ChickenMap · Ordinance lookup
Can I have chickens in Staten Island, NY?
Yes
Backyard hens are allowed here
These are the City of Staten Island’s own rules, and they apply inside the city limits.
If your address is outside the city limits — a Staten Islandmailing address on unincorporated county land is common — your county’s code governs instead, and it may reach a different answer, particularly about roosters. We have not verified the county rule for this area. Check your parcel’s jurisdiction before relying on anything on this page.
Inside Staten Island city limits — residential zoning
- Hen limit
- Not specified
- Roosters
- Not allowed
- Permit
- Not required
- Setback
- Not specified
Coop rules: Governed citywide by NYC Health Code Article 161.19 (applies identically across all five boroughs, including Staten Island — this is not a Staten-Island-specific ordinance). Hens permitted for non-commercial purposes with no numeric limit; roosters, geese, ducks, and turkeys are NOT permitted. Coop/keeping area must be kept clean. Nuisance conditions (pests, odor, excess noise) can result in fines up to $2,000.
The same rule applies uniformly across all five NYC boroughs (Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island) under NYC Health Code Article 161.19 — this is not a Staten-Island-specific ordinance.
Keeping a rooster here? Staten Island does not allow them inside the city limits, so if you are within them, a complaint is usually all it takes to start a clock. Posting him is free, and there is no sign-up form — you confirm the post by email, and that link sets up a free account so you can edit or remove it later.
This is general information compiled from public ordinances, not legal advice. Rules change — confirm with the source and your local authority before keeping birds.
Check your HOA before you buy a single chick.
Even where local ordinance allows backyard chickens, a homeowners association or deed restriction can prohibit them entirely — and HOA rules override a city’s “yes.” Read your HOA’s covenants (CC&Rs) in addition to the city/county rules on this page.