Read the draft law ahead of February 10 public hearing
By Andrew Harris, pictured is the late “Mr. Big” enjoying the Fassett Greenspace
Village of Wellsville residents have been permitted to keep chickens within village limits with little or no regulation or restrictions. That “laisse faire” approach has caused a sort of lawlessness when it comes to backyard poultry. As part of a comprehensive effort to provide residents with more enforcement, a new and more detailed local law will be presented to the public at the upcoming Monday night meeting.
LEGAL NOTICE VILLAGE OF WELLSVILLE
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a Public Hearing of the Village of Wellsville will take place on Monday, February 10, 2025 at 5:00 pm in the Trustee Board Room at 23 North Main Street. The purpose of this hearing is to take public comments regarding the adoption of proposed Local Law Number 4 of 2025, entitled “The Keeping of Chickens.” A draft of the local law will be made available at www.wellsvilleny.com and in the Village Clerk’s Office at the Village Hall at 23 North Main Street, Wellsville, NY 14895. By order of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Wellsville dated January 13, 2025. Dated: February 3, 2025 Wendy A. Seely, Village Clerk
A public hearing will begin at 5pm at the village headquarters on Main Street to provide a chance for comment. The new law will build upon the existing local law with some notable changes:
- Poultry people must have a permit and pay a $25 annual fee to the village
- Next door neighbors must approve the permit unless the lot size is more than 2 acres
- All chicken “coops” must kept in sanitary condition, adhering to all state and local sanitation law.
- All feed must be kept in a sealed container.
- Chicken droppings may not be composted or mulched
Some of the existing regulations of importance are still part of the law:
No more than 6 chickens per property, no roosters may be kept, and birds may not roam past the permitted property line, and not enclosures/roosts/coops maybe kept in the front yard.
Read the full DRAFT law below:
*Note, Mr. Big was just visiting the village while taking a car ride. He has since passed away. RIP Mr. Big.
