Livestock and poultry are allowed as a special use in accordance with the following regulations.
(A) Keeping of livestock or poultry in zoning districts as referenced in § 152.028 of this chapter, shall be applicable only to property within the corporate limits of the town. The keeping of livestock and poultry in the extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) shall not be governed by this section as per G.S. § 160D-9-3(c).
(B) Any existing situations of livestock or poultry being kept within the corporate limits of the town prior to the effective date of January 1, 2021 of this section shall be allowed to continue as a non-conforming use as provided in § 152.335 of this chapter. Should any pre-existing livestock or poultry situation cease by removal of a related structure or fence for more than six months, such use shall no longer be allowed.
(C) No more than one animal shall be kept, maintained and/or stabled per 5,445 square feet (one-eighth acre). For the purpose of this section, one animal shall mean a goat, sheep, donkey, mule, cow, horse, bison, llama, alpaca, ostrich, or similar animals weighing 200 pounds or more. Five chickens or similar foul defined as poultry shall count as one animal unit. The keeping of hogs, excluding a potbellied pig as a pet, is not permitted.
(D) All livestock or poultry shall be fenced so that they are no closer than 150 feet from an adjacent dwelling unit. This shall not apply to a residence constructed after the establishment of such livestock or poultry containment area. However, the containment area may not encroach further towards the newly established residence.
(E) No livestock shall be kept, maintained, or stabled on any lot of less than two acres and must be able to maintain a healthy water source for the animals.
(F) Structures or enclosures provided to adequately accommodate and maintain all livestock and/or poultry must be approved by the Zoning Administrator and the County Building Inspector for the storage of farm equipment or supplies, maintenance equipment and supplies, and similar items associated with agricultural uses and permitted subject to the issuance of a zoning permit.
(G) All stables, pasture areas, and manure and feed storage areas shall be kept in a neat and healthy condition so as not to constitute a nuisance for adjoining property owners.
(Ord. passed 3-14-2005; Ord. passed 10-10-2016; Ord. passed 3-14-2019, § 927) Penalty, see § 152.999