The purpose of this chapter is to regulate the conditions for
the keeping of farm animals or fowl so as to protect the residents
of the Town of Coeymans from nuisance and to maintain compatibility
with suburban life.
[Amended 7-13-2023 by L.L. No. 7-2023]
It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or maintain any
farm animal or fowl within the Commercial and Business Zoning Districts
of the Town of Coeymans. Additionally, it shall be unlawful for any
person, except as provided herein, to keep or maintain any farm animal
or fowl within the residential zoning districts located within the
Hamlet of Coeymans, which includes all properties located within the
Town of Coeymans west of the Hudson River, and north of the Albany
County/Greene County boundary line, and south of Industrial Park Drive,
and east of the Village of Ravena boundary line. For purposes of this
chapter, "farm animal or fowl" shall include cows, cattle, horses,
ponies, donkeys, mules, pigs, goats, sheep, chickens, roosters, ducks,
geese, or other animals or fowl usually known as "farm animals" but
not solely limited to the aforementioned and not including common
household pets.
The owner or primary occupant of any dwelling may be permitted
to keep on the lot containing the dwelling a maximum of six hens,
provided that:
A. The property
has 200 square feet of total lot area exclusive of buildings for the
keeping of two hens, with an additional 100 square feet for every
additional hen up to the maximum of six hens permitted;
B. No person
shall keep any rooster (male chicken);
C. The hens
shall be provided with a clean, covered, well-ventilated enclosure
that is secure from predators and is cleaned regularly to prevent
the accumulation of animal waste, feathers, and uneaten food;
D. The hens
must be kept in the covered enclosure or within a fenced area at all
times;
E. No enclosure
for the hens shall be located closer than 25 feet to an occupied residential
dwelling and located no closer than 15 feet from any lot line of an
adjoining lot; provided, however, such setback can be reduced upon
submission of written permission from the owner of any adjoining lot
that is closer than 15 feet from the lot line to the planned location
of the hen enclosure;
F. The total
area of all coops or enclosures on a lot shall not be greater than
200 square feet for up to six hens. Coops or enclosures shall not
exceed seven feet in height, and coops shall be subject to any and
all permits deemed necessary by the Building Department;
G. All coops
or enclosures shall provide a minimum of four square feet per hen,
and a run shall have a minimum of eight square feet;
H. No part
of the enclosure or coop for hens shall be located in front of the
front wall plane of a building or side wall plane of a building facing
a street.
I. Hens shall
be fed only from a trough or appropriate container. Scattering of
food on the ground is prohibited. Any feed not in use shall be kept
in a sealed ratproof container;
J. The person
has obtained a coop permit from the Town Building Department and maintains
a facility for keeping hens in compliance with the issuance criteria;
K. There shall
be no outdoor slaughtering of hens;
L. All hens
are subject to the unnecessary and unusual noises provisions set forth
in the Code of the Town of Coeymans;
M. Any person
who keeps hens under this chapter shall comply with all Town and New
York State laws, ordinances, and regulations regarding care, shelter,
sanitation, health, noise, cruelty, neglect, reasonable control, and
any other requirements pertaining to the adequate care and control
of animals in the Town;
N. Any person
with preexisting hens and/or coops shall have up to 180 days to become
compliant with the terms and conditions of this chapter;
O. Any person
with preexisting roosters shall have up to 30 days to become compliant
with the terms and conditions of this chapter;
P. Any person
may make application to the Town Code Enforcement Officer for a special
permit allowing up to 12 hens on the property, provided that the application
includes a signed statement from each adjoining or adjacent property
owner of their approval of the application. Each application shall
be subject to review and approval by the Town Code Enforcement Officer
in their sole discretion.