(A) Permissible use. It shall be permissible for a property owner to maintain up to 12 female chickens for his or her private, personal use; provided the property owner remains in strict compliance with the terms of this section at all times.
(B) Standards for keeping chickens in town limits. All individuals keeping chickens shall:
(1) Not keep any male chickens or roosters;
(2) Operate in such a manner so as to not constitute a public nuisance or disturb neighboring residents due to noise, odor or damage;
(3) Comply with any and all federal, state and local laws governing the proper treatment of animals;
(4) Operate in a manner so as to not pose a threat to public health. Individuals shall isolate chickens which are sick or diseased so as to not endanger the health and well-being of other animals and humans. When necessary for the protection of the public health and safety, the Town Marshal may require the specified animal be kept or confined in a secured enclosure. This provision is subordinate to any local, state or federal code governing the treatment of chickens in the event of a threat to human health;
(5) Comply with any and all federal, state and local laws governing the proper treatment of animals;
(6) Keep all chickens completely and securely enclosed and under the control of the individual on the individual's property at all times;
(7) Provide a chicken coop and attached chicken run that are clean, dry and odor-free;
(8) Provide a chicken coop that affords shelter from the elements;
(9) Provide a chicken coop and attached chicken run that, combined, provide adequate ventilation and adequate sun and shade and that are both impermeable to rodents, wild birds and predators, including dogs;
(10) Provide chickens with access to feed and clean water at all times, such feed and water shall be unavailable to rodents, wild birds and predators;
(11) Provide adequate safeguards to prevent unauthorized access to the chickens by members of the public; and
(12) Keep the chicken coop, chicken run and surrounding area free from trash and accumulated droppings. The individual shall dispose of chicken waste and uneaten feed in a timely manner and in accordance with this code of ordinances.
(C) Standards for chicken runs and coops. The chicken coop and chicken run shall:
(1) Provide a sight fence or shrub screening of at least four feet in height around both coop and run if visible to occupants of neighboring lots;
(2) Be located at least 20 feet from any building not owned or occupied by the individual, that is used or capable of being used for human habitation;
(3) Be located at least 12 feet from the property line of any neighboring lot;
(4) Provide at least four square feet per chicken in the coop and 12 square foot per chicken in the run; and
(5) All chicken coops and chicken runs shall comply with the requirements for accessory structures outlined in this Code of Ordinances, as the same may be hereafter amended or replaced.
(D) Enforcement. It is the duty of the members of the town's Police Department (Town Marshal, Deputy Marshal and Reserves) to assist in the enforcement of all provisions of this chapter.
(Ord. 2017-6, passed 12-19-2017) Penalty, see § 90.99