Where in Westchester is it legal to keep farm animals? (Yonkers: houses, neighborhood)

[Peppin0]

Anywhere in southern Westchester? Maybe just a few chickens or goats or something, nothing too dramatic. Would that be legal?

[willow wind]

Off hand, you can keep a few chickens, but no roosters in Mt.Vernon and White Plains. You should check with zoning to figure out just how many. It may be three to six. No chickens permitted in Yonkers and New Rochelle. No chickens permitted in the villages that make up the town of Greenburg.

Forget the goats unless you are in the more northerly sections of the county , on acreage and zoned for farm animals.

[Peppin0]

Thanks, where can I find these rules?

[jjinla]

The problem with southern Westchester is that your lot is generally under 8500 sq. ft. Without reigniting the above-ground pool debate, your neighbor doesn't want to look at or hear your goat every day. Seriously, if you want a goat and chickens, focus on northern Westchester. Even if it is allowed in White Plains, you'll be the neighborhood pariah. It certainly isn't allowed in Mamaroneck, Larchmont, Harrison or Eastchester.

[willow wind]

Every town or city has a website. Google each town or city you might be interested in. Within the website, look for the zoning department or area. It might be listed under zoning code, zoning ordinances, etc.

The entire code may be online . If not, the phone number for the department will be . Just call and ask.

[Forest_Hills_Daddy]

I was going to recommend breeding fighting ***** but declaring them as hens. If you raise them from chicks, they sell for a lot more money.

[Peppin0]

Originally Posted by jjinla

The problem with southern Westchester is that your lot is generally under 8500 sq. ft. Without reigniting the above-ground pool debate, your neighbor doesn't want to look at or hear your goat every day. Seriously, if you want a goat and chickens, focus on northern Westchester. Even if it is allowed in White Plains, you'll be the neighborhood pariah. It certainly isn't allowed in Mamaroneck, Larchmont, Harrison or Eastchester.

My cousin lives in Massapequa on Long Island and he has had chickens, rabbits, and ducks in his relatively small backyard without annoying any neighbors or becoming the "neighborhood pariah." Maybe not goats, but chickens could certainly be kept very low-key.

[jjinla]

^ LOL...that's just how they roll in Long Island.

Yet another reason why Urban Dictionary describes Westchester as a superior version of LI.

[ehmom]

My grandmother in Bronxville used to keep chickens. Of course that was back during WWII... things have changed a bit in the village since then.

[roskybosky]

There has been a resurgence of suburban and city people keeping a few chickens for fresh eggs. Hens don't crow, and the "local food" movement has sparked this interest in raising your own food.
I'm from Westchester, but live in a suburb of Dallas, and Dallas has a yearly tour of hen houses in peoples backyards. They are pretty elaborate and imaginative. It's a new thing.