BY JENNIFER CROWLEY
The Scottsville Village Board of Trustees kicked off its August meeting last Tuesday evening with a lively discussion on domestic chicken farming. The current local law outlining the rules and regulations for raising such birds emphasizes the need to count one’s chickens because, as per the language of the law, “It shall be unlawful for any person to keep more than three hens within the corporate limits of the Village.”
In Scottsville, local law 54-26 dictates the parameters for raising chickens within the boundaries of the village. This was originally adopted in 2010 by the Village Board. Beyond limiting the number of chickens a resident can raise, the law also established the minimum lot size required for the issuance of a permit. The language reads:
Domesticated chickens shall be allowed in the Village of Scottsville by special permit granted by the Village Board. The minimum parcel size to allow domesticated chickens shall be 1/2 acre, and shall be limited to single-family dwellings only.
Over the last ten years the number of families choosing to raise their own backyard chickens has been steadily increasing all over the United States. The allure of fresh eggs anytime along with the pure experience of raising chicks and ultimately a flock are the primary reasons people – particularly families – express an interest in this hobby.
The local law in Scottsville was called into question when, not wanting to run afoul of village laws, a new resident requested a permit so that he and his family could keep their six domestic chickens on the confines of their sizable village lot (1.1 acres). In June the family flew the coop from Rochester, a municipality that has not sought to limit the number of chickens a resident there can raise.
While Rochester may not care how many chickens someone purchases and/or raises, the state of New York does, at least when it comes to the purchase transaction. Many years ago the state adopted a law which reads:
No person shall sell, offer for sale, barter or give away living baby chicks, ducklings or other fowl or baby rabbits under two months of age in any quantity less than six.
The statewide law came to be as a tactic to prevent people from buying a chick or bunny on a whim (i.e., at Easter time). But for a family legitimately interested in raising backyard chickens that goes to a farming store such as Higbie Farm Supplies or CountryMax to buy chicks, they cannot leave with less than six.
The permit debate in Scottsville has been incubating for many weeks while the village determines how to handle. The request was initially reviewed from both planning and zoning perspectives after which it was returned to the Board to address. This is how the topic made it on to the August meeting agenda where it was not resolved. Instead a subsequent public hearing was scheduled for Tuesday, August 21st in order for the Board to reconvene and receive public input – on issuing a permit for only three chickens in accordance with local law 54-26. The next step will require “a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals to allow more than three chickens,” per Village administration.
Assuming no feathers are ruffled at the upcoming meeting(s), the resident should be able to obtain the permit required to permanently fly the flock of six south of the city. Hopefully in time the Board will revisit the language of the law for residents meeting all other requirements and have eggs-citement to more fully live off of their own land (and in a community with strong agricultural roots).
