice is legal in your locality. Meanwhile, you can own chickens in the following New York State municipalities.
1. New York City, NY
NYC Health Code, Article 161.19. allow residents to keep female chickens in their backyards. Hens are legal to own in all five boroughs, but roosters and other birds including geese, ducks, and turkeys are prohibited. On the bright side, you're not required to obtain a license to keep hens in NYC. There are also no restrictions on the number of hens you may own. However, you're required to keep your hens in such a manner as to not create a nuisance or health hazard.
2. Brookhaven, NY
In June 2024, the Town of Brookhaven amended its code to ease restrictions on raising chickens in the Town. The new law, which was unanimously passed 6-0 by the Town Board, was aimed at promoting sustainable living and self-sufficiency in the town. Until now, Brookhaven residents were required to keep chickens 50 feet from all property lines. However, the amended code reduces that setback requirement to 10 feet.
This decision allows more residents to meet the requirements without the need for a variance. Under the new code, a total of 6 chickens are allowed per parcel under 20,000 square feet. On parcels over 20,000 square feet, up to 12 chickens may be kept. However, the prohibition of roosters remains unchanged under the Town’s amended code.
3. Islip, NY
You may keep chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, and pheasants in the Town of Islip, so long as they don't constitute a nuisance or create a health hazard. The Town Code allows as many as 15 chickens per every 500 square feet of rear yard space. Chickens must be securely enclosed within an accessory structure in the rear yard. Such structure must maintain ten-foot setbacks from side and rear yards. More importantly, you must not permit your chickens to make noises of such a nature as to be heard beyond your property between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.
4. Oyster Bay, NY
According to the Town of Oyster Bay's Zoning Ordinance, you need to obtain a special use permit from the Board of Appeals to keep chickens within the town limits. As a permit holder, you're not allowed to keep your chicken enclosure less than 50 feet from any lot line.
5. Buffalo, NY
In Buffalo, NY, you may keep female chickens in any residential district under certain terms and conditions. For starters, you need to obtain a license from the City Clerk before acquiring the birds. As a license holder, you may keep a maximum of 5 hens on a lot containing a single-family or multi-family dwelling. The City Code prohibits the keeping of chickens in multifamily complexes, including duplexes. There are exceptions, provided the property owner and all tenants residing on the property are OK with you keeping chickens on the property. If you live on a single-family dwelling property, you need to obtain the written consent of all residents residing on property adjacent to yours.
6. Town of Babylon, NY
If you reside in the Town of Babylon, you don't need a permit or license to keep chickens in your backyard, However, according to the town's website, you must not keep your chicken coop within 100 feet of the dwelling house or living quarters of another person.
7. Rochester, NY
The City of Rochester's Animal Code requires that you obtain a poulterer's license from the Chief of Police to keep chickens and other birds including geese, ducks, and turkeys. The raising of chickens for commercial purposes is prohibited within the City of Rochester. The City allows as many as 30 chickens to be kept in an open area of 240 square feet. All chicken coops and runways are required to be kept at least 25 feet away from any dwelling used for human habitation. Furthermore, all premises where chickens are kept are subject to inspection at all times.
8. Town of Huntington, NY
Backyard chickens and ducks are allowed in the Town of Huntington. Per the Town Code, you may keep 8 chickens or ducks or any combination of both not exceeding a total of 8 on your premises. As a chicken or duck owner in Huntington, you're required to keep your birds in such a manner as not to constitute a nuisance or create a hazard to public health. Roosters and the selling of eggs are not permitted.
9. Amherst, NY
The raising of chickens as an accessory use is permitted in the SA, R-R, R-1, R-2, R-3, and R-4 Districts within the City of Amherst, NY. But prior to acquiring the birds, you need to apply for and obtain a Special Use Permit. The permit allows you to keep a maximum of 6 chickens (no roosters) in your residential backyard. Your chicken coop or run must be located at least 15 feet from any property line.
10. Albany, NY
A maximum of six chickens, excluding roosters, is allowed per property in Albany, New York. The City Code requires that you at all times keep your hens in a covered enclosure or within a fenced area. Such enclosure or fenced area must not be located closer than 25 feet to any neighboring dwelling. The only exception to this setback requirement is if you obtain written permission from your neighbor. The outdoor slaughtering of hens is prohibited in the city. Before acquiring any chickens, you need to apply to the Albany City Clerk's office for a hen license.
Other New York State municipalities that allow backyard chickens
- Greenburgh, NY
- Town of Colonie, NY - six chickens per parcel
- North Tonawanda, NY
- Village of Hamburg, NY - Up to six hens per residence
- Town of Henrietta, NY
- City of Rye, NY - Coops must be located 25 feet from any property line
- Perinton, NY - A maximum of six female chickens
- Binghamton, NY
- Town of Poughkeepsie, NY - No more than 6 hens
- Village of Freeport, NY - N more than 2 chickens may be kept as household pets
- Village of Haverstraw, NY
- Town of Penfield, NY
- Town of Guilderland, NY
- Town of Yorktown, NY
- Carmel, NY
This list isn't exhaustive, meaning many more New York State municipalities permit the keeping of backyard chickens.
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