Animal Ordinances in Clay, NY (2026)
6 verified animal ordinances for Clay, New York, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
The Town of Clay lets residents keep farm animals, including chickens, without any type or number limit in the RA-100 Zone District, but only on lots of five acres or more; elsewhere a ZBA special permit is required under § 230-20A(3).
Clay Backyard Chickens & Livestock
Light RestrictionsTown of Clay Code § 230-20A(3)(b), (c)
RA-100 Zone District. ... There is no limit on the type or number of farm, exotic or domestic animals maintained as pets by a residents within their respective residential properties, provided such property is five acres or greater in area. ... All other districts. A special permit from the ZBA shall be required for pets maintained in nonconforming residential and/or farm land uses within any o...
Dog Leash Laws
The Town of Clay's Animal Population Control and Dog Licensing Law bars any dog owner from letting a dog run at large anywhere in the Town of Clay, County of Onondaga, unless the dog is under leash or is accompanied by its owner or another responsible person able to control it. A leash under Section 69-4 must be no longer than eight feet and strong enough to restrain the dog.
Clay Dog Leash and At-Large Law
Some RestrictionsTown of Clay Code § 69-9A
AT LARGE An unleashed dog off the premises of the owner or premises of another with the knowledge, consent and approval of the owner of such premises. ... LEASHED or UNDER LEASH The dog is equipped with a collar or harness to which is attached a leash not exceeding eight feet in length, both collar or harness and the leash to be of sufficient strength to restrain the dog, and which leash shall ...
Exotic Pets
The Town of Clay bars keeping exotic or wild animals as pets outside a fish tank, birdcage or similar container; § 230-20A(3)(a) allows only caged species like tropical fish, exotic birds, ferrets, gerbils and hamsters, and requires a ZBA special permit for anything more in most districts.
Clay Exotic & Wild Pet Ban
Significant RestrictionsTown of Clay Code § 230-20A(3)(a)
There is no restriction upon the number of other kinds of domestic animals maintained within a dwelling that are consistently maintained within appropriate containers such as aquariums or birdcages; these animals include, by illustration, tropical fish, exotic birds, ferrets, gerbils and hamsters. No exotic animals harbored outside of such containers or farm animals (see definitions) shall be h...
Pet Limits
In the Town of Clay's Residential, Planned Development and Commercial districts, no dwelling may keep more than three adult dogs and three adult cats, with adult defined as over six months old, under § 230-20A(3)(a) of the Town Code.
Clay Household Pet Limits
Some RestrictionsTown of Clay Code § 230-20A(3)(a)
Animals/pets. ... The raising or harboring of animals within a community can pose a variety of risks to residents that range from simple nuisances of noise and odor to serious health hazards of personal injury and infections. The potential for occurrence of these risks can be minimized by restricting the number and types of animals that individuals maintain for their personal enjoyment, use or ...
Pet Groomer Rules
Clay's Zoning Code defines a dog and cat grooming or training business as an 'animal care/training facility' and treats it as a discretionary use rather than an ordinary storefront. The Town Board must approve a special permit before one can open in the Industrial 1, RC-1 Regional Commercial, or RA-100 Agricultural districts.
Clay NY Pet Grooming Facility Zoning Rules
Significant RestrictionsTown of Clay Code §§ 230-11, 230-17
ANIMAL CARE/TRAINING FACILITY A primary or accessory use where domestic (dog and cat) animals are temporarily present for nonmedical care (grooming) or training programs, such as dog obedience; companion, seeing-eye, or rescue instruction, or competitive skills activities (hunting, retrieving, racing). This land use may include sale of retail products and/or areas for shows. The definition excl...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Clay's Zoning Code treats a veterinary clinic as a 'veterinary care facility' and never lets one open by right. It needs a Planning Board special permit if under 5,000 square feet in the O-1 Office district, a Town Board special permit in RA-100 or HC-1, or Planning Board site plan approval in RC-1.
Clay NY Veterinary Care Facility Zoning
Significant RestrictionsTown of Clay Code §§ 230-11, 230-15
VETERINARY CARE FACILITY A business providing for the care, medical treatment and incidental boarding of dogs, cats, similar domestic animals, and/or farm animals. ... ... § 230-15. Office districts. ... ... A. O-1 Neighborhood Office District (based on R-6). ... Planning Board special permit approval: ... Veterinary care facility: less than 5,000 square feet. [Added 12-19-2022 by L.L. No. 5-2022]