Buffalo, NY Chicken Laws: Hens, Roosters, Permit

Coop Ready New York Buffalo

Allowed with neighbor consent

Yes, up to 5 hens in the backyard with a yearly City Clerk license and written consent from all adjacent neighbors.

You need written consent from every adjacent resident (and from all tenants in a duplex or multifamily building), and owners within 400 ft are notified; if anyone objects, the Common Council decides. Hens need a coop plus a fenced run, at least 2 sq ft of coop per hen, total coop area no more than 32 sq ft and 7 ft tall. No selling eggs or meat, no breeding for sale, and no outdoor slaughter.

Hen limit

Roosters

Banned

Permit

Yes: a yearly City Clerk license at $25 per hen (up to $125), plus an Animal Control coop inspection

Coop placement

Backyard only. Coop at least 20 ft from any door or window of a neighbor's home or other occupied building, 5 ft from side lot lines, and 18 in from the rear lot line (5 ft if that line borders a neighbor's side or front yard).

Checked against city code We read the official code section linked below for every fact on this page.

Read the official Buffalo rules ↗ Checked October 2026.

Will your coop fit in Buffalo?

Draw your lot, your house and your neighbor's house on a satellite map, drop in a coop, and Coop Ready measures the distances and compares them with the Buffalo rules above. Free, no account.

Plan my coop

Backyard chicken questions in Buffalo

How many chickens can I have in Buffalo?

Up to 5 hens on a typical home lot.

Are roosters allowed in Buffalo?

No. Buffalo bans roosters.

Do I need a permit for backyard chickens in Buffalo?

Yes. Buffalo requires a yearly City Clerk license costing $25 per hen, up to $125, and an Animal Control inspection of the coop.

How far does a chicken coop have to be from my neighbor in Buffalo?

Where the coop can go in Buffalo: backyard only. Coop at least 20 ft from any door or window of a neighbor's home or other occupied building, 5 ft from side lot lines, and 18 in from the rear lot line (5 ft if that line borders a neighbor's side or front yard).