(a) A person is permitted to keep or house chickens on his or her real property located in a residential district, unless doing so would create a nuisance in violation of Section 505.08 of the City's Codified Ordinances.
(b) A person who keeps or houses chickens on his or her property shall comply with all of the following requirements:
(1) Keep no more than six (6) chickens.
(2) The principal use of the person's property is for a single-family dwelling or two-family dwelling.
(3) No person shall keep any rooster.
(4) The chickens shall be provided with a covered enclosure and must be kept in the covered enclosure or a fenced enclosure at all times.
(5) A person shall not keep chickens in any location on the property other than in the backyard. For purposes of this section, "backyard" means that portion of a lot enclosed by the property's rear lot line and the side lot lines to the points where the side lot lines intersect with an imaginary line established by the rear of the single-family or two-family structure and extending to the side lot lines.
(6) No covered enclosure shall be located closer than ten (10) feet to any property line of an adjacent property;
(7) All enclosures for the keeping of chickens shall be so constructed or repaired as to prevent rats, mice, or other rodents from being harbored underneath, within, or within the walls of the enclosure. A covered enclosure or fenced enclosure shall not be located closer than twenty (20) feet to any residential structure on an adjacent property.
(8) For purposes of this section, adjacent property means all parcels of property that the applicant's property comes into contact with at one (1) or more points, except for parcels that are legally adjacent to but are in fact separated from the owner's property by a public or private street.
(9) All feed and other items associated with the keeping of chickens that are likely to attract or to become infested with or infected by rats, mice, or other rodents shall be protected so as to prevent rats, mice, or other rodents from gaining access to or coming into contact with them.
(c) Whoever violates any of the provisions of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. Penalty shall be as provided in Section 505.99.
(Ord. 3088. Passed 11-17-09.)