The purpose of this section is to provide regulations for the keeping of residential chickens as a temporary accessory use within certain residential districts. Chickens shall be kept in a way that will ensure the continued health and well-being of the residents of the city while allowing a more self-sustaining method of living.
(A) Definition. The term CHICKEN refers only to the female, or hen of the species. Roosters and crowing hens are prohibited at any and all times. Chickens are not considered household pets.
(B) Residential districts. Residential chickens are allowed in the R-M-7, R-1-8, R-1-10, R-1-12, R-M-15, R-1-20, R-M-30, R-1-40 and GC Districts and shall be further limited to single-family dwelling units which have a separate legal lot or parcel of record.
(C) Permit.
(1) A permit is required for the keeping of chickens.
(2) The permit is a temporary license only and not attached to the property as a legal use by right. There shall be no “grandfathering” or legal non-conforming use property rights arising from the permit.
(3) The permit cost is as set forth in resolution and must be renewed every two years.
(4) Each chicken owner is required to read the supplemental educational materials supplied by the city.
(D) Allowed number of chickens.
(1) A minimum lot size of 7,000 square feet is required for the keeping of chickens. The minimum number of chickens permitted on any lot is two, for the social wellness of the chickens. The permitted number of chickens is as follows:
7,000 sq. ft. | 2 chickens |
8,000 sq. ft. | 4 chickens |
10,000 sq. ft. | 6 chickens |
14,000 sq. ft. | 8 chickens |
20,000 sq. ft. | 10 chickens |
(2) No more than ten chickens will be permitted on any lot.
(E) Containment and protection.
(1) Chickens shall be provided with a predator-proof coop with a minimum of two and one-half square feet per chicken.
(2) Coops shall not be larger than 200 square feet unless a building permit is issued for its construction.
(3) Coops and pens shall be located in the back yard. On corner lots, the side yard which faces the street, the coop and pen shall not be within the 20-foot side yard setback from property line.
(4) Coops and pens shall be a minimum of five feet from the property line and 25 feet from the nearest residential dwelling. There is no minimum distance between the coop and the property owner’s dwelling unless the coop is larger than 200 square feet.
(5) There shall be an enclosed area for a run with a minimum of five square feet per chicken. A securely fenced rear yard is acceptable for the run. Chickens shall not be allowed out of the run or to roam free outside a fenced area.
(F) Sanitation and maintenance.
(1) All coops and runs shall be kept in a clean condition and free from objectionable odor.
(2) No such odor shall be detectible at the property line. All food shall be kept in a rodent proof container.
(3) Droppings and used litter shall be disposed of in a sanitary way. Droppings may be used as compost.
(G) Business or gain.
(1) The keeping of residential chickens shall not be used as a business or for monetary gain.
(2) There shall be no sale or income resulting from the keeping of chickens, including the sale of eggs.
(H) Slaughtering and removal.
(1) The slaughtering of chickens shall not be conducted on the premises at any time.
(2) Dead chickens and unused eggs shall be removed and disposed of in a sanitary manner within 24 hours.
(I) Conflict. This section shall not nullify the more restrictive provisions of covenants, conditions and restrictions for subdivisions, but shall prevail notwithstanding such provisions which are less restrictive.
(J) Revocation. A permit may be revoked for cause and may also be revoked where a complaint is made to the city regarding noise, odor or other violation of this section due to chickens as verified by a City Animal Control Officer, and the owner of the property at issue fails to mitigate such noise, odor or other violation to the city’s satisfaction.
(Prior Code, § 29.05.250) (Ord. 07-13, passed 7-19-2007; Ord. 11-11, passed 5-19-2011; Ord. 13-01, passed 1-17-2013)