If you’re a fan of raising chickens in Brookhaven, there’s good news for you thanks to the Town Board, who expanded how many you can have on your property.
Following a public hearing where three speakers spoke in support of expanding how many chickens families can raise in Brookhaven, the Town Board approved a measure that eased restrictions on how many chickens taxpayers can have.
“They (chickens) became a lot more popular, especially in the years following COVID,” said Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico.
Before the new chicken law was passed by the Town Board, Brookhaven families could have no more than six chickens at their home.
Now families with parcels of 20,000 square feet or less can have up to six chickens. If your parcel is 20,001 square feet or more, you can have up to 12 chickens.
The previous law stated chicken coops must be at least 50 feet from your property line. That law is off the books.
The new Brookhaven law allows a chicken coop to be at least ten feet from your property line.
Tough luck if you love roosters. Those are still banned.
The advocacy group “Long Island Chicken Keepers” praised the Brookhaven Town Board and Supervisor Panico for allowing families to have 12 chickens, if their parcel is large enough under the new law.
“This is a long time coming. We are in the country. We all want chickens. We enjoy them. I have fresh eggs every morning. My chickens are well-maintained. We support this,” said a speaker named Chris from the Long Island Chicken Keepers.
Taxpayer Tara Lynn Reynolds asked the Town Board to eventually consider some sort of repercussion for people who abandon chickens or roosters around town. It can be common for people to unknowingly be sold roosters, who in turn set them loose.
“I don't have anything against chickens. I have a problem with abandonment. Four (chickens) were slaughtered by raccoons. Their bodies were left on the front lawn for everyone to see. There needs to be some provision for chickens who are getting killed or dumped. It is despicable to not enforce a way to think about the safety of these animals. You have to think of the repercussions,” said Reynolds.
“Roosters could cause pandemonium in a neighborhood. it comes down to personal responsibility,” added Panico.
Brookhaven Town Attorney Annette Eaderesto asked residents to be hyper vigilant in contacting the Town if they know of violations of the six or 12 chicken ordinance.
“We are complaint driven. We do answer all of those (complaint) calls,” said Eaderesto.