A. The keeping and maintaining of farm animals, including livestock and horses, shall be an allowed use within the A-1 Zoning District and on sites qualifying as farms in all other zoning districts.
B. The keeping and maintaining of farm animals, including livestock and horses, shall be allowed by administrative permit in the A-2 District and by conditional use permit in the R-C Zoning District, provided:
1. The applicable provisions of subsection 11-4-2F or 11-8-2D of this title are considered and determined to be satisfied.
2. The minimum lot size upon which animals are to be located shall be two and one-half (21/2) acres. (Prior Code § 20-26-4)
3. Farm animals may not be confined in a pen, feedlot, or building within two hundred feet (200') of any residential district, other than an R-C District, or property line not owned or leased by the operator. (Prior Code § 20-26-4; amd. 2018 Code)
4. The keeping and care of animals is provided as regulated by this Code.
5. The density per acre of farm animals specifically allowed must not exceed the maximum densities as specified below unless permitted by a conditional use permit:
Animals | Number Per Acre |
Cattle, horses, mules, donkeys | 1 |
Chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamster, pigeons | 50 |
Goats, sheep | 5 |
Swine | 10 |
Turkeys, ducks, geese | 25 |
6. A shelter or stabling facility shall provide a minimum of one hundred (100) square feet per acre of enclosed area per animal, or fractions thereof, as based upon the number of animals per acre listed above (example: 100 square feet divided by 5 goats per acre = 20 square feet of enclosed area per goat).
C. Manure application and stockpiling activities shall comply with the provisions of section 11-27-10 of this title.
D. No manure or waste shall be deposited, stored, kept, or allowed to remain in or upon any site without reasonable safeguards adequate to prevent the escape or movement of such manure, waste, or a solution thereof from the site which may result in pollution of any public waters or any health hazard.
E. All regulations imposed by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency relating to the keeping of farm animals shall be adhered to and animal feedlots shall comply with the applicable provisions of chapter 27 of this title.
F. The keeping and maintaining of horses shall be allowed by interim use permit in the R-1 and R-2 Zoning Districts, provided:
1. The provisions of chapter 5 of this title are considered and determined to be satisfied.
2. The lot lies within the City's rural service area, the boundaries of which are defined within the City Comprehensive Plan.
3. The minimum lot size upon which the horses are to be located shall be two and one-half (2.5) acres.
4. The horses are not confined in a pen, feedlot, or building within two hundred feet (200') of any R-3 Residential District property line not owned or leased by the operator.
5. The keeping and care of horses is provided as regulated by this Code.
6. The density of horses does not exceed one horse per acre.
7. A shelter or stabling facility shall provide a minimum of one hundred (100) square feet of enclosed area per horse.
G. The keeping and maintaining of chickens, pheasants, doves, pigeons and similar small fowl shall be allowed in all residential districts by issuance of a fowl keeping license, subject to compliance with the following standards:
1. The number of fowl allowed per property shall be equivalent to 0.1 animal unit per acre.
2. The keeping of roosters, male peacocks and water fowl shall be prohibited.
3. The fowl must be housed within an enclosed accessory building and fenced outdoor yard that conforms to the accessory building provisions applicable to the district in which they are kept.
4. The accessory building containing the fowl must be within a rear yard and shall be subject to the required setbacks for principal buildings within the respective zoning district with the additional stipulation that the side yard setbacks must be double those required for principal buildings.
5. The keeping and care of such fowl is provided as regulated by this Code.
6. The owner/keeper of the fowl shall control the animal manure and dispose of it properly.
7. If eggs are harvested, they shall not be offered for sale from the premises.
8. The fowl keeping license shall apply only to the named applicant, shall not run with the land, and may not be transferred. It shall automatically terminate upon the vacation of the property by the applicant.
9. The fee for the fowl keeping license shall be as set forth by section 3-1-2 of this Code. (Prior Code § 20-26-4)