Clay, NY Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)

Section 230-20A(3)(b) of the Town Code removes any cap on the type or number of farm, exotic or domestic animals kept as pets in the RA-100 Zone District, provided the property is at least five acres in area. The Town's zoning definitions at § 230-11C describe farm animals as species historically associated with agricultural production or work, and expressly list chickens alongside horses, cows, sheep and pigs. Outside RA-100, or on RA-100 lots under five acres, keeping chickens or other livestock is not a by-right use: § 230-20A(3)(c) requires a special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals for pets maintained in nonconforming residential and/or farm land uses in any other district, and § 230-20A(3)(d) additionally requires site plan review or a special permit for related structures such as private stables or accessory kennels.

The three-adult-dog, three-adult-cat cap in § 230-20A(3)(a) does not apply to farm animals covered by these subsections. A resident planning to raise chickens on a smaller residential lot outside RA-100 should expect to bring an application to the ZBA rather than simply build a coop, since the underlying land use, not just the structure, needs approval.