WEST CARTHAGE — Village officials have issued a moratorium on keeping farm animals.

Village Clerk Deborah J. Pierce said the local law was proposed when someone inquired about keeping chickens. Since there had been no regulations on farm animals, the village Board of Trustees decided to enact a moratorium to study the issue. As growing food at home becomes more popular, village officials were concerned that poultry and other farm animals could present a problem if not regulated.

The moratorium defines a farm animal as “any domestic species of animal that is kept and raised for use as food or in the production of food or in the operation of a farm and is not a house pet such as a dog, cat or similar animal.”

The moratorium does not affect farm animals already in the village.

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