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City of Rochester, NY
Monroe County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Animals or fowls must not run at large upon any street or place to the injury and annoyance of the public. This section does not apply to dogs.
Sheep, hogs or cattle must not be driven through or upon a street, unless such animal has securely fastened to it a rope or strap of sufficient size and strength to control it and unless such animal or animals are led by means of such rope or strap by a person over 16 years of age of sufficient strength to control such animal or animals.
[Amended 6-20-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-196; 10-13-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-316]
No person shall bring, permit or allow any animal, whether leashed or otherwise restrained or not, to or at a special event sponsored by the City and held on municipal property. "Municipal property" shall mean all property owned by the City or dedicated to public use, including but not limited to parks, playgrounds, streets and City buildings. This section shall not apply to dogs or cats or to other animals that are permitted by the Commissioner of Recreation and Human Services as taking part in the special event.
No person, firm, association or corporation shall bring into, keep, hold, offer for sale, sell or kill or allow to be kept, held, offered for sale, sold or killed in the City of Rochester any live animals, except animals for show or exposition purposes only, and except white mice, white rats, cats, dogs, horses, mules and donkeys. No person, firm, association or corporation shall bring into, keep, hold, offer for sale, sell or kill or allow to be kept, held, offered for sale, sold or killed in the City of Rochester any chickens, geese, ducks, doves or pigeons, turkeys or other animals or fowls, except persons holding a poulterer's license,[1] without having a license therefor issued by the Chief of Police and under and pursuant to the provisions of this chapter; provided, however, that no license shall be required for any animals or fowls in transit through the said City; and provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall apply to slaughterhouses, cattle yards or any place where any cattle or swine are killed or dressed; and provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall apply to any cattle, sheep or swine brought into the City and directly transported to a slaughterhouse or cattle yard.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 85, Poulterers.
The raising of fowl for the purpose of selling the same is hereby prohibited within the City of Rochester.
The sale of live fowl on the public streets of the City of Rochester is hereby prohibited.
All licenses for keeping animals or fowls shall be issued by the Chief of Police and may be revoked by the licensing authority after a hearing upon a violation of the laws of the state or ordinance or ordinances of the Council by the person, firm, association or corporation to whom or to which such license has been granted. No license shall be issued for a period longer than one year. All licenses shall expire on June 30 of each year. Each license shall bear the date of issuance thereof, the date of expiration, the name and address of the person, firm, association or corporation to whom or to which the license is issued and the premises upon which the animals or fowls are to be kept and shall specify the kind and the maximum number of animals or fowls which may be kept thereunder. All licenses shall be conspicuously displayed on the premises as near as possible to where the animals or fowls are kept. Licenses are not assignable and relate only to the particular premises and animals or fowls for which issued.
[Amended 6-17-2008 by Ord. No. 2008-205; 6-19-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-168; 6-15-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-180]
The Chief of Police shall require the fee of $75 for each license issued, payable before the issuance of such license, which shall have a term of up to two years comprised of the permit year (July 1 through June 30) or portion thereof in which the permit is issued and extending through the entirety of the following permit year. There shall be a fee of $10 for replacement of a lost license.
A. 
No person shall keep or allow to be kept in the City more cows than one to a City lot of 33 feet by 150 feet, or space equal thereto, and, where premises are not subdivided into City lots or actually occupied as such, more than 15 cows to each acre of land. Each cow must have at least 2,500 square feet of clear space in which to exercise.
B. 
No person shall keep or permit to be kept any cattle in any place where the water, ventilation and food are not sufficient for the preservation of the health of such cattle. Eight hundred cubic feet of air space shall be the smallest space allowed each cow or any cattle. The floors of all stables containing or used for a cow or cattle and the ground beneath such stables shall be well drained. Every cow and all cattle shall be well bedded and kept clean. No cow shall be fed wholly on swill, slops or undried brewers' grains.
A. 
All fowl shall be kept on premises of the licensee, except, however, that licensee may exercise and engage in flight only pigeons or carrier pigeons.
B. 
Each fowl shall have at least four square feet of floor space when kept in a coop and shall have at least four square feet of space in addition thereto as and for a runway.
C. 
Not more than 30 fowl may be kept in an open area of 240 square feet.
D. 
No male fowl over four months of age may be kept alive in the City of Rochester after due notice by the Chief of Police that the same is a nuisance.
E. 
All coops, runways and premises where fowl are kept shall be at all times clean and sanitary.
F. 
No live poultry shall at any time be kept in a cellar or any part of any dwelling or any building used for continuous daily human occupation.
G. 
All premises where fowl are kept shall at all times be subject to inspection, and all licensees shall at all times be subject to the orders of the Chief of Police requiring the doing of anything necessary to enforce the provisions of this chapter.
H. 
All coops and runways shall be at least 25 feet away from any dwelling or any building used for continuous daily human occupation.
A. 
All animals, except cows and cattle, shall be confined on premises of the licensee.
B. 
Every animal, except cows and cattle, shall have at least one square foot of space for each pound in weight, if confined within a building, and in addition thereto at least one square foot of space for each pound of weight as and for a runway.
C. 
All stables, buildings, structures and premises where animals are kept shall be clean and sanitary.
D. 
No live animal shall at any time be kept in a cellar as defined in the Building Code of the City of Rochester.
E. 
All premises where animals are kept shall at all times be subject to inspection, and all licensees shall at all times be subject to orders of the Chief of Police requiring the doing of anything necessary to enforce the provisions of this chapter.
This article shall be construed to authorize the possession only of animals not defined as "wild animals" in Article II of this chapter.