Animal Ordinances in Huntington, NY

Huntington maintains 128 local ordinances across all categories, and 9 of those deal specifically with animal ordinances. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Huntington falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Wildlife Feeding

Huntington Town Code flatly bans feeding deer anywhere in the town. Section 78-42 makes it unlawful to feed or encourage feeding of deer, part of the 2015 Deer Management law aimed at controlling the town's deer population without relying on handouts that draw herds into yards and roadways.

Key details: Prohibited act: Feeding or encouraging feeding of deer. Governing section: Huntington Code § 78-42. Enacted: 10-6-2015 by L.L. No. 44-2015. First-offense fine: $100 to $1,000. Repeat-offense fine: Up to $5,000.

Section 78-50 sets tiered fines for Article VII offenses, including illegal deer feeding: $100 to $1,000 for a first offense, $500 to $2,500 for a second offense within five years, and $750 to $5,000 for a third or later offense within five years. The Bureau of Administrative Adjudication may impose the same ranges. The Town Attorney can additionally pursue civil penalties up to $500 per day and injunctive relief, with any civil penalty added directly to the property's tax bill.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Huntington actively enforces its wildlife feeding requirements.

Coyote Management

Huntington's Deer Management law names the only lawful ways residents may control deer, and coyote effigies make the list. Section 78-41 authorizes displaying coyote effigies alongside deer fencing, repellent-friendly landscaping and motion-triggered deterrents as the town's approved, non-lethal approach to deer and predator conflicts.

Key details: Coyote effigies: Expressly permitted deer deterrent. Governing section: Huntington Code § 78-41(A)(3). Deer fencing: Must be commercially-approved. Banned fencing materials: Razor/barbed/chicken wire, chain link, electrified. Bow hunting: Allowed per Chs. 109 & 159 only.

Article VII violations, including deer fencing that uses a barred material or deer control conducted outside the § 78-41 list, carry the same penalties set out in § 78-50: $100 to $1,000 for a first offense, $500 to $2,500 for a second offense within five years, and $750 to $5,000 for a third or subsequent offense within five years, enforceable by the Bureau of Administrative Adjudication or in court, plus Town Attorney civil penalties of up to $500 per day.

Exotic Pets

Huntington bans knowingly owning, possessing or harboring any wild or dangerous animal as defined by New York's Environmental Conservation Law, with narrow carve-outs for licensed research, veterinary, zoo, circus, and permitted-exhibit uses. Violators face fines up to $5,000 per animal for a first offense.

Key details: Statute: Town Code § 78-30, Prohibition and Exemptions. Standard: Wild/dangerous animal per NY ECL § 11-0103(6)(e). First-offense fine: $500-$5,000 per animal. Third-offense penalty: Misdemeanor, up to $15,000 or 6 months jail. Exemptions: Licensed research, vet, zoo, circus, permitted exhibits.

Town Code § 78-34(A) sets a fine of not less than $500 per animal nor more than $5,000 for a first-offense conviction, $1,000 to $10,000 for a second offense within five years, and a third or later offense within five years is a misdemeanor punishable by $1,500 to $15,000 or up to six months' imprisonment, or both. The Bureau of Administrative Adjudication can impose the same fine ranges, and the Town Attorney may pursue civil penalties up to $500 per day.

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

Bird Protection

Huntington's park code bans hunting, molesting, harming, trapping, chasing, teasing or shooting at any animal, mammal or bird within town parks and prohibits removing wild animal young, eggs or nests. It also forbids giving food, tobacco, alcohol or other noxious substances to any animal or bird on park property.

Key details: Prohibited acts: Hunting, harming, trapping, or killing park wildlife. Feeding ban: No food, tobacco, or alcohol to animals/birds. Fine range: $50 to $1,000 per § 159-74. Enforcement: Parks Director, Public Safety, Suffolk County Police. Related section: § 159-16 bans weapons harmful to wildlife.

A violation of § 159-4 is punishable under the Chapter 159 penalty scale in § 159-74: a fine of not less than fifty dollars and not more than one thousand dollars on conviction. Park staff, Public Safety officers or Suffolk County Police may eject the violator on the spot and seize any device or item used to harm or harass the wildlife.

This is one of the stricter rules in Huntington's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Veterinary Clinic Zoning

Huntington does not allow veterinary hospitals or clinics as a matter of right in its business districts. Town Code § 198-24 lists animal hospitals, clinics and veterinary offices as a conditional use in the C-3 Special Business District, requiring a special use permit from the Board authorized under § 198-66, and expressly bars open kennels, fenced runs or other outside enclosures.

