Most livestock are prohibited in New York County under NYC Health Code 161.01. Hens are allowed but roosters, goats, sheep, pigs, cows, and horses are barred from private property.
New York County is almost entirely urban and the NYC Health Code reflects that. Section 161.01 prohibits keeping any horse, cow, pig (including pot bellied pigs), goat, sheep, or farm animal as a pet or for agricultural purposes on private property in Manhattan. Carriage horses operating in the Central Park carriage trade are regulated separately under NYC Admin Code 17-326 and may only be stabled at licensed commercial stables on the West Side such as Clinton Park Stables. Female chickens (hens) are allowed under 161.19 without a permit, and urban farming operations in community gardens and rooftop programs through GreenThumb and GrowNYC may keep hens for egg production. Roosters are specifically prohibited under Health Code 161.19 due to noise. Honey bees are allowed with registration as a separate category. Ducks, geese, turkeys, and quail are also prohibited unless kept within licensed commercial zoo or educational facilities. Violations carry 500 dollar to 2,000 dollar fines per animal and generally result in surrender to an animal sanctuary. The NYC live poultry markets, concentrated in Harlem and Chinatown, operate under a separate NYS Agriculture and Markets license and are not subject to the pet ban.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
New York County, NY
Manhattan enforces NYC Admin Code 24-235, which prohibits a dog from barking more than 10 minutes continuously during the day or 5 minutes at night in any re...
New York County, NY
Manhattan enforces NYC Administrative Code Title 24 Chapter 2, limiting interior residential noise to 45 dBA between 10 PM and 7 AM, with NYPD and DEP respon...
New York County, NY
Outdoor music events in Manhattan require an NYPD Sound Device Permit and a Mayor Office Street Activity Permit, and must comply with NYC Admin Code 24-244 t...
New York County, NY
NYC Admin Code Title 24 Chapter 2 sets tiered dBA limits in Manhattan: 45 dBA interior night residential, 50 dBA day, 7 to 10 dBA above ambient commercial, w...
New York County, NY
Private outdoor pools are rare in Manhattan, but any residential pool over 24 inches deep must have a 4-foot barrier with self-closing, self-latching gates u...
New York County, NY
Barbed and razor wire are prohibited on residential property in NYC. In landmarked or historic districts of Manhattan, the LPC controls fence materials and t...
See how New York County's livestock rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.