Clarkstown, NY Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Max cats or dogs
- 5 per lot
- Age threshold
- over six months old
- Housing setback
- cats/dogs exempt from 50-ft rule
- Districts covered
- R-160, R-80, R-40, R-22, R-15, R-10
- First-offense fine
- up to $3,500
Summary
In the R-160 through R-10 Zoning Districts, Clarkstown's § 290-20K limits any one lot to five cats or dogs over six months old, alongside separate caps on horses, cows and fowl. Unlike livestock and fowl, cats and dogs are exempt from the section's 50-foot animal-housing setback, since the rule only counts and caps them rather than requiring them to be penned.
keeping domestic animals (except pigs) for individual domestic purposes shall be permitted, provided that not more than one horse or cow per acre, five cats or dogs over six months old, and not more than 25 fowl shall be kept on any lot. No animals (except cats or dogs) shall be penned or housed within 50 feet of any lot line...
Full Breakdown
' The six-month threshold means litters of puppies or kittens under that age don't count toward the cap, so a household temporarily over five animals because of a recent litter isn't automatically in violation. ' That means a doghouse, cat enclosure or kennel run doesn't have to meet the 50-foot buffer that applies to a horse barn, coop or pigsty, though the animals themselves still count toward the five-pet cap. This zoning cap is separate from any Town dog-licensing requirement administered under the Town's animal-control chapter; § 290-20K only governs how many cats or dogs a residential lot may keep as a land-use matter, enforced through the Building Inspector and the Zoning Board of Appeals rather than through licensing.
Violations & Fines
Keeping more than five cats or dogs over six months old on a lot in the R-160 through R-10 Districts breaches § 290-20K and is enforceable as a zoning violation under § 290-34, carrying a fine up to $3,500 for a first offense and climbing to $6,000, $11,000 and up to $16,000 for repeat offenses within 18 months, plus possible imprisonment of up to 15 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do puppies count toward the five-pet cap?
Does my dog run need a 50-foot setback?
Is this the same as a dog license?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Clarkstown
New York rules heatmap·Compare Clarkstown to another location·View the New York animal ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.