(a) Pets. The keeping of pets for other than commercial purposes is allowed. The keeping of cats is limited to no more than nine per household. The keeping of dogs shall be in accordance with the following schedule:
Number of Dogs | Minimum Lot Size |
1 to 4 | No requirement |
5 to 6 | 25,000 square feet |
7 or more | 40,000 square feet, plus 5,000 square feet for each additional dog above 7 |
(b) Livestock or fowl. The keeping of livestock or domestic fowl is allowed in accordance with the following:
(1) Livestock may be kept on a lot of 40,000 square feet or greater and may not exceed a ratio of one animal unit per 40,000 square feet. An animal unit is defined as follows:
2 horses or mules | = 1 animal unit |
2 head of cattle | = 1 animal unit |
4 ponies, burros, miniature horses, or donkeys | = 1 animal unit |
10 sheep or goats | = 1 animal unit |
8 swine | = 1 animal unit |
8 llamas | = 1 animal unit |
8 alpacas | = 1 animal unit |
Other animals, 2,000 pounds | = 1 animal unit |
(2) Domestic fowl may be kept on a lot 40,000 square feet or greater and may not exceed a ratio of one bird unit per 40,000 square feet. A bird unit for lots 40,000 square feet or greater is defined as follows:
32 chickens | = 1 bird unit |
16 ducks | = 1 bird unit |
8 turkeys | = 1 bird unit |
8 geese | = 1 bird unit |
1 ostrich | = 1 bird unit |
2 emus | = 1 bird unit |
Other fowl, 100 pounds | = 1 bird unit |
(3) Chickens and ducks may be kept on a lot of 20,000 square feet or greater improved by a single family dwelling and may not exceed a ratio of one bird unit per 20,000 square feet. A bird unit for lots 20,000 square feet or greater but less than 40,000 square feet is defined as follows:
8 chickens – hens only | = 1 bird unit |
4 ducks | = 1 bird unit |
(4) Chickens, not including roosters, may be kept on a lot of less than 20,000 square feet improved by a single family dwelling in accordance with the following schedule:
Minimum Lot Size | Maximum Number of Chickens |
10,000 square feet | 4 |
15,000 square feet | 6 |
(5) Combinations of animals are allowed if the lot is 40,000 square feet or greater and the allowed ratio of animal units to square footage is maintained.
(6) All livestock and fowl shall be kept within a fenced area. Chickens or ducks on lots less than 40,000 square feet shall be kept in a secured enclosure with a chicken coop.
(7) Except for coops or enclosures for chickens or ducks on lots less than 40,000 square feet, accessory structures relating to livestock or fowl and manure storage shall be located at least 50 feet from side and rear lot lines.
(8) Coops and enclosures for chickens or ducks on lots less than 40,000 square feet shall be located at least 25 feet from side or rear lot lines and five feet from an onsite dwelling.
(Bill No. 4-05; Bill No. 69-07; Bill No. 79-13; Bill No. 85-17; Bill No. 70-18; Bill No. 73-20)
Editor's note – Bill No. 70-18 added provisions to § 18-4-104 pertaining to the keeping of miniature pigs and allow the keeping of miniature pigs in residential districts. Pursuant to Sections 3 and 4 of Bill No. 70-18, this was in effect from November 10, 2018 until January 1, 2019.