Clarence Town Code prohibits keeping chickens in the Residential Single-Family (R-SF) zone unless the parcel is at least 5 acres or is located in the Agricultural District. Residents on smaller residential lots have applied for ZBA variances; outcomes have been mixed since 2022.
The Town of Clarence regulates animal keeping under its Zoning Code (Chapter 229 / Town Code chapters referenced via eCode360). In the R-SF Residential Single-Family district — Clarence's most common residential zone — chickens, ducks, and other poultry are not a permitted accessory use unless the parcel is at least 5 acres or is located within the Agricultural Zoning District. Residents on smaller R-SF lots must seek a use variance from the Clarence Zoning Board of Appeals. ZBA meeting minutes from 2022 onward show repeated variance requests for backyard chickens on parcels smaller than 5 acres; the ZBA has approved some and denied others based on lot configuration, neighbor input, and coop placement. The Food Policy Council of Buffalo and Erie County tracks chicken regulations across Erie County municipalities and notes Clarence's relatively strict approach.
Keeping chickens or poultry in R-SF without a variance is a zoning violation. Town Code Enforcement issues notices and requires removal within a set period (usually 30 days); continued violations result in court citations and per-day fines under the general penalty.
Erie County, NY
Erie County itself does not regulate parking on town/village streets, but the Erie County Department of Parks, Recreation & Forestry enforces parking rules o...
Erie County, NY
Erie County Local Law 2-2025, "The Sky Lantern Prohibition Act," bans the sale, use, release, and dispatch of sky lanterns county-wide. The law was adopted b...
Erie County, NY
Erie County has no separate county-level open-burning ordinance; outdoor burning across all of Erie County is governed by New York State regulation 6 NYCRR P...
Erie County, NY
Erie County regulates trees on county-owned land only — county highway right-of-way and county parks. The Erie County DPW Tree Planting on Highway ROW Policy...
Erie County, NY
Erie County Local Law 5 of 2025 makes it unlawful to dump waste, debris, or hazardous materials on any county-owned property without prior written authorizat...
Erie County, NY
Erie County prohibits the sale of tobacco, vapor products, electronic cigarettes, liquid nicotine, and smoking paraphernalia to anyone under 21. Enforcement ...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Erie County.
See how other cities in Erie County handle chickens & livestock.
See how Clarence'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.