(A) Certain Prohibitions. It shall be unlawful, and is hereby declared a nuisance for any person to keep or allow to be kept any animal of the species of horse, mule, swine, sheep, goat, cattle, poultry (with the exception of chickens, ducks, quail, pheasant, pigeons and rabbits as herein provided), skunks, or poisonous reptiles within the limits of the City.
(1) It shall be unlawful to keep roosters within City limits.
(2) Allowable animals shall be deemed Hobby Animals.
(3) The number of allowable fowl shall be no less than two (2), and no more than six (6).
(4) The number of rabbits shall not exceed ten (10).
(5) Any structures housing hobby animals shall be termed an “accessory structure”.
(6) Applicants shall register with City Hall obtaining annual permit and have proof of registration on-site. Registration fee of Twenty- Five Dollars ($25.00) per year.
(7) Care for Hobby Animals shall follow the provisions set forth in this Chapter.
(a) Hobby Animals shall be kept in such a way so as not to cause a nuisance.
(b) Hobby Animal runs, yards and coops shall be constructed and maintained to reasonably prevent the collection of standing water; and shall be cleaned of droppings, uneaten or discarded feed, feathers, and other waste with such frequency as is necessary to ensure the yard, coop and pen do not become nuisances.
(i) Coops, pens and yards shall be large enough to provide at least four (4) square feet per animal.
(ii) The coop must be built to provide ventilation, shade, protection from precipitation, protection from cold weather and to be secure from predators, wild birds and rodents.
(iii) Openings in windows and doors must be covered by wire mesh or screens to deter predators.
(iv) Access doors must be sized and placed for ease of cleaning.
(v) The enclosed run must be attached to the coop or must surround the coop. The sides of the run must be made of fencing or wire mesh that discourages predators.
(vi) The run must be enclosed on all sides, including the top or roof plane.
(vii) Odors from pens, manure or related substances shall not be detectable from property lines. Manure must be stored and disposed of. Manure may be composted. All manure not composted must be removed from property regularly.
(c) Licenses for coops must be obtained and shall meet the rules of this Chapter where applicable.
(i) Prior to a license being granted to an applicant, the applicant must show proof of notice to all adjacent landowners except landowners that are municipalities or utilities.
(ii) Coops over one hundred twenty (120) square feet will require a building permit.
(iii) A license shall not be granted unless the applicant has obtained all necessary building permits and can show proof that a pen, yard and coop that comply with this Section have been erected.
(iv) The chicken coop and run shall be located in the rear of the residential structure. The pen, coop and run are allowed in the rear yard, but not the side or front yards.
(v) The coop and run shall be located at least five (5) feet from the property line and at least twenty- five (25) feet from any dwelling.
(vi) Coop licenses shall not run with the land.
(vii) Licenses will only be granted to persons who reside on parcels with single-family dwellings. An applicant who lives in an apartment, multi-family units or condominium building is not eligible to receive a Hobby Animal license.
(viii) The City may deny a license to any person who:
a. Owes money to the City; or
b. has, in the last five (5) years prior to application for a license under this Section been convicted or plead guilty to any code violation of animals, nuisance, noise, property maintenance or zoning.
(ix) If the licensee is found to be in violation of this Section or of Cruelty to Animals, the license will be immediately and permanently revoked.
(x) Applications shall be submitted to the City Clerk’s office.
(xi) No person shall slaughter any Hobby Animal within City limits in view of the public.
(xii) No Hobby Animal shall be permitted to run at large. All animals shall be kept in a designated coop or run. Hobby Animals may be allowed to exercise in a rear yard with a six (6) foot or higher fence with supervision.
(xiii) No lawfully owned cat or dog shall be deemed dangerous, vicious or otherwise punished for attacking or killing any Hobby Animal allowed to run astray whether by accident or design.
(xiv) Any resident currently owning a designated Hobby Animal shall have ninety (90) days from enactment of this Section to comply with all the provisions set forth.
(xv) If the licensee is found to be in violation of these standards three (3) or more times, the license will be immediately and permanently revoked.
(xvi) Pens, coops and runs not maintained according to this Section shall be deemed a public nuisance and the license will be immediately and permanently revoked.
(xvii) Any person found to be in violation of this Section shall be fined not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00), nor more than Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00) for each offense. Each day an owner is not compliant with this Section shall constitute a separate offense.
(B) Exceptions. This Section shall not apply in areas of the City that are zoned agricultural in nature nor shall this Section apply to livestock brought into the City for the purpose of being shipped out of the City.
(Ord. No. 1759; 12-10-14)
(See 65 ILCS Secs. 5/11-1-1; 5/11-5-6 and 5/11-20-9)