(A) It shall be unlawful, and is hereby declared a nuisance for any person to keep or allow to be kept any animal of the species of horse, mule, swine, sheep, goat, cattle, poultry (with the exception of hens as herein provided), skunks, or poisonous reptiles within the corporate limits of the village except upon properties zoned Agricultural.
(B) HENS shall mean the female of the species Gallus Gallus Domesticus.
(1) It shall be unlawful to keep roosters within city limits.
(2) The number of hens allowed shall be no more than ten.
(3) Any structures housing hens shall be termed an “accessory building or structure” as defined in Title XV, Chapter 154 of this code as may be amended from time to time, and shall abide by all requirements set forth in Title XV, Chapter 154, § 154.019, “Accessory Buildings, Structures and Uses”, as may be amended from time to time.
(4) Any person keeping hens shall register with the Illinois Department of Agriculture Livestock Premises Registration, and must have proof of registration on-site.
(5) Care for hens shall follow the provisions set forth in this section.
(6) Hens shall be kept in such a way so as not to cause a nuisance as defined and enumerated in Title IX, Chapter 91, §§ 91.01 through 91.05 of this code as may be amended from time to time and shall be kept in conformance with the following requirements:
(a) Hen yards and coops shall be constructed and maintained to reasonably prevent the collection of standing water; and shall be cleaned of hen droppings, uneaten or discarded feed, feathers, and other waste with such frequency as is necessary to ensure the hen yard and coop do not become nuisances as defined in Title IX, Chapter 91, §§ 91.01 through 91.05 of this code, as may be amended from time to time.
(b) Hens shall be kept in an enclosure which shall be maintained in such a manner so as to protect the hens from predators and trespassers.
(c) Hen coops shall be built and kept in such a manner so as to allow for easy ingress and egress for the hens and shall offer protection from weather elements including cold temperatures.
(d) Hen coops and yards shall be large enough to provide at least four feet per hen.
(7) Licenses for coops must be obtained and shall meet the rules of this chapter where applicable.
(a) Prior to a license being granted to an applicant, the applicant must show proof of notice to all adjacent landowners.
(b) A license shall not be granted unless the applicant has obtained all necessary building permits and can show proof that a hen yard and coop that comply with this section have been erected.
(c) Coop licenses shall not run with the land.
(d) Applications shall be submitted to the Village Clerk who shall have the authority to enforce this section with the assistance of the village’s Code Officer.
(e) An applicant who lives in an apartment or condominium building is not eligible to receive a coop license.
(f) All chicken coops shall be subject to inspection at all reasonable times by officials and agents of the village.
(g) A coop license shall be valid continually until the license is revoked or relinquished, the license holder no longer controls the property associated with the application, or the keeping and maintaining of chickens is discontinued for six months. The fee for a coop license shall be $25. The coop license fee shall be paid to the village prior to the village’s issuance of any license. Any person who does not obtain a license, as required by this section, shall pay a fine of $50, in addition to needing to obtain and pay the coop license fee.
(8) No person shall slaughter any hen, or any other animal, within village limits. Nothing in this section is to be interpreted as prohibiting any establishment that is licensed to slaughter, from slaughtering for food purposes any animals which are specifically raised for food purposes.
(Ord. 12-10, passed 7-16-2012; Ord. 2021-05, passed 5-3-2021; Ord. 2021-08, passed 8-2-2021)
Penalty, see § 90.99