Farm animals shall not be allowed in any platted areas of the city, except for the following.
(A) An exception shall be made to this section for those animals brought into the city as part of an operating zoo, veterinarian clinic, scientific research laboratory or a licensed show or exhibition.
(B) The raising of hen chickens is permitted with a special permit issued annually by the city. The following applies only to areas within the city that are platted. Where other livestock raising is specifically allowed under this section and Ch. 162 of this code of ordinances, the following does not apply.
(1) No permit shall be issued for the keeping of any rooster chicken on any premises.
(2) A permit may be revoked or suspended by the city for any violation of this chapter or any other city code following procedures detailed in § 90.99 of this chapter.
(3) Application for a permit must include:
(a) A scaled site plan diagram indicating the location of a the chicken coop and/or run on the property and the approximate size and distance from adjacent structures and property lines and neighboring residences; and
(b) A construction plan or photograph of the coop to be used for the keeping of chickens.
(4) Maximum number of chickens allowed is based on lot size as follows. Additional chickens are allowed in some zoning districts with a conditional/interim use permit: (See Ch. 162 of this code of ordinances.)
Lot Size in Square Feet | Maximum Number of Chickens |
Under 8,500 | 3 |
8,500 - 11,000 | 4 |
11,001 - 43,560 | 5 |
43,561 and above | 6 |
(5) Chickens must be confined at all times while in the city in a chicken coop and chicken run.
(6) All chicken coops and chicken runs must be screened from neighboring properties, streets or public ways with a solid fence or landscaped buffer (including conifers for screening during winter months) with a minimum height of four feet or as high as the chicken coop if taller than four feet.
(7) Any coop and run shall be at least 25 feet from any residential structure on any adjacent or nearby premises.
(8) Any coop and run shall be set back at least 15 feet from property lines.
(9) All chicken coops as accessory structures must meet the requirements of the building and zoning codes.
(10) Attached fenced-in chicken runs must be at least ten square feet per chicken or be designed to be movable. Movable runs must be moved on a regular basis in order to maintain vegetation.
(11) Attached fenced-in chicken runs must not exceed 20 square feet per chicken
(12) Attached fenced-in chicken runs must not exceed six feet in total height.
(13) Chicken runs may be enclosed with wood and/or woven wire materials and allow chickens to contact the ground.
(14) Chicken feed and manure must be kept in rodent- and raccoon-proof containers.
(15) Chicken coops must either be:
(a) Elevated with a clear open space of at least 24 inches between the ground surface and framing/floor of the coop; or
(b) The coop floor, foundation and footings must be constructed using rodent-resistant concrete construction.
(16) No chicken confinement meeting the definition of “feed lot” is allowed within any platted area of the city.
(17) No person who owns, keeps or harbors hen chickens shall be allowed to permit the premises where the hen chickens are kept to be or remain in an unhealthy, unsanitary or noxious condition or to permit the premises to be in such condition that noxious odors are carried to adjacent public or private property.
(18) Any chicken coop and run authorized by permit under this chapter may be inspected at any reasonable time by a city animal control officer or other agent of the city.
(Prior Code, § 705.04) (Ord. passed 11-9-2010; Ord. passed 11-3-2015) Penalty, see § 90.99