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Chicken Ordinance Review
Village Code Chapter 36 Article II: Keeping of Fowl

The Village of Warwick is currently reviewing Chapter 36, Article II of the Village Code, which addresses the keeping of chickens, roosters, turkeys, pigeons, and other types of fowl or birds, as well as rabbits, within Village limits. At present, the Code prohibits residents from raising or maintaining these animals, with the exception of household birds such as canaries, parakeets, and parrots.

To guide this review, the Village has created a committee made up of both elected officials and residents. Committee members bring a range of perspectives to the discussion, ensuring that all viewpoints are carefully considered.

This process is ongoing, and updates will be shared here as the committee’s work continues.

To view the current Village Code Chapter 36 Article II Keeping of Fowl, Rabbits and Pigeons, please go HERE.

Chicken Ordinance Committee Members:
V. of Warwick Trustee, Carly Foster (Facilitator)
V. of Warwick Deputy, Mayor Barry Cheney
Village Resident, Jim Neujar
Village Resident, Brian Torpie
Village Resident, Donna Douglas

Meetings and Discussions

September 24, 2025

Meeting Notes: Village of Warwick Chicken Ordinance Committee (aka “The Cluck Committee”)

Date: September 24, 2025 Time: 7 p.m. – 8 p.m. (approx.) Location: Village Hall Meeting Room

Attendees:
V. of Warwick Trustee, Carly Foster (Facilitator)
V. of Warwick Deputy, Mayor Barry Cheney
Village Resident, Jim Neujar
Village Resident, Brian Torpie
Village Resident, Donna Douglas

1. Meeting Objective

This was the first meeting of the temporary committee. The primary objective was to establish working guidelines, agree on the committee’s purpose and schedule, and begin identifying the key issues to be addressed in forming a recommendation for the Village Board regarding the raising of chickens.

2. Community Guidelines & Decision Making

The committee reviewed and agreed upon a set of community guidelines for their work:

  • Dialogue over Debate: The goal is to collaborate on a shared solution, not to win arguments.
  • Respect for Neighbors: Maintain a respectful and considerate tone.
  • One Speaker at a Time: Avoid talking over one another.
  • Keep the Process Fun: Approach the work with a positive and open mindset.

Decision-Making Process:

  • The committee will strive to make recommendations through consensus.
  • A majority vote will be used as a fallback if consensus cannot be reached, though the hope is to avoid it.

3. Committee Purpose & Charter

  • The group is a temporary committee tasked with determining the criteria under which raising chickens in the village would be viable and permissible.
  • The final deliverable will be a clear, actionable recommendation to the Village Board, which will likely include proposed ordinance language.
  • The committee’s work is to support the Board’s decision-making process by providing well-researched and specific guidance.
  • The board will have the final decision on whether to proceed with any and all recommendations. 

4. Proposed Schedule & Timeline

The committee discussed and aligned on a proposed three-to-four-month schedule:

Milestone 1:

  • Finalize charter and process.
  • Identify key issues, questions, and considerations.
  • Define authoritative sources, experts, and communities to consult.
  • Gather and review example ordinances and case studies.

Milestone 2:

  • Consult with identified experts, stakeholders, and other communities.
  • Gather additional data and feedback.

Milestone 3:

  • Begin drafting the recommendation and proposed ordinance language.
  • (The committee noted that the holiday season might affect this timeline).

Milestone 4: Presentation (January/February):

  • Present the final recommendation and draft ordinance to the Village Board. The committee agreed it would be ideal for all members to be present for this.

5. Transparency and Note-Taking

  • The Committee will use an AI tool to summarize discussions. 
  • A Trustee will review the notes/minutes.
  • The finalized summary will be posted on the village website to keep the process transparent, similar to the Memorial Park Master Plan process.

6. Key Issues & Considerations Brainstorm

The committee began identifying the key topics that the ordinance will need to address:

Zoning & Eligibility:

  • Minimum lot size (noted that many villages focus on setbacks instead).
  • Property setback requirements for coops.
  • Density (e.g., maximum number of chickens per square foot).

Community & Neighbor Impacts:

  • Noise (especially from roosters).
  • Pest control (e.g., rodents attracted to feed).
  • Predator control (foxes, raccoons, etc.).
  • Odor and waste management.
  • Aesthetics.

Housing & Containment:

  • Requirements for coops and enclosures.
  • Rules regarding “free-ranging” vs. full-time containment to prevent wandering.
  • Humane treatment and conditions.

Management & Regulations:

  • Permitting system and potential fees.
  • Requirement for owner education or training courses.
  • Type of fowl allowed (e.g., only hens, no roosters, no ducks).
  • Use considerations (e.g., for eggs/pets only, no sale of products or use for meat).
  • Enforcement procedures for violations.

Public Health:

  • Proper waste disposal and sanitation.

7. Authoritative Sources

The group identified potential sources for research and guidance:

  • Other Villages: Specifically, those that have recently adopted chicken ordinances, to learn about their process and any issues encountered following adoption.
  • Cornell Cooperative Extension: Recognized as a key expert resource.
  • Governmental or Institutional Research: Peer-reviewed studies on related topics.
  • Community Input: Gathering concerns and perspectives from village residents, potentially through a survey. A suggestion was made to provide both online (Google Forms) and paper survey options.

8. Decisions Made

  1. The proposed community guidelines were adopted.
  2. The committee agreed to operate on a consensus-based model.
  3. The proposed four-month timeline was accepted as a working goal, with the acknowledgment that the holidays will likely push that out.
  4. Meetings will be one hour.

