The keeping of chickens shall be permitted as a special use on a property subject to the following regulations.
(a) A maximum of four chickens may be kept on the property.
(b) Roosters are not permitted. However, if the gender of a chick cannot be determined at hatching, a chick of either gender may be kept on the property for no more than thirty days.
(c) Placement of Coops. Chicken coops and runs are allowed in the rear yard only. Chicken coops and runs must be located a minimum of twenty feet away from any other inhabited dwelling structure, a minimum of twenty feet away from any outdoor recreational improvement (as hereafter defined), a minimum of ten feet from any side yard line, and a minimum of three feet away from an adjacent rear lot, except where the rear lot line forms the side lot line or front line of an abutting property, in which case the setback from such rear lot line shall be ten feet. For purposes of this section, an outdoor recreational improvement shall refer to any improved recreational gathering place including, but not necessarily limited to, any patio, porch, pool, deck, hot tub and/or water feature that exists at or prior to the date of the initial application for a special use permit hereunder, but excluding any garage, shed or garden.
(d) Sanitation and Nuisances. The facility must be kept in good repair, maintained in a clean and in a sanitary condition, and free of vermin, obnoxious smells and substances. The facility must not create a nuisance or disturb neighboring residents due to noise, odor, damage or threats to public health. The storage of chicken manure shall be in compliance with the setback requirements in Section 1478.24
(b), provided, however, that a chicken coop shall not be considered a structure for purposes only of the setback requirements for the storage of chicken manure.
(e) Coops and Cages. The chicken coop and run must be designed to ensure that the health and well-being of the animal is not endangered by the manner of keeping or confinement. All animals shall be provided with a covered, predator proof coop, cage or other shelter that is thoroughly ventilated, designed to be easily accessed and cleaned, and of sufficient size to permit free movement of animals. A minimum of two square feet must be provided per chicken within the chicken coop. The size of the coop shall be in compliance with Chapter 1250
of the Codified Ordinances.
(f) Enclosures and Fences. Chickens and other birds shall have access to an outdoor run, which shall be adequately fenced or otherwise bounded to contain the birds on the property and to prevent access by predators. Any additional areas chickens have access to must have adequate safeguards such as rear yard fencing, such safeguards being required to protect the chickens from animals and to prevent unauthorized access to the chickens by members of the general public. Chickens must be kept in coops from dusk to dawn.
(g) Slaughtering of Animals. Slaughtering of chickens shall be prohibited on the property.
(h) The raising and keeping of chickens shall be for the purpose of having a locally produced food source, and not for any commercial purpose such as, without limitation, the sale of eggs or the sale of chickens, and such commercial practices are prohibited.
(i) The applicant must produce a certificate or letter showing that the applicant has taken a class in keeping backyard hens from either the Ohio State University Extension, or the Cleveland MetroParks, or some other source approved by the Public Safety Director.
(j) The keeping of chickens and chicken coops shall be subject to the issuance of a special use permit pursuant to Codified Ordinance Section 1250.02. A special use permit may be issued by the Building Department if the Building Commissioner determines the application is in compliance with regulations regarding construction, the permitted placement of enclosures, fences, cages and coops, and completion of the education requirement. The special use permit shall be in effect for a period of one year from the date of issuance, and subject to annual renewal by the Board of Zoning Appeals.
(k) Prior to the renewal of any special use permit issued pursuant to this section, the Building Department shall conduct an inspection of the property and shall present a written report of inspection to the Board of Zoning Appeals. The appearance of the special use permit holder before the Board of Zoning Appeals shall be required for the renewal of any special use permit hereunder. Neighboring property owners shall be entitled to notice in conformity with the requirements of the City's zoning ordinances.
(l) At any given time there shall be no more than twenty-five special use permits issued by the City and in effect.
(Ord. 2018-15. Passed 4-2-2018.)