NYC Health Code allows backyard hens in Queens (no roosters). Ducks, geese, turkeys, goats, pigs, sheep, and cows are prohibited. No permit required for hens.
Queens County follows the NYC Health Code Article 161 and Article 11, which regulates the keeping of animals citywide. Hens (female chickens) are permitted at residential properties including across Queens from Floral Park to Bayside, with no permit required and no hard limit on number, but must be kept in sanitary, predator-proof coops. Roosters are prohibited citywide due to noise. Ducks, geese, turkeys, guinea fowl, goats, sheep, pigs, cows, and other livestock are classified as prohibited animals under Health Code 161.01 and may not be kept in NYC. Enforcement is by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), with fines from 200 to 2,000 dollars per violation and seizure of illegal animals. Coops must be located away from property lines (typically 25 feet from neighbor structures per DOHMH guidance) and kept free of pests, odors, and excessive noise. Queens residents can join NYC Chicken Meetup groups for best practices. Slaughter for personal consumption is allowed only at licensed live poultry markets.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
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Queens County, NY
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Queens County, NY
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