No fowl shall be kept in the city limits that do not meet the spacing requirements as defined in § 91.02 except in accordance with this section. A license shall be required to be issued by the Animal Control Officer prior to any fowl being located in the city limits. The owner shall be required to pay an annual license fee as set by the City Council. The Animal Control Officer may inspect the property to determine if the owner is in compliance with this chapter.
(A) It shall be unlawful to keep, house or possess more than ten chickens on a property currently occupied as a single-family dwelling or located adjacent to a property occupied by a single-family dwelling or other residential structure.
(B) Roosters are expressly prohibited unless they are located on a bona fide farm and meet the 200 yard spacing requirement as defined in § 91.02.
(C) It shall be unlawful for the owner or keeper of any domestic fowl to allow the animal to run at large within the city. All domestic fowl shall be located in an enclosure that meets the requirements of division (D) below.
(D) All domestic fowl enclosures must be fully enclosed and fowl kept in it at all times. All enclosures must be well ventilated and constructed of materials conducive to regular cleaning and sanitation. The floor and walls of the fowl house must be kept in a clean, sanitary, and healthful condition, with all dropping and organic waste material removed and disposed of in a proper manner. The enclosure shall have a minimum of ten square feet of area for each fowl. All fowl enclosures must be located in the rear yard and be located at least 15 feet from all adjoining property lines. The enclosure shall be kept clean, sanitary and free from accumulations of excrement and objectionable odor at all times.
(E) A license issued under this section may be revoked by the Animal Control Officer at any time upon violation of the terms of the license or any other provisions of this chapter. Upon revocation, the fowl and associated enclosure must be removed from the premises by the owner within ten days from the expiration or revocation of a domestic fowl permit.
(F) A violation of any provision of this section is hereby declared to be dangerous and prejudicial to the public health or safety and to constitute a public nuisance. The nuisance shall be abated as set forth in Chapter 96 (nuisances) of this Code.
(Ord. 2012-72, passed 10-15-12; Am. Ord. 2015-6, passed 2-16-15)