Mandatory registry for farm animals may soon be required in Batavia

BATAVIA, N.Y. (WHEC) – The City of Batavia is considering a change to a city code on farm animals within city limits.

This comes following several complaints from neighbors over a home with several goats. The Turner family has two goats, chickens, and ducks, and they want to keep them.

But according to the city manager, a new resolution would bar anyone from keeping and feeding wild and farm animals within city limits. Batavia could require anyone with farm animals to register them. And if they don’t, they would have to get rid of them.

“My biggest fear is that we’re going to have to find a home for our friends,” Jill Turner said.

Batavia is not the first city to deal with this issue. More than a dozen other cities in New York have restrictions on the number of farm animals that can be within city limits, including Geneva and Canandaigua.

A public hearing will be scheduled.