§ 3-3-1-2. DOMESTIC FARM ANIMALS PROHIBITED; EXCEPTIONS.

   (A)   Except as provided in divisions (B), (C), (D) and (E) below, it shall be unlawful for any person to own or harbor upon his or her premises or within the corporate limits of the City of Lawrence any cattle, swine, horses, ponies, poultry, rabbit or other domestic farm animal. The keeping of the animals is hereby found and determined to be a public nuisance and a menace to the health, safety and welfare of the City of Lawrence.

   (B)   Any domestic farm animals may be kept within Lawrence if the property on which the animals are kept is zoned to permit agricultural use or the agricultural use qualifies as a lawfully established pre-existing nonconforming use.

   (C)   On property which is zoned for residential use or which by variance or by pre-existing nonconforming use is lawfully used for residential purposes, persons residing on the property may keep and maintain for their personal use and enjoyment one or more horses or ponies as more specifically provided herein. The keeping of any horses and ponies shall be limited to property which contains a minimum of two contiguous acres, and no horse or pony, its pasture, barn, stable or other facility, including the indoor or outdoor storage of hay and feed, equipment and manure, may be nearer than 50 feet to any adjoining property line nor nearer than 100 feet to any structure located on other property. Pursuant to the exception and limitations provided herein, a resident may keep and maintain for his or her personal use and enjoyment one horse or pony for each acre of contiguous real estate which comprises the residential unit. No horses or ponies may be boarded on the property nor kept or maintained on the property for breeding, training, rental or other commercial purposes.

   (D)   On property which is zoned for residential use or which by variance or by pre-existing nonconforming use is lawfully used for residential purposes, persons residing on the property may keep solely as domestic household pets up to six adult rabbits as more specifically provided herein. The keeping of any rabbits shall be limited to single-family residential units, and no rabbits or their outdoor hutches, cages, runs or other enclosures may be nearer than ten feet to any adjoining property line nor nearer than 40 feet to any residence structure located on other property. No rabbits may be kept or raised for breeding, for commercial or sale purposes or for any other purpose other than as domestic household pets for the benefit and enjoyment of the person or persons residing on the property. All the rabbits and their hutches, cages, runs or other enclosures shall be placed, kept and maintained in a way so as to provide proper, humane and protective care for the rabbits and to prevent the presence of the rabbits on the property from interfering with or constituting a nuisance to any person or persons.

   (E)   On property which is zoned for residential use or which by variance or by pre-existing nonconforming use is lawfully used for residential purposes and is a minimum of 1/4 acre, persons residing on the property who have obtained the proper permit (see division (2) below) may keep, solely for the purpose of producing eggs for personal consumption or donation, up to six female chickens whose wings are clipped and are kept in adequate shelter.

      (1)   ADEQUATE SHELTER for the purposes of this section shall be defined as a coop which has a minimum square footage of three square feet per chicken; this coop is to be within a pen which has a minimum five foot high fence and an open run space of ten square feet per chicken. The coop must be a minimum of 15 feet from any adjacent neighbor's property line. For purposes of this section, a fence on the perimeter of the property may serve as the pen.

      (2)   An annual permit must be obtained through the Department of Public Works of the City of Lawrence; said initial permit shall cost $75 and shall require the notarized written consent of all adjacent property owners. Subsequent permits shall cost $50; each renewal may be accomplished by an inspection by a city code enforcement or animal control official. Permits are granted to the property owner and do not run with the property.

   (F)   The exceptions noted in divisions (C), (D) and (E) above shall not be construed to supersede any more restrictive covenants as laid out by a homeowners’ association.

(Am. Ord. 10, 2014, passed 8-20-2014; Am. Ord. 9, 2015, passed 7-15-2015) Penalty, see § 3-3-1-27

§ 3-3-1-3. WILD ANIMALS PROHIBITED.

   (A)   It shall be illegal for any person to own, possess, harbor, keep or make provisions for keeping a wild animal within the corporate limits, regardless of whether the wild animal is caged, penned, sheltered or housed and regardless of whether or not the resident of the city has received a permit for possession of wild animals from the Board of Natural Resources of the State of Indiana or any other regulatory authority.

