Oceanside is a CDP within the Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, NY. Under the Town of Hempstead Building Zone Ordinance, residents may not raise chickens or other fowl in residential zones unless they first obtain a special exception from the Town Board of Appeals. The special-exception process is lengthy and costly, effectively prohibiting most backyard chicken-keeping in Oceanside.
Oceanside (pop. ~33,141) is an unincorporated hamlet/CDP in the southern part of the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County. Because Oceanside is unincorporated, the Town of Hempstead Building Zone Ordinance (https://www.hempsteadny.gov/) governs. Hempstead's residential zones (Residence A, B, C, AA) do not permit the keeping of poultry, fowl, livestock, swine, goats, or similar agricultural animals as a matter of right. To keep chickens, a resident must apply for a Special Exception (also called a special-use permit) from the Town Board of Appeals, demonstrating no adverse impact on neighboring properties. The application process requires a fee, a public hearing, neighbor notification, and a written decision β often taking 3-6 months and several thousand dollars in fees and professional services. As of 2026, only a small number of Hempstead residents have obtained special exceptions for chicken-keeping. Roosters are universally prohibited as noise nuisances under the Town Code. Within Nassau County's 64 incorporated villages, 34 either allow chickens by permit or do not explicitly forbid them β but unincorporated areas including Oceanside fall under Hempstead's stricter rule.
Keeping chickens without a special exception violates the Town of Hempstead Building Zone Ordinance and can be cited by Hempstead Code Enforcement. Penalties under N.Y. Town Law Section 268 and the Town Code carry fines of $250-$1,000 per offense with daily continuing-violation penalties. The Town may seek a court order requiring removal of the animals.
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