Utica prohibits keeping fowl of any kind within city limits. City Code bars having, keeping, or offering to sell any live chickens, geese, ducks, pigeons, or doves. A 2021 zoning proposal to allow backyard chickens was voted down, so the ban remains in effect.
Chapter 2-5, Article III (Fowl) makes it unlawful to have, keep, or offer for sale any fowl within the City of Utica. The code defines fowl to include live chickens, geese, ducks, pigeons, and doves, so backyard hens and roosters are not permitted. During the February 2021 zoning rewrite, the Common Council considered allowing residential backyard fowl but rejected the provision, leaving the citywide prohibition intact. Residents wanting eggs must look outside city limits, where surrounding Oneida County towns set their own rules.
Keeping prohibited fowl is a code violation enforced by Codes Enforcement; owners may be ordered to remove the animals and fined per municipal penalty provisions.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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