   (B)   It shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep or harbor upon or within any property located within the corporate limits of the City of Lawrence any wild animal, poisonous or potentially dangerous snake, reptile or insect or any other type of animal or marine life which has the capability of causing harm to human beings, and these creatures are hereby declared to be a dangerous nuisance.

   (C)   This section shall not be construed so as to apply to a zoological garden, theatrical exhibit or circus, except that no theatrical exhibit or act shall be held in which animals are encouraged to perform through the use of chemical, electrical or mechanical devices.

Penalty, see § 3-3-1-27

§ 3-3-1-4. VICIOUS ANIMALS.

   (A)   For the purpose of this section, the following definition shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.

      VICIOUS, FIERCE OR DANGEROUS ANIMAL. An animal which has:

         (a)   Attacked a person without having been provoked by that person;

         (b)   Attacked, at some place other than its owner’s or keeper’s property, another animal; and/or

         (c)   Chased or approached a person at some place other than its owner’s or keeper’s property, in a menacing fashion or apparent attitude of attack.

   (B)   It is unlawful for an owner or keeper of a vicious, fierce or dangerous animal to cause, suffer or allow it to go unconfined and unrestrained on the owner’s or keeper’s premises, or to run at large, within the corporate limits.

   (C)   It is unlawful in the corporate limits for an owner or keeper of a vicious, fierce or dangerous animal to walk the animal or otherwise cause, suffer or allow its presence upon a public street or byway, right-of-way or municipally owned or public land or building, or upon private property without permission of the owner thereof.

   (D)   It shall be the duty of any person having authority to impound an animal forthwith to impound any vicious, fierce or dangerous animal found unconfined or running at large in violation of this section.

   (E)   The owner of a vicious animal shall display in a prominent place on his or her premises a clearly visible warning sign indicating that there is a vicious animal on the premises. A similar sign is required to be posted on the pen or kennel or the animal.

   (F)   The owner or person in control of the animal must maintain liability insurance on the animal in an amount of at least $300,000 for personal injury. A certificate of this insurance must be available for viewing by any police officer upon the request of the officer.

   (G)   In addition to the penalty, if the violation results in the animal causing serious bodily injury to any person, the court, upon request, shall order the animal forfeited and/or destroyed.

Penalty, see § 3-3-1-27

§ 3-3-1-5. [RESERVED].

   Reserved for future expansion.

§ 3-3-1-6. ANIMALS RUNNING AT LARGE PROHIBITED.

   (A)   It shall be unlawful for any person to allow any animal owned, kept or maintained by him or her to run at large without restraint within the city.

   (B)   Any animal found off the property of the owner or keeper of the animal and not on a leash under the control of a person who is able to control the animal is hereby declared to be a nuisance.

Penalty, see § 3-3-1-27

§ 3-3-1-7. IMPOUNDING OF ANIMALS.

   (A)   Any dog, cat or domestic farm animal found running at large within the corporate limits of the City shall be impounded by any police officer or other person so authorized by the Common Council.

   (B)   The owner or keeper of the impounded animal shall, in order to reclaim the animal, pay the fees and charges as shall be established by the Common Council in addition to any penalties imposed for violation of any provision of this chapter.

   (C)   The owner or keeper of the impounded animal, if determinable from records of the City of Lawrence, a rabies vaccination tag or an owner’s tag, shall be notified in writing by notice mailed or delivered to the person within 24 hours after seizure of the animal. The notice shall provide:

      (1)   The reason for seizure of the animal;

      (2)   The approximate date and time of seizure;

      (3)   The location of the animal shelter;

      (4)   The amount of any fees, charges and fines payable by the owner or keeper, including unpaid license fees; and

      (5)   The date when the animal will be destroyed if it is not claimed.

(Am. Ord. 5, 2011, passed 5-2-2011)

§ 3-3-1-8. DOGS AND CATS IN HEAT.

   Every female dog or cat in heat shall be confined in a building or secure enclosure in a manner so that the female dog or cat cannot come into contact with another animal except for planned breeding.

Penalty, see § 3-3-1-27