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

Town of Islip Code Chapter 12, Article IV (Equine Livestock, Pigeons and Poultry) provides that any person may keep, maintain or house poultry provided it does not constitute a nuisance or create a hazard to public health; 'poultry' includes chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, pheasant and other domestically maintained fowl. Following 2010 amendments, chickens and other poultry must be kept in a rear yard within an accessory structure, yard or enclosure at all times, with no more than 15 birds for every 500 square feet of rear-yard area used for poultry, and accessory structures housing poultry must be set back at least 10 feet from side and rear property lines and may not be located in a front yard. Feed and manure must be stored in metal or rodent-proof containers with covers, and poultry may not make noise audible on neighboring property between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Equine livestock is regulated separately: a permit is required from the Building Director of the Department of Planning and Development for each head of equine livestock, valid for a two-year period from issuance for a fee set by the Commissioner.