(A) Purpose. It is recognized that the ability to cultivate one's own food is a sustainable activity that can also be a rewarding past time. Therefore, it is the purpose and intent of this subchapter to permit the keeping and maintenance of chicken hens for eggs and meat sources in a clean and sanitary manner that is not a nuisance to or detrimental to the public health, safety, and welfare of the community.
(B) Permit required. No person shall own, keep, harbor, or have any live chickens without first obtaining a permit in writing from the city, and subject to the following conditions. A copy of the Chicken Permit Application is attached to Ordinance 92.40 and incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
(1) All permits shall expire on December 31 of each year following there issuance unless revoked. A person who wishes to continue keeping chickens shall obtain a new permit on or before January 1.
(2) A permit is subject to all terms and conditions of this section and any additional conditions deemed necessary by the city to protect the public health, safety and welfare.
(3) The city may revoke a permit for failure to comply with the provisions of this section or any of the permit's conditions. Prior to revoking a permit, the city shall provide the owner with a notice of the revocation and an opportunity to appeal the revocation to the City Council.
(4) The city may inspect the premises for which a permit has been granted in order to ensure compliance with this division (B). If the city is not able to obtain the occupant's consent to enter the property; it may seek an administrative search warrant.
(5) No person shall allow any fowl under his or her ownership to disturb the peace and quiet of the city or to otherwise become a public or private nuisance so as to annoy, injure or endanger the health, safety, comfort or repose of the public.
(6) Persons that intend to no longer keep fowl on their premises shall notify the City Clerk. If there is a pen, it must be removed upon expiration of the permit or within 30 days of ceasing to use the pen for keeping of fowl, whichever is earlier.
(7) The city shall set fees for such permits by resolution.
(C) Additional regulations.
(1) The keeping of any poultry besides chickens is prohibited.
(2) No more than 4 chickens shall be housed or kept on any one residential lot in any area of the city.
(3) Chickens shall only be allowed on single-family home lots.
(4) Outdoor slaughtering of chickens in city limits is prohibited.
(5) Chicken fighting shall not be allowed within city limits.
(6) Leg banding of all chickens is required. The bands must identify the owner's name, address, and telephone number.
(7) Chickens will not be housed in a residential house or an attached garage.
(8) A separate coop is required to house the chickens. A building permit application must be approved by the Planning Commission and City Council before the coop and fence area is constructed.
(9) The coop must be maintained to meet the following minimum standards:
(a) Located in the side or rear yard;
(b) Meet the accessory structure setback requirements;
(c) Construction shall be adequate to prevent access by rodents;
(d) A run or exercise yard is required to be provided and must be enclosed by a fence;
(e) The coop must be located in the side or backyard and set back as least 25 feet from any structure on any adjacent lot and at least 10 feet from the property line.
(10) All premises on which chickens are kept or maintained shall be kept clean from filth, garbage, and any substances which attract rodents. The coop and its surroundings must be cleaned frequently enough to control order. Manure shall not be allowed to accumulate in a way that causes an unsanitary condition or causes odors detectible on another property.
(11) All food shall be stored in an enclosed, rodent proof container.
(12) Dead chickens shall be disposed of according to the Minnesota Board of Animal Health rules, which require chicken carcasses to be disposed of as soon as possible after death, usually within 48 to 72 hours. Legal forms of chicken carcass disposal include offsite burial, offsite incineration or rendering, or offsite composting.
(13) No permit will be approved if property owner has any city code violations or outstanding invoices due to the city.
(Ord. 92.40, passed 4-13-2020)