Animal Ordinances in Buffalo, NY (2026)
9 verified animal ordinances for Buffalo, New York, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Buffalo allows up to five domesticated chicken hens in residential districts with an annual City Clerk license ($25 per hen, max $125/year); no roosters, no commercial use, and written consent of adjacent property owners required.
Animals: Chickens Livestock
Some RestrictionsBuffalo City Code § 341-11.1
It shall be lawful for any person to keep, permit or allow any domesticated chicken hens in any residential district under the following terms and conditions and after having received a license to keep said chicken hens from the City Clerk: A. No more than five chicken hens shall be allowed for each single-family dwelling or multifamily dwelling. B. No chicken hens shall be allowed in multifami...
Dog Leash Laws
Dogs and cats must be on a leash held by the person in control at all times in city parks and park approaches. Off-leash is permitted only in designated dog parks.
Animals: Dog Leash Laws
Some RestrictionsBuffalo City Code § 309-16(C), (E)
Except as provided in Subsection E hereof, no person shall permit any animal to run at large in a City park or park approach. However, a domestic dog or cat, which is securely restrained with a collar and leash, may be walked when such leash is held by the person in control of the dog or cat at all times. Violation of this Subsection C shall be punishable by a fine of up to $100. Any person wh...
Wildlife Feeding
Pigeon feeding in Buffalo is restricted: prohibited on public streets where traffic conditions do not permit it; allowed in open spaces only from a receptacle at least 48 inches off the ground; and prohibited within 500 feet of any Health Department-declared rat-infested area.
Animals: Wildlife Feeding
Some RestrictionsBuffalo City Code § 78-8
No person shall feed any pigeon in any public street or place where traffic conditions will not warrant such feeding in the opinion of the Commissioner of Police or of the Commissioner of Transportation. No person shall feed any pigeon in any open space, except in a suitable receptacle placed at least 48 inches above the ground level. No person shall feed any pigeon within 500 feet of any locat...
Pet Limits
Buffalo limits dog ownership to 3 dogs per single- or double-family home or commercial property. In multi-unit dwellings with 3 or more units, the limit is 1 dog per household unit. Having more than 3 dogs classifies the premises as a kennel.
Animals: Pet Limits
Some RestrictionsBuffalo City Code § 78-19.1(D)-(E)
The maximum allowable number of dogs on a premises that is classified as a single- or double-family residence or any commercial property shall be three for the entire premises. Any premises harboring more than three dogs over the age of four months is classified and defined as a kennel. For premises that are classified as multiple dwellings, those properties containing three or more units, the ...
Cat Rules
Buffalo legally authorizes Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, and Return (TNVR) programs for feral and community cats. Citizens are encouraged to participate voluntarily. Ear-tipped cats received at shelters are returned to where they were trapped.
Animals: Cat Rules
Light RestrictionsBuffalo City Code § 78-35
TRAP, NEUTER, VACCINATE, AND RETURN PROGRAM or TNVR — A program in which community cats are humanely trapped, evaluated, vaccinated, sterilized, and ear tipped by a veterinarian and returned to the trap location with the intent of controlling or reducing feline population and reproduction. § 78-35. Trap, neuter, vaccinate, and return program policy. TNVR of community cats shall be legal in the ...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Any dog four months or older that is impounded or seized in Buffalo must be spayed or neutered before it can be returned to its owner or made available for adoption. The owner is responsible for all costs of the procedure.
Animals: Mandatory Spay Neuter
Significant RestrictionsBuffalo City Code § 78-18(C)
Mandatory spaying or neutering for impounded or seized dogs. Any dog impounded or seized, whether licensed or unlicensed, shall be subject to mandatory spaying or neutering pursuant to this section as follows: All dogs, four months or older, impounded or seized from a property in the City of Buffalo, and housed at the City of Buffalo Animal Shelter, must be spayed or neutered before they are re...
Coyote Management
New York Department of Environmental Conservation classifies coyotes as game with a regulated season; Buffalo prohibits firearm discharge citywide, so urban coyote conflicts are handled through hazing, trapping permits, and removal by licensed nuisance wildlife control operators.
Buffalo Urban Coyote Coexistence
Some RestrictionsNYSDEC, Coyote Conflicts (Nuisance Wildlife Species) - Coyote Encounters and Make your Yard Less Hospitable
The Eastern coyote is firmly established in New York. They live in New York as an integral part of our ecosystems. People and coyotes can usually coexist if coyotes' natural fear of people is maintained. [...] A coyote that does not flee from people should be considered dangerous. Coyotes in residential areas can be attracted to garbage, pet food, and other human-created sources of food. [...] ...
Pet Store Rules
Pet shops selling dogs, cats, birds, or other animals in Buffalo must obtain a license from the Commissioner of Permit and Inspection Services. Annual renewal requires certification from the Erie County SPCA or a licensed veterinarian that premises and animals are in acceptable condition.
Animals: Pet Store Rules
Some RestrictionsBuffalo City Code § 263-24
§ 263-24.A. No person, firm, corporation, partnership or other entity shall operate a facility, business or shop which sells dogs, cats, birds, mice or other animals without first securing a license in accordance with this article. § 263-24.B. Standards. (1) Every place used as a facility, business or shop shall be kept in a clean and sanitary condition, and no waste or refuse material shall be...
Bird Protection
Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act and New York Environmental Conservation Law Section 11-0535 protect nearly all wild birds in Buffalo; nest disturbance during breeding season can trigger DEC enforcement, and Buffalo lighting and window rules support Lake Erie flyway safety.
Buffalo Migratory Bird Protections
Heavy RestrictionsNYSDEC Osprey species page - Status and Management and Research Needs (Pandion haliaetus, New York Status: Special Concern)
Species Type: Bird. Scientific Name: Pandion haliaetus. Conservation Status: Special Concern. New York Status: Special Concern. Federal Status: Not Listed. [...] The decline of this species was caused by DDT-induced eggshell thinning, which reduced the reproductive output of breeding pairs. In turn, the breeding population declined from an estimated 1,000 active nests in the 1940s between New Y...
Looking for Erie County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Buffalo city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Erie County →