A. The keeping of, or permitting the keeping of any animal within the corporate limits of the City in such a manner that it constitutes a nuisance, and any person maintaining such a nuisance shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
B. The keeping or permitting the keeping of any agricultural animals within the corporate limits of the City in any area that is not zoned Agriculture (A-1) is hereby prohibited and declared to constitute a nuisance and any person maintaining such a nuisance shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
Exceptions: Agriculture animals may be kept in an area that is not zoned Agriculture (A-1) only under the following conditions.
1. Future Farmers of America (FFA) and 4-H members, and other agricultural students may house agricultural animals in pens located on Grove Public School property.
a. The enclosure where the animals are kept shall not be, at its nearest point, closer than fifty feet (50') to any building used or occupied for human habitation, and the barn shall not be closer than seventy-five feet (75') at its nearest point to any building used or occupied for human habitation.
2. A circus, carnival or petting zoo that has been approved and permitted by the City of Grove may temporarily keep agriculture animals in a designated area during the event.
3. Backyard Chickens:
a. Definitions: The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this section, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
CHICKEN: | A laying hen commonly raised for the production of eggs. |
CHICKEN COOP: | A small structure or enclosure where chickens nest, roost or perch and may include feeding and water devices. |
CHICKEN RUN: | A separate outside enclosure physically connected to a chicken coop where chickens can walk or run about which may include feeding and watering devices. |
b. Notwithstanding other provisions of this chapter to the contrary, the keeping of no more than six (6) chickens, (roosters are prohibited) in the rear yard of property zoned for residential use is allowed.
c. Prior to construction of a coop or run and prior to placement of chickens, the owner/resident shall submit an application and obtain a Building Permit.
d. The facilities for the keeping of such chickens shall comply with the following requirements.
(1) Housing:
(A) Chickens must be kept in a chicken coop with an attached chicken run. The coop shall be constructed in a manner that can be secured to protect the chickens from predators and withstand adverse weather conditions.
(B) It shall provide four (4) square feet of floor space per chicken, be well ventilated, and include roost capacity and nesting boxes consistent with the number of chickens kept. The height of the coop shall be less than the height of the screening and shall not be visible to adjoining or neighboring properties.
e. Run:
(1) The run shall be of sufficient size and dimension to provide ten (10) square feet area per chicken. The height of the run shall be less than the height of the screening and shall not be visible to adjoining or neighboring properties.
(2) The enclosure shall be constructed of metal wire or a similar material adequate to permit the unimpeded flow of air and sunshine through the enclosure area and of a sufficient height and density to prevent the escape of the chickens during occupancy. The use of electric wire for this purpose is prohibited.
f. Setback: The coop and run shall not be located closer than seventy-five feet (75') at its nearest point to any building used or occupied for human habitation, nor shall it be located closer than ten feet (10') from any side or rear yard property line.
g. Screening: The owner/resident shall be responsible for screening of the coop and run from adjoining or neighboring properties. An opaque wooden or masonry fence along the side and rear property lines shall be deemed sufficient under this section. The fence shall not exceed eight feet (8') in height. The owner/resident shall be responsible for maintenance of the screening.
h. Flock Maintenance: Chickens shall be confined to the coop between dusk and dawn and shall be confined to the coop and run areas at all other times. Adequate food and water shall be available at all times the hens are present.
i. Sanitation: The coop and run shall be cleaned daily to prevent the accumulation of unconsumed food, fecal matter, bedding or nesting material. Property owner shall bag any waste that is not composted and dispose of waste by placing the bag in a garbage container, or the waste may be composted by using methods approved by the Oklahoma State University (OSU) Extension Office.
j. This section is not intended to be construed in derogation of or in conflict with any restrictive covenant or lease agreement that may be applicable.
C. The following animals may be kept in an area zoned Agriculture (A-1):
1. Cattle and horses must be kept in a pen, lot or enclosure that is maintained in a sanitary condition not offensive or dangerous to the public health. The enclosure where the animal is kept shall not be, at its nearest point, closer than fifty feet (50') to any building used or occupied for human habitation, and the barn shall not be closer than seventy five feet (75') at its nearest point to any building used or occupied for human habitation.
The number allowed per acre are as follows:
Cattle/cow-calf pair | 1 per acre |
Horse/donkey/mule | 1 per acre |
It shall be the responsibility of the property owner to provide documents indicating the amount of acreage that is available for pasturing should complaints or questions be received by the City regarding the ratio of animals per acreage.
2. Chickens must be kept in an attached chicken coop and chicken run with screenings on all outside openings, and enclosure shall be of adequate size:
a. Chicken coop shall be a minimum two (2) square feet, maximum four (4) square feet per chicken.
b. Chicken run shall be a minimum eight (8) square feet, maximum ten (10) square feet per chicken.
The enclosure shall not be closer than seventy five feet (75') at its nearest point to any building used or occupied for human habitation.
The enclosure shall be routinely cleaned to remove manure, nesting materials, accumulated food, and other items that create conditions that are offensive, unsanitary or dangerous to the public health. Property owner shall dispose of or create compost with the waste by using methods approved by the Oklahoma State University (OSU) Extension Office.
A maximum of six (6) adult chickens, and fourteen (14) chicks under the age of eight (8) weeks are allowed; roosters are prohibited.
3. The following animals shall be prohibited from being located within the City limits:
a. Pigs or hogs.
b. Turkey, geese, duck or guinea.
c. Sheep or goat.
d. Rabbits.
Exceptions: Domesticated rabbits and potbellied pigs.
4. The following shall be prohibited within the City limits:
a. Commercial feeding or feeding of garbage to any animals.
b. Stockyards or feed lots for any type.
c. Operations of puppy mills or similar operation.
d. Outdoor slaughtering of any animal is prohibited.
