(A) Administrative Permit Required: An administrative permit shall be required for the keeping of any hen chickens upon a property less than two and one-half (2 ½) acres in size and developed with a single-family dwelling within a residential zoning district. The keeping of chickens on lots two and one-half (2½) acres and larger are regulated under section 6-4-2 of this code. An administrative permit must be submitted to the Planning Department with a fee as established by the city council. Upon receipt of the administrative permit all adjacent property owners will be notified of the application. Supporting information/documents to be submitted to the planning division with an administrative permit application are:
1. Number of chickens to be kept on the property.
2. Site plan or property survey showing the proposed location of the chicken coop and/or chicken run on the subject property.
3. To scale building plan, including elevations, of the proposed coop and/or run and exterior finish materials and construction methods.
4. Any other information the Zoning Administrator deems necessary to evaluate the application for compliance with the requirements of this section and this Code.
(B) Duration Of Permit: A renewal permit will be required to be approved every two (2) years after the initial administrative permit is approved that chickens are kept on an approved residential lot. An application for a renewal permit shall be filed with the city thirty (30) days prior to the expiration of the current permit. The permit may be terminated or not renewed for violations of the ordinance.
The renewal permit will be reviewed and approved administratively. The fee for a renewal permit will be established yearly by the city council.
(C) Automatic Termination Of Permit: If the owner of hen chickens, who has an approved permit, moves from the premises approved for said hens, the urban chicken permit shall automatically become null and void.
(D) Limitation On The Number Of Chickens: No person shall keep on any single-family residential property more than four (4) total hen chickens.
(E) Two Or More Dwelling Unit Properties: Chickens are not allowed on properties that contain two (2) or more dwelling units.
(F) Eggs from chickens kept upon the property to which the permit is issued are for personal use and consumption by the occupants and shall not be offered for sale or sold.
(G) No Roosters: No person shall keep roosters, or adult male chickens, on any residentially zoned property less than two and one-half (2½) acres in size.
(H) No Cockfighting: Cockfighting is specifically prohibited within the city.
(I) No Slaughtering: The slaughter of chickens is prohibited on residentially used or zoned properties.
(J) Ownership Occupancy: The owner of the chickens shall live on the property on which they are being kept.
(K) Confinement: Every person who owns, controls, keeps, maintains or harbors hen chickens must keep them confined on the premises at all times in a chicken coop or chicken run while in the city. Chickens are not allowed to be located in any part of the home and/or garage.
(L) Shelter And Enclosure Requirements: Chickens shall be properly protected from the weather and predators and have access to the outdoors in an enclosure or fenced area. The shelter and/or enclosure shall meet all of the following requirements:
1. Any chicken coop and run fencing must be consistent with building and zoning codes.
2. No chicken coop or run shall be constructed on any urban residential lot prior to the time of construction of the principal structure.
3. One chicken coop and/or chicken run will be allowed per residential lot provided the maximum lot coverage of the underlying zoning district is not exceeded.
4. Chicken coops and runs shall not be located in the front or side yards and shall not be placed within any drainage and utility easements found on residential lots.
5. Any chicken coop or run shall be set back at least twenty five feet (25') from any principal structure on adjacent lots and a minimum of ten feet (10') from all property lines.
6. Any chicken coop or run shall be screened from view with a solid fence or landscaped buffer with a minimum height of four feet (4'). All fencing shall be in accordance with section 10-6-12 of this chapter.
7. All chicken coops must have a maximum size of ten (10) square feet per chicken and must not exceed eight feet (8') in total height. Fenced in chicken runs must not exceed twenty (20) square feet per chicken and fencing must not exceed six feet (6') in total height. Chicken runs may be enclosed with wood and/or woven wire materials, and may allow chickens to contact the ground. Chicken runs must have a protective overhead netting to keep the chickens separated from other animals.
8. Chicken coops must be elevated a minimum of twelve inches (12") and a maximum of thirty six inches (36") above grade to ensure circulation beneath the coop.
9. Chicken grains and feed must be stored in a rodentproof container.
(M) Conditions/Maintenance And Inspection: No person who owns, controls, keeps, maintains or harbors hen chickens shall permit the premises where the hen chickens are kept to be or remain in an unhealthy, unsanitary or noxious condition or to permit the premises to be in such condition that noxious odors to be carried to adjacent public or private property. Any chicken coop and chicken run authorized under this section may be inspected at any reasonable time by the city. (Ord. 014-668, 6-16-2014; amd. Ord. 023-774, 9-5-2023)