Key details: Governing law: Huntington Code § 198-24(B)(3), C-3 District. Permit type: Special use permit via § 198-66. Outdoor limits: No open kennels or fenced runs allowed. C-7 district rule: ZBA must find no residential noise impact. Home occupation: Vet practices barred from home-occupation use.

Operating an animal hospital or veterinary office without the required special use permit, or keeping animals in an outdoor kennel or run barred by § 198-24(B)(3), is a Chapter 198 zoning violation. Under § 198-125(A), a first offense carries a fine of $1,000 to $5,000 or up to 15 days in jail; a second offense within five years rises to $2,000-$10,000; a third becomes a misdemeanor punishable by $4,000-$15,000 or up to six months. Each day the violation continues is a separate offense.

This is one of the stricter rules in Huntington's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Chickens & Livestock

Huntington caps backyard chickens and ducks at eight combined per property, bans roosters outright, and requires daily coop cleaning, covered metal feed storage, and screening from neighboring view. Birds and eggs are for the household's own use only and may not be resold.

Key details: Statute: Town Code § 78-25, Chickens and Ducks. Bird cap: 8 chickens/ducks combined per premises. Roosters: Prohibited outright. Coop space: 2 sq. ft. floor space per bird minimum. Coop cleaning: Required once every day.

Town Code § 78-29(A) sets fines for an Article IV violation of $100 to $500 for a first offense, $250 to $1,000 for a second offense within five years, and $750 to $2,500 for a third or later offense within five years. The Bureau of Administrative Adjudication may impose the same fine ranges, and the Town Attorney can pursue civil penalties up to $500 per day or an injunction.

Pet Limits

Huntington's Zoning Code treats households keeping more than four dogs, cats or similar household pets as an unpermitted kennel. Properties with a normal litter can temporarily exceed that number for up to eight weeks, but any household running a larger, permanent collection of pets needs kennel zoning approval, not just a dog license.

Key details: Pet cap: 4 dogs/cats/household pets per property. Litter exception: Up to 8 weeks over the limit. Over the cap: Treated as unpermitted kennel use. First-offense fine: $1,000 to $5,000. Citation: Huntington Code § 198-2, "Kennel".

Keeping more than four dogs, cats or similar pets on a residential lot without kennel approval is a zoning violation, not an animal-control ticket. The Building Inspector enforces § 198-2's kennel definition under § 198-123, and a conviction under § 198-125(A) carries a fine of $1,000 to $5,000 for a first offense, doubling to $2,000-$10,000 for a second offense within five years.

Dog Leash Laws

Huntington requires dog owners to keep dogs restrained on their own property and bans letting a dog run at large on any public property, including parks, streets, sidewalks, beaches and athletic fields, except in Town Board-designated off-leash areas. A first offense under this section carries a fine of $500 to $5,000.

Key details: Statute: Town Code § 78-3, Running at large prohibited. First-offense fine: $500-$5,000 (elevated under § 78-18(B)). Redemption window: 7 days (12 days if dog is licensed). Impoundment fee: $25 first, $35 second, $50 third+, plus $10/day. Off-leash cap: 20 dogs at once, 2 dogs per handler.

Town Code § 78-18(B) singles out violations of § 78-3 (running at large), § 78-5 (denial of entry to service dogs), and § 78-17 (unattended/tethering) for elevated fines: not less than $500 nor more than $5,000 for a first offense, $1,000 to $10,000 for a second offense within five years, and a third or later offense within five years is a misdemeanor punishable by $1,500 to $15,000 or up to six months' imprisonment, or both.

Compared to other cities, Huntington takes a harder line on dog leash laws. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Cat Rules

Huntington requires every cat four months or older to be vaccinated against rabies, with narrow exceptions for short-term visiting cats and shelter or hospital cats. The Town does not license cats the way it licenses dogs, but a resident can surrender a cat to Animal Control for euthanasia for a fee.

Key details: Statute: Town Code § 78-20, Rabies vaccination required. Minimum age triggering duty: 4 months old. Compliance window: 10 days after officer's request. Rabies violation fine: $100-$250, plus $500 if cat bit someone. Cat licensing: Not required in Huntington.

Town Code § 78-23(A) sets a general Article III fine of $100 to $500 for a first offense, $250 to $1,000 for a second offense within five years, and $750 to $2,500 for a third or later offense. Section 78-23(B) specifically punishes a rabies-vaccination violation with a fine of $100 to $250, plus up to $500 more if the cat is reported to have bitten a person or another domestic warm-blooded animal.

The Bottom Line

Huntington is tougher than many cities when it comes to animal ordinances. Out of the 9 rules covered here, 5 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Huntington, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

All of the above reflects Huntington's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.