(A) No person shall raise, harbor, or keep hens within the city unless a permit has been issued by the Zoning Administrator as set forth in this section.
(B) The number of hens allowed shall be a maximum of 6 hens per property.
(C) Permits will only be granted to persons who reside on parcels with the following zoning designations: Single Family Residential (RE-1), Urban Residential (RD), and Suburban Residential (RS) as defined in § 153.015.
(D) (1) Permittees must provide the following care for hens:
(2) No hen shall be permitted to run at large. Hens shall be kept in a designated coop or run during daylight hours, or in a coop during non-daylight hours. Hens may be allowed to exercise in a rear yard with a 6-foot fence with supervision.
(a) If the coop and run are not within a fenced yard, hens must be kept within the coop and run at all times.
(b) Fences must meet the standards outlined in § 153.038.
(c) Feed must be stored in a fully enclosed, rodent-proof container.
(E) Hens must be kept in chicken coops and runs, in accordance with the following provisions:
(1) The chicken coop and/or run shall be located in the rear yard of the residential structure, but not the side or front yards as defined in § 153.019 Lot Area, Yard and Bulk regulations.
(2) The chicken coop and run shall meet all minimum setback requirements from the property and be located 25 feet from any neighboring dwelling.
(3) The coop must be built to provide ventilation, shade, protection from precipitation and cold weather, and security from predators, wild birds, and rodents.
(4) Openings in windows and doors must be covered by wire mesh or screens to deter predators.
(5) Access doors must be sized and placed for ease of cleaning.
(6) The enclosed run must be attached to the coop or must surround the coop. The sides of the run must be made of fencing or wire mesh that discourages predators.
(7) The run must be enclosed on all sides, including the top or roof plane.
(8) The coop shall provide a minimum of 4 square feet of floor area per hen. The run shall provide a minimum of 8 square feet of floor area per hen.
(9) Coops are considered an accessory structure as defined in § 153.020, and must meet all standards outlined therein.
(10) Coops require a building permit.
(11) The coops, run, and enclosures in which any hens are kept must be kept in a sanitary manner and be regularly cleaned in order to prevent any accumulation of dirt, manure, or offal. They shall be kept in a clean, dry, and sanitary condition at all times. Manure, uneaten and discarded feed, feathers, and other waste must be removed regularly and at a minimum of once per week.
(12) Odors from hens, manure, or related substances shall not be detectable from property lines.
(13) Manure must be stored and disposed of properly. Manure may be composted. All manure not composted must be removed from property regularly and at a minimum of once per week.
(14) Hens, coops, and runs not maintained according to this section shall be deemed a public nuisance.
(F) Obtaining a permit from the city. No person shall maintain a coop and run without first obtaining a permit.
(1) Permits shall be issued when:
(a) The applicant files a complete application to obtain or renew a permit with the Zoning Administrator, on forms prescribed by the city and supplied by the Zoning Administrator; and
(b) The applicant receives a certificate of inspection from the Zoning Administrator demonstrating compliance with this chapter.
(2) If the applicant is a tenant of the property on which the hens are to be kept, then the owner of the property must be a joint applicant and shall be a joint permittee equally responsible for compliance with all laws and regulations.
(3) Initial applications must be accompanied by a $25 application fee. There is no fee for renewal applications.
(G) The city may deny a permit to or revoke a permit for any person who:
(1) Made false statements on any application or other information or report required by this § 90.03;
(2) Owes a debt to the city;
(3) Has, in the last 5 years prior to application for a permit under this section been convicted, pled guilty, or found liable for any violation of Chapter 90, Chapter 93 or Chapter 153 of this code; or
(4) Does not meet the requirements of this § 90.03.
(H) All permits issued pursuant to this section shall be valid for 1 year from the date of issuance. Permits may be automatically renewed if the permittee has been in compliance during the previous year. If the permittee is found to be in violation of the standards outlined in § 90.03, the permit may be revoked and may not be renewed at the end of the permit term. A new permit will only be issued to a person with a revoked or non-renewed permit after a new application and inspection under § 90.03(F).
(I) If the permittee is found to be in violation of the Illinois Criminal Code prohibition Cruelty to Animals, ILCS Ch. 510, Act 70, § 3, et seq., or § 90.03(A) of the city code, the permit will be immediately and permanently revoked.
(J) Only 1 permit will be issued per zoning lot. A zoning lot consisting of multiple platted lots shall be considered 1 lot.
(K) Permits are not transferrable to any other person or property.
(Ord. 2012-42, passed 12-10-2012; Am. Ord. 2023-29, passed 6-12-2023) Penalty, see § 90.99