(A) Certain prohibitions. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, it shall be unlawful and hereby declared a nuisance for any person to keep any animal of the species of horse, mule, swine, sheep, goat, cattle, or fowl (with the exception of chickens, ducks and rabbits as herein provided) within the city. This prohibition includes skunks, poisonous reptiles, and other wildlife.
(1) Chickens, ducks and rabbits shall be allowed under certain conditions, when properly permitted.
(2) The number of allowable chickens or ducks shall be no more than 12. No roosters shall be allowed.
(3) The number of rabbits will not exceed 12.
(4) Any structures housing chickens, ducks or rabbits shall be deemed an accessory structure.
(5) Applicants shall register with City Hall to obtain a permit and have proof of registration on-site. The registration fee is ten dollars and is good for one year. The permit may be renewed annually, if the site where the chickens, ducks or rabbits are kept passes an inspection conducted by the Animal Control Officer, and the annual registration fee is paid.
(6) Care for chickens, ducks and rabbits shall follow the provisions set forth in this chapter.
(a) They shall be kept in such a way so as not to cause a nuisance.
(b) Their runs, yards, hutches and coops shall be constructed and maintained reasonably to prevent the standing of water. The structures must be kept clean of droppings, uneaten or discarded feed, feathers, fur and other waste with such 1iequency as necessary to ensure the yard, hutch, coop and pen do not become nuisances.
1. Coops, hutches, pens and yards shall be large enough to provide sufficient space for the animals to move about freely.
2. The coop or hutch must be built to provide ventilation, shade, protection from precipitation, protection from cold weather, and to be secure from predators, wild birds, and rodents.
3. Openings in windows and doors must be covered by wire mesh or screens to deter predators.
4. Access doors must be sized and placed for ease of cleaning.
5. The enclosed run must be attached to the coop or hutch, must surround it. The sides of the run must be made of fencing or wire mesh that discourages predators.
6. The run must be enclosed on all sides, including the top or roof plane.
7. Odors from pens, manure or related substances shall not be detectable from property lines. Manure must be disposed of. Manure may be composted. All manure not composted must be removed from property regularly.
(c) Licenses for coops and hutches must be obtained and shall meet the rules of this chapter where applicable.
1. Coops, hutches, pens and yards shall be large enough to provide sufficient space for the animals to move about freely.
2. The coop or hutch must be built to provide ventilation, shade, protection from precipitation, protection from cold weather, and to be secure from predators, wild birds and rodents.
3. Whenever possible, the chicken coop and run or hutch shall be located in the rear of a residential structure. If the pen, coop and run or hutch are located in a side or front yard, the permitee must make reasonable efforts to conceal the pen, coop, run or hutch from plain view from city streets.
4. Access doors must be sized and placed for ease of cleaning.
5. The enclosed run must be attached to the coop or hutch, must surround it. The sides of the run must be made of fencing or wire mesh that discourages predators .
6. Licenses will not be granted to persons who intend to place the pen, coop, run or hutch on a lot or lots on which an apartment, multi-family unit, or a condominium building is located.
7. The city may deny a license to any person who:
a. Owes money to the city; or
b. Has, in the last five years prior to the application for a license under this section, been convicted or pled guilty to any code violation involving animals, a nuisance, noise or property maintenance.
8. If the licensee under this section is found guilty of a violation of this section or of cruelty to animals, the license will be immediately and permanently revoked.
9. Applications shall be submitted to Grayville City Hall.
10. No person shall slaughter any chicken, duck or rabbit within city limits in an open area that can be viewed by the public.
11. No chicken, duck or rabbit shall be permitted to run at large. All animals shall be kept in a designated hutch, coop or run.
12. No cat or dog shall be deemed dangerous, vicious, otherwise punished for attacking or killing any chicken, duck or rabbit allowed to run astray, whether by accident or design.
13. Any resident currently owning chickens, ducks or rabbits shall have 30 days from enactment of this section to comply with all the provisions set forth herein.
14. If the licensee is found to be in violation of the standards set forth in this section, the first offense shall result in a written warning to comply within 48 hours. The second offense shall cause a fine to be levied in the amount of $250. A third offense shall cause the license to be immediately and permanently revoked.
(B) Powers of the Police Chief. The Police Chief shall have the authority to enforce the standards set forth in § 90.11, and shall have the power to issue an order prohibiting the keeping of any animal, fowl, bird, or reptile which is deemed to pose a health hazard to the general public.
(Ord. 890, passed 7-13-20; Am. Ord. 927, passed 8-8-22)