Can I keep chickens in Poughkeepsie, NY?
No — Poughkeepsie does not allow backyard chickens in residential zones. (City Code Ch. 19 (Zoning), Art. III District Regulations; Ch. 4 Animals and Fowl, verified June 2026)
The full rules
| Chickens allowed | No |
|---|---|
| Code section | City Code Ch. 19 (Zoning), Art. III District Regulations; Ch. 4 Animals and Fowl |
City of Poughkeepsie (Dutchess County - not the Town) zoning Ch. 19 permits, as an accessory use in residential districts, only the 'keeping of not more than three customary household pets,' with commercial breeding/boarding prohibited. A full scan of the district regulations found no chicken/fowl/poultry/livestock use listed anywhere, and zoning permits only listed uses. City Code Ch. 4 'Animals and Fowl' contains no provision allowing the keeping of chickens. Backyard chickens are not permitted in the City.
Common questions
Can I keep chickens in Poughkeepsie?
No — chickens are not allowed in Poughkeepsie (City Code Ch. 19 (Zoning), Art. III District Regulations; Ch. 4 Animals and Fowl).
What law covers backyard chickens in Poughkeepsie?
City Code Ch. 19 (Zoning), Art. III District Regulations; Ch. 4 Animals and Fowl. Read the official text at the source linked on this page.
The actual law
City Code Ch. 19 (Zoning), Art. III District Regulations; Ch. 4 Animals and Fowl — read the official code
“Chapter 4 Animals and Fowl - full text contains no allowance to keep chickens/fowl as a permitted use; 'fowl' appears only in the chapter title.” source
“Keeping of not more than three customary household pets over six months old. The commercial breeding or boarding of pets shall be prohibited.” source
Last verified June 13, 2026. Always confirm with your municipality — HOA rules can be stricter than city code. How we verify →
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