All individuals harboring chicken(s) shall:
(A) Maintain only one flock within town boundaries with no more than 12 hens and zero roosters;
(B) Operate in such a manner so as to not constitute a public nuisance or disturb neighboring residents due to noise, odor or damage;
(C) Comply with any and all federal, state, and local laws governing the proper treatment of animals;
(D) Keep his/her chicken(s) exclusively for private use and not for any commercial use whatsoever;
(E) Operate in a manner so as to not pose a threat to public health. Individuals shall isolate chickens which are sick or diseased so as to not endanger the health and well-being of other animals and humans. When necessary for the protection of the public health and safety, the Hamilton County Sheriff's Department and/or the town's designee may require the specified animal be kept or confined in a secured enclosure. This provision is subordinate to any local, state or federal code governing the treatment of chickens in the event of a threat to human health;
(F) Not slaughter chickens on individual's property except in the event of emergency or illness of the chicken where the immediate dispatching of the chicken is the most humane remedy;
(G) Keep all chickens completely and securely enclosed and under the control of the individual on the individual's property at all times;
(H) Provide a chicken coop and attached chicken run that are clean, dry and odor-free;
(I) Promptly clean the chicken coop, run, or surrounding area upon request;
(J) Provide a chicken coop that affords shelter from the elements;
(K) Provide a chicken coop and attached chicken run that, combined, provide adequate ventilation and adequate sun and shade and that are both designed to prevent the entry of rodents, wild birds and predators, including dogs;
(L) Provide chickens with access to feed and clean water at all times, where such food and water shall be stored in containers designed to prevent the entry of rodents, wild birds and predators;
(M) Provide adequate safeguards to prevent unauthorized access to the chickens by members of the public; and
(N) Keep the chicken coop, chicken run and surrounding area free from trash and accumulated droppings. The individual shall dispose of chicken waste and uneaten feed in a timely manner and in accordance with the town's trash ordinances found in the Atlanta Municipal Code. Determinations of compliance will be made by Atlanta's Code Enforcement Officer or the town's designee and will be appealable to the Town Council.
(Ord. 2-2014-1, passed 2-11-2014)