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Animal Ordinances in Southampton, NY (2026)

8 verified animal ordinances for Southampton, New York, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Chickens & Livestock

In the Town of Southampton's CR and R residence districts outside the villages, § 330-79 restricts keeping livestock, fowl or fur- and wool-bearing animals, beyond ordinary household pets, to lots of 10 acres or more, with shelters set back at least 150 feet from the street and 200 feet from other property lines.

Southampton Backyard Chickens and Livestock Rules

Significant Restrictions

Southampton Town Code § 330-79.A

In CR and R Districts, the following shall apply to the keeping of animals in all forms, except the keeping of animals as household pets: ... Animal husbandry shall only be permitted on sites of 10 acres or more. ... All shelters provided for livestock, fowl or fur- and woolbearing animals shall be at least 150 feet from any street line and 200 feet from any other property line, except that an ...

Dog Leash Laws

In the Town of Southampton outside the villages, Town Code § 150-5 makes it unlawful for a dog or domestic animal to be at large. Section 150-4 defines at-large: unleashed on any public street or sidewalk, or unleashed off the owner's property elsewhere, unless under the owner's immediate supervision.

Southampton Dog Leash and At-Large Law

Some Restrictions

Southampton Town Code §§ 150-4, 150-5(A)

AT LARGE A. ... Streets and sidewalks. All animals must be leashed while within areas of streets and sidewalks that are accessible to the public (including Trustee roads and private roads), and any animal off leash shall be considered at large. No police work dog in use for police work shall be deemed to be at large within areas of streets and sidewalks. ... It shall be unlawful for any owner o...

Exotic Pets

Town Code § 150-8(A) makes it a violation to exhibit or display any live wild or exotic animal within the Town of Southampton outside the villages. Section 150-4 defines WILD OR EXOTIC ANIMAL with a long list running from primates and big cats to bears, crocodilians and poisonous reptiles.

Southampton Exotic Animal Display Ban

Significant Restrictions

Southampton Town Code §§ 150-4, 150-8(A)

WILD OR EXOTIC ANIMAL Any or all of the following animals, whether bred in the wild or in captivity, and also any or all of their hybrids with domestic species. ... Display of exotic animals. It shall be a violation of this section to exhibit or display any live, wild or exotic animal as defined in § 150-4 of this chapter within the Town of Southampton.

Wildlife Feeding

Town Code § 150-14.1(A) bars anyone from placing corn, bread, scraps or any other foodstuff on public property, including Town facilities, so as to make it available to be eaten by a goose or geese or other wild animals. The rule carves out lawful agricultural, fishing and hunting activity.

Southampton Ban on Feeding Geese, Wildlife

Some Restrictions

Southampton Town Code § 150-14.1(A)

It shall be unlawful for any person to place, deposit, scatter, spread, distribute or otherwise disseminate on public property, including Town facilities, any type of foodstuff, including but not limited to corn, wheat or other grains, bread, crackers, popcorn, scraps, or any other substance or foodstuff, as to make it available to be eaten by a goose or geese and other wild animals.

Pet Limits

The Town of Southampton doesn't cap ordinary house pets, but Town Code § 150-4 treats any premises harboring more than four unspayed or unneutered dogs or cats as a kennel, while zoning § 330-76J requires more than two dogs over six months old kept in outdoor shelters or pens to meet the agricultural setback standards of § 330-79.

Southampton Pet and Kennel Number Limits

Some Restrictions

Southampton Town Code §§ 150-4, 150-15, 330-76J

KENNEL Any premises wherein any person engaged in the business of boarding, buying, letting for hire, training for a fee or selling dogs or cats. Any premises wherein any person is harboring more than four unspayed or unneutered dogs or cats shall be considered a kennel for the purposes of this chapter. ... Any person violating this chapter shall be subject to a penalty no greater than $250 for...

Pet Groomer Rules

Town Code § 150-9(A) requires anyone operating a commercial animal establishment in the Town of Southampton, which § 150-4 defines to include a grooming shop, to obtain an annual permit from the Town before opening. Fees, inspection and renewal run through the Department of Animal Control.

Southampton Pet Grooming Shop Permit Rule

Some Restrictions

Southampton Town Code §§ 150-4, 150-9(A)

COMMERCIAL ANIMAL ESTABLISHMENT Any pet shop, grooming shop, auction, riding school or stable, zoological park, circus, performing animal exhibition or kennel. ... GROOMING SHOP A commercial establishment where animals are bathed, clipped, plucked or otherwise groomed. ... No person, partnership or corporation shall operate a commercial animal establishment without first obtaining a permit in c...

Veterinary Clinic Zoning

In the Town of Southampton outside the villages, a veterinarian, veterinary hospital or kennel may only open as a Planning Board special exception use under Town Code § 330-150, which the Planning Board grants under its general § 330-120 authority. The Board must find adjacent properties are adequately protected from noise, odors and unsightly appearance, and every building or accessory use area, aside from parking, must sit at least 50 feet from any property line.

Southampton Vet Clinics Need Special Exception

Significant Restrictions

Southampton Town Code §§ 330-120, 330-150

§ 330-120. Delegation of authority. The Planning Board is hereby authorized to act on proposed special exception uses which are specifically provided for in this chapter. ... ... § 330-150. Veterinarian, veterinary hospital or kennel. A. Adjacent properties shall be adequately protected from noise, odors and unsightly appearance. B. All buildings, structures and accessory use areas, except off-...

Bird Protection

Town Code § 150-5.1(A) bars dogs and domestic animals from coming within 50 feet of any symbolic fencing or area posted to protect piping plovers and other endangered species on Town-owned beach recreation facilities, even during the October 1 to March 30 window when leashed dogs are otherwise allowed on the sand.

Southampton Piping Plover Beach Protection

Some Restrictions

Southampton Town Code § 150-5.1(A)

Beach recreation facilities. Except as provided in § 150-5.1A(1) below, dogs and domestic animals will be allowed on all Town-owned beach recreation facilities only from October 1 through March 30, provided that said dog or domestic animal is under the immediate supervision and control of the owner or other responsible person and provided further that any animal waste is removed. However, in an...

Looking for Suffolk County county-wide rules?

County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Southampton city rules.

Animal Ordinances in Suffolk County