9. Action Items

  1. Carly: Share the Google Drive folder with all committee members.
  2. Brian: Transcribe/summarize this meeting’s discussion and share it with the committee.
  3. All Members: Come to the next meeting prepared with ideas for questions to include in a community survey.
  4. All Members: Research and bring ideas for specific experts, communities, or resources the committee should engage for guidance.

Next Meeting – October 1, 2025

Tentative Agenda:

  1. Discuss and outline content for a community survey.
  2. Define questions for experts and resources
  3. Identify and prioritize a list of experts and resources to consult.

October 1, 2025

Meeting Notes: Village of Warwick Chicken Ordinance Committee

Date: October 1, 2025, 7pm Location: Village Meeting Room

Attendees:
V. of Warwick Trustee, Carly Foster (Facilitator)
V. of Warwick Deputy, Mayor Barry Cheney
Village Resident, Jim Neujar
Village Resident, Brian Torpie
Village Resident, Donna Douglas

Agenda and Recap

  • Recap of Last Meeting:
    • The committee’s charter and purpose were established.
    • Milestones, key issues, and authoritative sources were discussed.
  • Tonight’s Goals:
    • Finalize the community survey draft.
    • Define key questions for experts and other communities.
    • Identify and prioritize a list of experts to consult.
  • Transparency Update:
    • A dedicated “Chicken Ordinance Review” page is now live on the village website, accessible from the homepage and under “Code Planning and Zoning”.
    • The page will host meeting notes and track the committee’s progress, ensuring a transparent process.

Community Survey Discussion

  • Draft Review: The committee reviewed a drafted survey, which was updated based on email feedback. The language in the survey’s introduction was standardized to match the text on the village website.
  • Key Questions: The survey is designed to be concise to encourage completion and includes questions such as:
    • Awareness of the current prohibition on chickens.
    • Reasons residents might want to own chickens.
    • Concerns the village should consider (e.g., noise, pests, waste).
    • Personal interest in keeping chickens.
  • Distribution and Data Integrity:
    • The survey will be distributed via a QR code in the village newsletter. Hard copies will also be available in the village office to ensure accessibility.
    • The committee discussed ways to ensure only village residents respond, such as asking for an address or exploring IP address tracking. The committee will continue to consider the concern of how to ensure only Village residents respond to the survey.

Expert and Community Consultation Plan

  • Identifying Experts: The committee decided to invite the following individuals to speak at a future meeting:
    • Suzyn Baron from the Humane Society, to provide perspective on abandoned animals.
    • Maire Ulrich from Cornell Cooperative Extension, to discuss the practical aspects of raising chickens (e.g., space requirements, neighbor impacts).
  • Contacting Other Communities: The committee will research and contact other New York villages that have recently permitted chickens. The goal is to learn from their experiences.
  • Interview Questions for Other Municipalities: The group developed a set of questions to ask other communities, including:
    • What were the primary concerns that shaped your ordinance?
    • What has worked well and what hasn’t?
    • What would you do differently if you had to do it again?
    • What experts did you consult during your process?

Action Items

  1. Committee Members: Each member will select a village from the provided list to research and contact before the next meeting. The goal is to gather insights on their ordinance development process and outcomes.
  2. Barry: Will contact the Cornell Cooperative Extension to identify the best person to speak with the committee.
  3. Carly: Will reach out to Suzyn Baron to invite her to an upcoming meeting.

Next Meeting

  • The group will report back on their conversations and research

October 16, 2025

Meeting Notes: Village of Warwick Chicken Ordinance Committee

Date: October 16, 2025 

Attendees:
V. of Warwick Deputy, Mayor Barry Cheney
Village Resident, Jim Neujar
Village Resident, Brian Torpie
Village Resident, Donna Douglas

Progress Check & Research Updates

The committee met to discuss progress on their research into chicken ordinances from other municipalities. Attendees reported that they:

  • Contacted the Cornell Cooperative Extension and is currently waiting for a follow-up call.
  • Reached out to the mayor of Voorheesville but has not yet connected.
  • Are populating the research spreadsheet with details from various village ordinances.
    • It was noted that the ordinances are all very different, with no standard template, requiring a thorough reading of each one (approx. 20 minutes per village).
    • Example findings: One village that provides educational materials with the permit and another that mandates feed be kept in covered metal containers.
  • East Nassau: Spoke with the code enforcer. Odor complaints in new hamlets were resolved by increasing setbacks from property lines. Many chickens were lost to raccoons. The ordinance is generally working well in their very rural setting.
    • The Village of Nassau does not allow chickens. The committee concluded that East Nassau’s rural character (3,000+ acres for ~580 residents) makes it a poor comparison for Warwick.
  • Haverstraw: Spoke with the inspector. Their ordinance has been in place for over five years with no major issues. Key rules include:
    • A maximum of 8 female chickens, with no roosters allowed.
    • A required permit with a $25 fee.
    • A significant $500 fine for non-compliance.
    • Interestingly, chickens are allowed in the Village of Haverstraw but are prohibited in the surrounding Town of Haverstraw.
  • Hoosick Falls only permits fowl on designated farms within the village, not in residential yards.

Key Findings & Next Steps

  • The most critical takeaway from initial discussions with other villages is the importance of a strict ban on roosters.
  • The committee agreed that asking other municipalities “What would you do differently?” is a key question for gathering useful insights.
  • The group will contact the NY Conference of Mayors (NYCOM) to see if they can provide any template ordinances or guidance.

Action Items

  • Follow up with the Cornell Cooperative Extension.
  • Contact NYCOM for resources
  • Continue populating the ordinance research spreadsheet with findings.
  • Continue contacting other municipalities to learn from their experiences.

Conduct outreach to Susan Barron

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