Animal Ordinances in Islip, NY (2026)
5 verified animal ordinances for Islip, New York, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Islip allows residents to keep poultry such as chickens if it does not create a nuisance or health hazard, capping density at 15 birds per 500 square feet of rear-yard enclosure with 10-foot setbacks, while equine livestock requires a Town permit per head.
Backyard Poultry Allowed With Limits; Equine Needs Permit
Some RestrictionsTown of Islip Code Chapter 12, Article IV (Equine Livestock, Pigeons and Poultry)
Any person may keep, maintain or house poultry, provided that such poultry does not constitute a nuisance or create a hazard to public health. No more than 15 birds defined as poultry may be kept or maintained for every 500 square feet of rear yard space being used for the keeping of poultry.
Dog Leash Laws
Town of Islip Code § 12-2 makes it unlawful for any dog owner, licensed or not, to let a dog run at large anywhere in the Town. "At large" means off the owner's premises and not under control by leash, cord or chain: the only exemption is a Suffolk County Police K-9 chasing a suspected criminal.
Islip Requires Dogs Be Leashed, Not At Large
Some RestrictionsCode of the Town of Islip § 12-2
AT LARGE Off the premises of the owner and not under the control of the owner or a member of his family, whether by leash, cord or chain. § 12-2. Leash for dogs at large required. A. It shall be unlawful hereunder for any owner of any dog to allow such dog, whether licensed or unlicensed, to be at large within the Town. B. This section, however, shall not apply to any dog owned by the Suffolk ...
Breed Restrictions
Islip has no breed-specific dog ban, and it could not adopt one: New York's Agriculture and Markets Law bars any municipal dangerous-dog program from regulating dogs in a manner that is specific as to breed.
No Breed Bans Allowed; State Law Preempts BSL
Few RestrictionsNY Agriculture and Markets Law Sec. 107(5) (Identification and control of dogs), Article 7
Nothing contained in this article shall prevent a municipality from adopting its own program for the control of dangerous dogs; provided, however, that no such program shall be less stringent than this article, and no such program shall regulate such dogs in a manner that is specific as to breed.
Exotic Pets
Code of the Town of Islip § 12-23 bars anyone from keeping, harboring or possessing a wild animal anywhere in Islip, with sale or giveaway of a wild animal flatly prohibited. Exemptions are limited to zoos, licensed labs, permitted carnivals/circuses, and chartered educational or scientific institutions.
Islip Bans Wild Animals as Pets Townwide
Heavy RestrictionsCode of the Town of Islip §§ 12-22, 12-23
§ 12-22. Definitions. WILD ANIMAL An animal of any species which in its natural habitat is wild, dangerous or ferocious, including any such animal which may have been trained and domesticated. "Wild animals" include but are not limited to the following: all members of the dog family (canidae), except domestic dogs; all members of the cat family (felidae), except the common domestic cat; all pre...
Pet Limits
No Islip-specific ordinance sets a fixed maximum number of household dogs or cats; instead New York's state dog-licensing law applies, and keeping enough dogs to operate a kennel triggers separate Town zoning and licensing requirements.
No Numeric Pet Cap; State Licensing Applies
Few RestrictionsNY Agriculture and Markets Law Sec. 109(1) (Dog licenses), Article 7
The owner of any dog reaching the age of four months shall immediately make application for a dog license. No license shall be issued unless the application is accompanied by a certificate of rabies vaccination or statement in lieu thereof, except that a license may be issued where a licensed veterinarian has certified that vaccination would endanger the dog's life.
Looking for Suffolk County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Islip city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Suffolk County →