At last week’s meeting, New Paltz Village Board members voted 4-1 to hold a public hearing on amending the backyard chicken law. Currently, six chickens per 0.5 acres can be kept legally in the village for private — non-commercial — use to raise eggs or for meat. Trustee Ariana Basco, who proposed the original law, thinks that is too strict — since the acreage requirement severely limits who can keep hens.
New Paltz’s chicken law prohibits roosters in home coops, to keep noise at a minimum. Poultry keepers must be licensed with the village. That would stay in the law.
Sally Rhoads was the lone board member to vote against setting a public hearing. She didn’t like some of the changes proposed. “I still think a half acre should be required,” she explained.
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