Croton sets Jan. 1, 2027 deadline in animal-code rewrite

On July 1, Croton trustees introduced Local Law Introductory No. 10 of 2026, a rewritten animal code that would prohibit roosters and cockerels, bar disallowed species from being kept indoors, and give current owners until Jan. 1, 2027 to come into compliance. There would be no grandfathering.

The proposal still has to go through Westchester County Planning Department review and the village Planning Board before any final adoption. Village Attorney Joshua Subin said the zoning text amendment must also satisfy state-law timing requirements, so this is a review step, not a finished policy.

What the rewrite would change

The rewrite grew out of a broader zoning cleanup. A January manager memo said village staff were working through outdated or vague code language, including definitions tied to buildings, accessory structures, and farm animals. At a June 24 work session, trustees discussed separating domestic animals from farm animals, limiting fowl to chickens and ducks, and tightening coop setbacks on some lots.

The draft is aimed at clearer enforcement, not just new restrictions. Trustees discussed whether the village should regulate by species, lot size or broader categories, and they did not reach full agreement on every detail.

Why leaf blowers came up

The same discussion also turned into a test of whether Croton enforces the rules it already has. Residents raised leaf-blower enforcement during the public conversation, and the village’s engineering FAQ says gas-powered leaf blowers are banned from June 1-Aug. 31 and Jan. 1-March 31. Motor-driven lawn and garden equipment is allowed only during set daytime hours.

For residents, the next checkpoints are county and Planning Board review, a public hearing date, and whether trustees change the draft before a final vote. For pet owners, the key date is Jan. 1, 2027.

Sources

• Croton.news — July 1 Board story on animal-code rewrite
• Village of Croton-on-Hudson — Manager memo on Local Law Intro 3