Buffalo allows backyard chickens with a permit from the Department of Permit and Inspection Services. Maximum 5 hens per parcel, no roosters, and coops must be 25 feet from any dwelling. Annual permit fee applies.
Buffalo amended Chapter 341 in 2014 to legalize backyard chickens in residential zones. Residents may keep up to 5 hens per parcel with a chicken-keeping permit issued by the Department of Permit and Inspection Services. Roosters are strictly prohibited due to noise. Coops must be at least 25 feet from any dwelling other than the owner occupied home and set back from property lines per zoning. Coops must be enclosed, predator-resistant, and kept clean to avoid nuisance and rodent issues. Slaughtering chickens on residential property is prohibited. The program was championed by Buffalo's urban agriculture movement and Grassroots Gardens of Western New York. Annual permits typically cost around $25 to $50.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Buffalo, NY
Buffalo does not restrict residential lawn ornaments, statues, or yard decorations on private property. Ornaments must stay on the owner's property and not e...
Buffalo, NY
Buffalo does not impose specific restrictions on residential inflatable holiday displays. Displays must remain on private property and not encroach into side...
Buffalo, NY
Buffalo does not impose a dedicated ordinance restricting residential holiday lighting. The Green Code (UDO Chapter 496) Section 7.4 regulates outdoor lighti...
Buffalo, NY
Permanent outdoor kitchens in Buffalo require building, plumbing, gas, and electrical permits through the Department of Permit and Inspection Services when t...
Buffalo, NY
Buffalo treats wood, pellet, and charcoal smokers as open-flame cooking devices under IFC Section 308.1.4 as adopted by New York State (19 NYCRR Part 1225). ...
Buffalo, NY
Buffalo enforces the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code (19 NYCRR Part 1225), which incorporates the 2020 International Fire Code with ...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Erie County.
See how other cities in Erie County handle chickens & livestock.
See how Buffalo's chickens & livestock rules stack up against other locations.
Quick Compare
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.