Spa City Rooster Ban Approved 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The City Council approved an ordinance during its meeting at City Hall May 6 to ban roosters in Saratoga Springs. 

Previous city regulations set crowing cock noise restrictions from midnight to 7 a.m. The new ordinance does not allow roosters to be kept at any time on any property in the city, excepting as part of a farming or agricultural business in conformance with the UDO. 

The amendment specifies the term “rooster” as any adult male domestic chicken or any adult male bird capable of crowing. Hens, which lay eggs, are still permissible. 

The vote was preceded by a Public Hearing, during which a half-dozen local residents addressed the issue, the majority of whom voiced approval of the ban measure, and some of whom addressed the council while accompanied by a soundtrack of crowing roosters claimed to have been recorded in their neighborhood.  

The cities of Albany and Rensselaer, the village of Ballston Spa and the town of Wilton all similarly have ordinances that prohibit roosters, and the cities of Schenectady and Mechanicville prohibit altogether the keeping of any livestock or poultry.