(A) It shall be unlawful for any person to keep any horse, mule, donkey, pony, hog, cattle, sheep, chicken, turkey, goat or pig within the municipal limits of the town except on a residentially zoned parcel or tract of land two acres or greater in size. However, horses may be allowed on a residentially zoned parcel or tract one and one-half acres or greater in size. The list of animals provided above is not to be deemed all-inclusive.
(Ord. passed 6-26-95)
(B) (1) Any equine animal (horse, pony, donkey or mule) which is being kept on a parcel of land in violation of division (A) above may continue to be kept on the same parcel of land until either:
(a) The animal dies; or
(b) The animal is no longer kept on the parcel of land for more than 60 consecutive days.
(2) An animal may be kept pursuant to this section only if it has been registered on or before December 14, 2000. No animal may be substituted for an animal kept under this section.
(C) Chickens allowed in town; permit.
(1) Live chickens shall be allowed in the town's municipal limits with a valid permit (one permit per household). No roosters shall be allowed.
(2) The owner or possessor must pay an annual permit fee in the amount established and/or modified by the Town of Stallings. Annual renewal fees must be paid on or before July 1.
(3) Before a permit is issued, the Code Enforcement Officer shall verify the size of the property and inspect the premises to verify all other setback and other requirements are met per this section.
(4) When a permit is denied for any reason, the applicant shall be given a written explanation of the reason for denial.
(D) Permit considerations. An owner or possessor of such animals shall comply with the following applicable provisions before a permit is issued. All shelters described within this section must meet all standards as defined within the Town of Stallings Code of Ordinances, as noted.
(1) Chickens are prohibited on lots less than one-fourth acre (10,890 square feet) in size; no more than ten chickens per acre. The number of chickens shall be proportionate to the acreage (i.e., three per one-fourth acre, five per one-half acre, seven per three-fourths acre, ten per acre).
(2) The chickens must be confined in a coop (no free-range) not less than 18 inches from the ground. The coop shall be a minimum of 30 feet from the nearest residence other than that of the owner and a minimum of 25 feet from any property line. The coop shall have a minimum of four square feet of floor area for each chicken with a maximum of one coop allowed per property.
(3) The coop shall be kept clean, sanitary, and free from accumulation of animal excrement and objectionable odors.
(4) No slaughter or sale of slaughtered chickens is allowed within the town unless expressly permitted by the Stallings Development Ordinance.
(5) The permit may be revoked upon violation of the terms and provisions of this section. Permits shall not be issued and may be revoked if the chicken is likely to endanger the health, safety, peace, quiet, comfort, enjoyment of or otherwise become a public nuisance to nearby residents or occupants or places of business.
(6) If renting, tenants must get written approval from the property owner and must submit the approval with the permit application.
(E) Penalties and remedies.
(1) Civil penalties. The Code Enforcement Officer may issue a warning citation for a first offense of this section. The Code Enforcement Officer may issue a civil citation for any subsequent violations of this section, subjecting the violator to a civil penalty of $100 for a second offense, $300 for the third offense and subsequent $50 per day.
(2) If a person fails to pay the citation within ten days of issuance, the town may seek to enforce this section through any appropriate equitable action.
(3) Each day the violation continues after the offender has been notified of the violation shall constitute a separate offense.
(4) The town may seek to enforce this section by using any one or a combination of the foregoing remedies.
(a) Civil citation; and/or
(b) Liens for unpaid fines.
(Ord. passed 11-13-2000; Am. Ord. passed 9-28-2009; Am. Ord. passed 1-10-2022) Penalty, see § 10.99