5. At no time shall any animals be kept in a manner that creates a public nuisance.
D. Any person who shall be the owner or keeper of any animal, and shall permit the same to run at large or trespass upon the premises of another within the corporate limits, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor.
E. It is unlawful to harbor in any one household more than two (2) domestic potbellied pigs.
F. It is unlawful to harbor in any one household more than two (2) domestic rabbits.
G. It is unlawful to harbor in any one household more than a combined total of four (4) domestic animals over the age of eight (8) weeks.
H. No owner shall fail to provide his animals with sufficient good and wholesome food and water, proper shelter, and protection from the weather, veterinary care when needed to prevent suffering and with humane care and treatment.
I. No person shall beat, cruelly, ill treat, overlead, overwork, or otherwise abuse an animal, or cause, instigate, or permit any dogfight, cockfight, bullfight or other combat between animals or between animals and humans.
J. No owner of an animal shall abandon such animal.
K. No person shall expose any known poisonous substance, whether mixed with food or not, so that the same shall be liable to be eaten by an animal, provided that it shall not be unlawful for a person to expose on his own property common rat poison mixed only with vegetable substances.
L. Owner, keeper, or harborer of a domesticated dog, cat or ferret in the city, shall cause the animal to be vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian prior to four (4) months of age. The vaccination must be kept current during the licensing period of July 1 through June 30 of the licensing year. The owner, keeper, or harborer shall secure, from the veterinarian, a certificate of vaccination against rabies and a metal tag indicating the vaccination. The metal tag shall be securely and visibly attached to the collar of the dog or cat; tags for ferrets should be kept in a secure, readily available location associated with the ferret.
On the demand of an authorized official, the owner, keeper, or harborer of any dog, cat or ferret must present a certificate of vaccination showing the type of vaccine administered, the date of the vaccination, and the name of the veterinarian providing the vaccination.
Owner, keeper or harborer of a potbellied pig or domestic rabbit, shall cause the animal to be examined by a licensed veterinarian for infectious diseases prior to four (4) months of age, and annually thereafter. The certificate must be kept current during the licensing period of July 1 through June 30 of the licensing year. The owner, keeper or harborer shall secure an annual certificate of examination from a licensed veterinarian certifying the animal is free from infectious diseases.
On the demand of an authorized official, the owner, keeper, or harborer of any potbellied pig or domestic rabbit must present a certificate of examination showing the animal is free from infectious diseases, the date of the examination, and the name of the veterinarian providing the examination.
M. It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or permit to be kept on his premises any poisonous reptile, wild, dangerous, venomous or vicious animal, insect or other exotic animal not generally recognized to be domesticated. This section shall not be construed to apply to zoological parks, performing animal exhibitions or circuses.
N. The city shall have the power to release or order the release of any infant wild animal kept under temporary permit which is deemed capable of survival.
O. The keeping of bees whether for commercial or hobby is prohibited; except domestic honeybees which may be kept under the circumstances hereinafter provided:
1. No more than two (2) hives shall be maintained for each one- fourth (1/4) acre;
2. No hives shall be maintained within twenty feet (20') of any property line of the property on which the hive is located;
3. Between each hive and the neighboring property in the direction of the hive entrance, the hive owner shall maintain the hedge or a screening fence that is at least six feet (6') in height, to be located within twenty feet (20') of such property line and to extend the entire length of such lot line;
4. A supply of clean water must be furnished within twenty feet (20') of each hive at all times between March 1 and October 31 each year;
5. Hive owners shall inspect each hive not less than four (4) times between March 1 and October 31 of each year. A written record, including the date of each such inspection, shall be maintained by the owner and shall be made available to the Grove animal control officers; and
6. The hive owner shall provide written notification to the animal control officer as to the existence of the hive, as well as certify as to notification of adjoining property owners of the existence of the hive. Hive owners shall place written notification on the property in a conspicuous place so as to inform the public of the existence of the beehives.
P. The owner of every animal shall be responsible for the removal of any excreta deposited by his animal(s) on public walks, recreation areas, or private property.
Q. The animal control officer will make every effort to contact the owner of an injured animal (wearing a collar, license or identification tag, or that appears to be a well cared for pet). If the animal control officer cannot contact the owner in a reasonable time, the animal control officer will determine based on the severity of the injuries whether to seek treatment from a veterinarian, at the expense of the owner, or if the injuries are massive or unrecoverable, as determined by the animal control officer, the animal may be euthanized.
Animals not seriously injured or immobile (minor cuts or scrapes) may be taken directly to the shelter for the normal holding period. Animals without identification and in poor, uncared for condition may be euthanized after the normal holding period; or immediately, if seriously injured or suffering as determined by the animal control officer.
R. Every person owning or having any animal under his charge within the City which he knows or suspects to be sick or injured, shall isolate the animal from other animals and shall obtain treatment for such animal by a licensed veterinarian as soon as possible.
S. Only animals trained by a professional trainer as a Service Animal as defined herein, shall be allowed in city owned buildings, all other animals shall be prohibited. This prohibition is intended to prevent individuals from bringing personal pets onto city property, and is not intended to apply to special events such as dog shows or where vendors have retained booth or show space at a community event. Animals that are part of a special event must be under the owner or event holder's control at all times. (Ord. 643, 5-15-2012; amd. Ord. 666, 7-2-2013; Ord. 686, 8-5-2014, eff. retroactive to 7-1-2014; Ord. 712, 10-20-2015; Ord. 743, 12-19-2017; Ord. 788, 3-17-2020; Ord. 817, 8-2-2022)