Animal Ordinances in Cheektowaga, NY (2026)
6 verified animal ordinances for Cheektowaga, New York, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Cheektowaga's property maintenance code requires every residential premises to stay free of livestock, farm animals and captive wild animals unless the Town has specifically approved that use, so keeping backyard chickens, goats or similar animals is off-limits without prior approval. Pets and domestic animals are still allowed if kept so they don't create a hazard or nuisance.
Cheektowaga Livestock and Farm Animal Ban
Significant RestrictionsCheektowaga Code § 70-31G
All premises shall be maintained free of livestock, farm animals and captive wild animals unless specifically approved for such use. Domestic animals and pets shall be kept in an appropriate manner so as not to constitute a hazard or nuisance.
Dog Leash Laws
Cheektowaga requires every dog off its owner's premises to be restrained by leash, licensed or not. A peace officer or the state Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets' representative must seize any dog found loose off the owner's property.
Cheektowaga Leash Law for Dogs
Some RestrictionsCheektowaga Code § 58-3
All dogs while off the owner's premises, whether or not tagged or licensed, shall be restrained by leash, and any peace officer or designated representative of the Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets of the State of New York shall seize any dog not so restrained found off the owner's premises.
Wildlife Feeding
Cheektowaga bans feeding Canada geese, mallard ducks, and other wild waterfowl anywhere in town at any time of year. Town Code Chapter 252 targets the rat infestations, park damage, and disease risk that feeding causes, and the Police Department enforces it with fines from $50 to $300 or up to 15 days in jail.
Cheektowaga Bans Feeding Wild Waterfowl
Heavy RestrictionsCheektowaga Code §§ 252-1, 252-2
It is the intent of this chapter to protect the health, safety and welfare of the community and its wildlife by prohibiting the feeding of wild waterfowl within the Town of Cheektowaga. Feeding of wild waterfowl within the town has contributed to serious rat and other predatory animal infestation problems, damage to public parks, water quality problems, traffic hazards, soiled and contaminated ...
Pet Limits
No Cheektowaga premises may keep more than three dogs four months of age or older, and the Town Clerk cannot license a fourth dog there. The dog owner must also live on the licensed premises.
Cheektowaga Dog Limit Per Household
Some RestrictionsCheektowaga Code § 58-4
No person shall keep more than three dogs four months of age or older on any premises in the Town of Cheektowaga. The Town Clerk shall not issue any dog license(s) in any instance where more than three dogs four months of age or older will be kept on any premises in the Town of Cheektowaga.
Pet Groomer Rules
Cheektowaga's C Retail Business District allows dog grooming as a by-right principal use, but only inside a fully enclosed building and only if no animals are harbored overnight. Anything resembling boarding turns the shop into a different, unpermitted use.
Cheektowaga Permits Dog Grooming, No Boarding
Some RestrictionsCheektowaga Code § 260-31A(1)(b)[7]
The following uses, when conducted entirely within an enclosed building: ... Dog grooming with no overnight harboring of animals.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
A small-animal hospital is a by-right use in Cheektowaga's CM General Commercial District, but the code draws a hard line: no outside kennels. Any outdoor animal housing pushes the use outside what's permitted.
Cheektowaga Vet Clinics Barred From Outside Kennels
Some RestrictionsCheektowaga Code § 260-32A(1)(h)[2]
The following uses, provided that they are conducted within a completely enclosed building or within an area enclosed by a solid fence or wall: ... Small-animal hospital with no outside kennels.
Looking for Erie County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Cheektowaga city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Erie County →