A. Fenced Rear Yard Required: Hens may only be kept in a fenced rear lot area with a minimum area of twenty (20) square feet per hen.
B. Coop And Run Required: Hens may only be kept on a property with a coop structure complying with the requirements of this section. Coops are deemed an accessory structure and must comply with requirements for accessory structures under title 17 of this code. Installation of coops shall require a building permit. When not enclosed in a coop, hens shall be kept within an enclosed run that does not permit the hens to freely roam over an entire property.
C. Coop Size Requirements: Coop and coop enclosures must be sized properly for the number of chickens to be maintained. Coop and coop enclosures must be a minimum of ten (10) square feet but shall not exceed a maximum of one hundred (100) square feet. The coop must be elevated a minimum of one foot (1') above the ground, designed to be predator and pest resistant, and easily accessed for cleaning and maintenance.
D. Coop And Run Location Requirements: Coops and runs must be set back a minimum of twenty feet (20') from any property line or the principal dwelling unit on the subject lot and thirty feet (30') from any structure used as a dwelling unit on any abutting lot.
E. Hen Activity: All hens must be maintained in the coop when an adult (18 years or older) is not present on site. If an adult (18 years or older) is present on site, the animals may roam in a fenced yard.
F. Sanitation And Maintenance: No person shall cause or allow a coop and yard area where hens are kept to become unclean or unwholesome. Coops must be routinely cleaned with the minimum period between cleanings being every two (2) weeks. Nuisance laws shall pertain to the keeping of hens, provided that the mere keeping of hens in accordance with these restrictions shall not, by itself, constitute a nuisance.
G. Keeping Of Food: Food for hens must be maintained in pestproof containers.
H. Disposal Of Waste And Deceased Hens: All waste and deceased hens must be disposed of in a sanitary manner.
I. Hen Health: Hen health must be maintained with proper feed and water.
J. Sickness And Disease: If the owner becomes aware that a hen is becoming ill, and the symptoms do not abate within forty eight (48) hours of the visible onset of any symptoms of disease, aid from a veterinarian must be given or the animal must be humanely slaughtered.
K. Breeding Prohibited: The breeding of chickens on site is expressly prohibited.
L. Animal Cruelty: Animal cruelty laws pertain to hens.
M. Slaughtering: Slaughtering of hens shall not occur within the unobstructed view of any public right of way, and any slaughtering or related processing must be conducted in a humane and sanitary manner. (Ord. 2014-O-14)