Animal Ordinances in Colonie, NY: What Residents Actually Need to Know

If you live in Colonie or are thinking about moving there, animal ordinances are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Colonie has 8 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of animal ordinances, and some of them might surprise you.

Exotic Pets

New York Environmental Conservation Law section 11-0512 prohibits the possession, sale, and transport of wild animals as pets statewide. The list includes big cats, wolves, coyotes, foxes, skunks, bears, primates, venomous reptiles, and crocodilians. Colonie defers to ECL §11-0512 and has no separate local exotic-pet ordinance.

Key details: State Law: NY ECL §11-0512 + 6 NYCRR Part 180. Local Add-On: None in Colonie Town Code. Penalty: Class A misdemeanor (up to 1 yr + $1,000). Civil Penalty: Up to $500 per animal. Enforcer: NYS DEC Region 4 + Colonie Animal Control.

ECL section 71-0925 makes a violation of 11-0512 a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail, a fine up to $1,000, plus separate civil penalties up to $500 per animal. The DEC may seize the animal at the owner's expense and place it with an accredited sanctuary or accredited zoo.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Colonie actively enforces its exotic pets requirements.

Chickens & Livestock

Town of Colonie Code Chapter 79, Article III (Confinement of Livestock) allows up to six hens for noncommercial use in single-family residential districts. Roosters are prohibited, and swine are barred except on premises actively used for swine at the article's adoption.

Key details: Code: Town Code Ch. 79 Art. III. Hen Limit: 6 max, single-family residential. Roosters: Prohibited. Coop Size: 20 sq ft max, 48 in tall. Setback: 15 ft from property lines.

Town of Colonie Building Department and Animal Control enforce. Notice of violation, civil penalties under Chapter 79 and Chapter 190, and order to remove illegal coops, runs, or excess birds. Continuing violations accrue per-day fines and may be enjoined in Albany County Supreme Court.

Breed Restrictions

New York Agriculture and Markets Law section 107(5) preempts breed-specific legislation statewide. No municipality outside New York City (population over two million) may regulate dogs in a manner specific as to breed. The Town of Colonie has no breed ban, and any pit bull, Rottweiler, or other breed restriction would be unenforceable.

Key details: State Preemption: NY Ag & Markets Law §107(5). Local Breed Ban: None (cannot enforce). Dangerous Dog Law: NY Ag & Markets §123 (breed-neutral). Scope: All NY except NYC (>2M pop).

No local breed enforcement exists or could lawfully exist. Owners of any breed may still face dangerous-dog proceedings in Colonie Town Court under NY Ag and Markets Law section 123 if their individual dog bites, attacks, or behaves dangerously, with possible orders for confinement, muzzling, restitution, or in severe cases humane euthanasia.

The rules around breed restrictions in Colonie lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

Beekeeping

The Town of Colonie has no beekeeping-specific ordinance in Chapter 79 of the Town Code. Apiaries are governed by New York Agriculture and Markets Law Article 15, which requires annual registration of all beekeepers with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and reporting of colony locations and disease.

Key details: Local Rule: None specific in Town Code. State Law: NY Ag & Markets Law Art. 15. Registration: Annual, with NYS Dept. of Ag & Markets. Effective: Dec. 23, 2021. Disease Reporting: Required to Commissioner.

Failure to register with NY Ag and Markets under Article 15 may result in civil penalties under the article and the loss of state hive-loss reimbursement eligibility. A nuisance apiary in Colonie can be cited under the Town's general nuisance authority with civil penalties and an order to abate, relocate, or remove the hives.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Colonie gives residents more flexibility on beekeeping.

Animal Hoarding

Animal hoarding in the Town of Colonie is addressed through New York Agriculture and Markets Law section 353 (overdriving, torturing, and injuring animals) and section 353-c (aggravated cruelty to companion animals). Colonie has no separate numeric hoarding cap, and prosecution proceeds in Colonie Town Court or Albany County Court depending on charge severity.

Key details: Cruelty Law: NY Ag & Markets §353. Aggravated: §353-c (Class E felony). Local Pet Cap: None numeric. Seizure Authority: §373 (Town Court hearing). Enforcer: Colonie Animal Control + Police + MHHS.

Section 353 cruelty is an unclassified misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine up to $1,000. Section 353-c aggravated cruelty is a Class E felony with up to two years in state prison. Animals are typically seized under section 373 with owner liable for boarding and veterinary costs through the pendency of the case.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Colonie actively enforces its animal hoarding requirements.

Wildlife Feeding

New York Environmental Conservation Law section 11-0521 and 6 NYCRR Part 189 prohibit the intentional feeding of wild white-tailed deer and moose statewide. The Town of Colonie does not have its own wildlife-feeding ordinance but enforces the state deer-feeding ban through cooperation with NYS DEC Region 4.

Key details: State Law: NY ECL §11-0521 + 6 NYCRR Part 189. Banned Species: White-tailed deer + moose. Civil Penalty: Up to $250 first, $500 repeat. Enforcer: NYS DEC Region 4 ECOs. Park Rule: No feeding wild animals in Colonie parks.

Violations of ECL 11-0521 and 6 NYCRR 189 carry civil penalties up to $250 for a first offense and up to $500 for subsequent offenses, with DEC environmental conservation officers issuing citations. The DEC may also order removal of feed and impose CWD-zone restrictions on hunting and salt licks. Town Park feeding violations are addressed through Parks rules.

Pet Limits

The Town of Colonie does not impose a numeric limit on the number of dogs, cats, or other companion animals per household. Chapter 79 Article III caps chickens at six and bars roosters, and Article II bars new swine. Multi-pet households are otherwise regulated through cruelty, nuisance, and licensing laws rather than a count cap.

Key details: Dog/Cat Limit: None numeric in Town Code. Chicken Limit: 6 hens, no roosters. Swine: Prohibited (grandfathered only). License Required: Each dog at 4 months. Functional Cap: NY Ag & Markets §353 cruelty.

Unlicensed dogs may be cited individually under Chapter 79 Article I, with fines up to $100 first offense and up to $350 or $500 for repeat violations within five years. Functional hoarding may be charged under NY Ag and Markets Law sections 353 (misdemeanor) or 353-c (Class E felony) regardless of the absence of a numeric cap.

Colonie is more permissive than most cities when it comes to pet limits. That said, there are still limits.

Dog Leash Laws

Town of Colonie Code Chapter 79, Article I prohibits dogs from running at large and requires an adequate collar with a leash no longer than eight feet, or immediate control by a handler at least 16 years old. All dogs four months or older must be licensed with the Town Clerk.

Key details: Code: Town Code Ch. 79 Art. I. Max Leash: 8 feet. License Age: 4 months. Repeat Fine: Up to $350 (within 5 yrs). Enforcer: Colonie Animal Control + Police.

First offense fine up to $100 for run-at-large or unlicensed dog. A second violation within five years carries a fine up to $350, and two or more violations within five years carry a fine up to $500. Continuing offenses accrue separate per-day fines.

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, Colonie gives residents more room on animal ordinances. 3 of the 8 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.

Keep in mind that Colonie can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.