Syracuse permits residents to keep up to six hens with a chicken permit under Revised General Ordinances Chapter 6, adopted as part of the urban agriculture initiative. Roosters are prohibited. Coops must meet setback and sanitation standards. Other livestock such as goats, pigs, and cows are prohibited in all residential zones.
Syracuse legalized backyard chickens in 2014 as part of an urban agriculture initiative supported by the Onondaga County Cooperative Extension. Under Revised General Ordinances Chapter 6, residents may keep up to six hens with a chicken-keeping permit issued by the Bureau of Administrative Adjudication. Roosters are prohibited because of noise. Coops must be enclosed, predator-proof, kept clean and odor-free, and located in the rear yard at least 20 feet from any dwelling on a neighboring lot. The annual permit fee is approximately $25, and applicants must complete a brief educational module. Slaughter on residential premises is prohibited. Other livestock — including goats, pigs, sheep, cattle, and horses — are prohibited in all residential zoning districts; agricultural uses are not permitted under the Syracuse Zoning Code. Bees are permitted with separate registration under Chapter 6.
Keeping chickens without a permit results in $100-$250 fines plus orders to remove birds. Roosters are subject to immediate impound. Keeping prohibited livestock (goats, pigs, etc.) carries fines of $250-$1,000 per animal plus removal orders enforced by the Animal Control Officer.
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