It is unlawful to own, keep, or harbor any fowl within the corporate city limits except as follows. This section does not apply to commercial poultry operations duly authorized by the city to conduct such business.
(A) Restraint and housing of fowl.
(1) No more than six fowl may be kept per household on any one lot or parcel.
(2) All fowl kept under this section shall be confined in a pen, coop, or other enclosed structure with secure sides, top, and a secure bottom sufficient not to allow fowl to run at large. It shall also be built in a manner to prevent intrusion from burrowing animals and access from predatory animals. The pen, coop, or enclosed structure shall provide protection from the weather.
(3) The pen, coop, or other enclosed structure shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition. Manure and dropping shall be removed and properly disposed of as to keep the premises free of any public nuisance. The accumulation of waste on the property is prohibited.
(4) Any electrical installation for a pen, coop, or enclosed structure must comply with current electrical codes.
(5) It shall be unlawful for any person to permit poultry to run at-large on the streets, sidewalks or any other public place.
(B) Location of fowl pens, coops, or structures.
(1) No fowl shall be kept in an enclosure within the city limits when any part of which enclosure is within 25 feet of any adjoining property within the city other that the building or dwelling occupied by the owner of the fowl.
(2) All locations of pens, coops, or structures shall be located to the rear of the main dwelling or in an interior side yard. There shall be no visible evidence of chickens from neighboring properties from ground level.
(3) Fowl may be kept on properties containing a single-family dwelling only.
(C) Sanitation.
(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to maintain pens, coops, or structures in which fowl are confined in a manner that causes odors offensive to persons of ordinary sensibilities residing in the vicinity, or that is unclean, unsanitary, unpleasant, or obnoxious.
(2) All animal food storage shall be completely secured from rodents and other vermin.
(3) Clean water shall be available to the chickens at all times.
(4) Dead fowl shall be removed within ten hours and disposed of in a sanitary manner.
(D) Any person keeping fowl shall remain in compliance with § 97.09. It shall be unlawful and constitute a public nuisance for any owner, occupant, or other person to harbor any fowl which by any loud, frequent, long, continuous, or unusual sound or cry shall disturb the peace, comfort, or quiet of the neighborhood or the occupants of adjacent premises.
(E) It is unlawful to keep fowl for commercial purposes.
(Ord. 2002-1, passed 2-19-02; Am. Ord. 2017-1, passed 1-17-17; Am. Ord. 2017-21, passed 12-19-17; Am. Ord. 2022-22, passed 10-18-22; Am. Ord. 2024-5, passed 2-20-24)