A. Compliance With Provisions: It shall be unlawful and an offense for any person to keep any animals within the corporate limits of the City except under those conditions and provisions which may hereinafter specifically regulate the keeping of certain types of animals.
B. Prohibited Animals Generally: If no specific provisions are listed in this Code for keeping of a particular type of animal, said animal type shall not be kept at all within the corporate limits of the City. (2007 Code § 3-4)
C. Swine Prohibited; Exceptions: No swine shall be kept within the corporate limits of the City, with the following exceptions:
1. FFA and/or 4-H projects kept on public school property or in appropriately zoned areas; or
2. Asian/Vietnamese pot bellied pigs or similar small swine, subject to the following conditions:
a. A maximum of two (2) pot bellied pigs per residence;
b. No pot bellied pig kept at a residence shall weigh more than one hundred (100) pounds;
c. Each pot bellied pig shall be a pet that is kept for personal enjoyment and not kept or raised for human consumption or for commercial breeding;
d. Each pot bellied pig shall be licensed and registered as provided for the licensing and registration of dogs within the City (see section 6-6A-1 of this chapter);
e. The premises where a pot bellied pig is kept shall be cleaned regularly and shall be maintained so that noxious odors are controlled;
f. Any person who keeps, maintains or harbors a pot bellied pig shall keep it confined (with fence or similar enclosure or inside a house or other building) or on a leash to prevent escape. (Ord. 100316-1, 10-6-2016)
D. Structure Requirements; Sanitation: Every structure wherein any authorized animal is kept within the corporate limits of the City shall be constructed of such material and in such a manner that it can be kept clean and sanitary at all times, and it shall be maintained in said condition, devoid of rodents and vermin and free from objectionable odors, in order to avert the creation of a nuisance to the public health. Every such structure, if located within two hundred feet (200') of any tenement, apartment house, hotel, restaurant, boarding house, retail food store, building used for educational, religious or hospital purposes, or residence (other than that occupied by the owner or occupant of the premises upon which such animal is kept), shall provide a watertight and flytight receptacle for manure, of sufficient size to hold all accumulations of manure. Such receptacle shall be emptied sufficiently often and in such manner as to prevent it from being or becoming a nuisance, and shall be kept covered at all times, except when open during the deposit or removal of manure or refuse. No manure shall be allowed to accumulate on such premises except in such receptacle.
E. Bee Keeping: The keeping of bees within the corporate limits of the City shall be permitted only in those areas zoned for agricultural or large lot (over 2 acres) residential uses, and in accordance with Zoning Ordinance provisions. No license or permit, other than zoning clearance, shall be required to keep or raise bees.
F. Livestock: Consistent with provisions of the City's existing or future Zoning Ordinances, the keeping or raising of horses, sheep, and cattle shall only be permitted within the City on premises zoned A-General Agricultural District or axe kept on public school property for the purpose of FFA and/or 4H projects, and as long as the premises are maintained in accordance with the provisions of subsection D of this section and State and County Health Department requirements and standards. Additional restrictions on the raising and/or keeping of animals may is imposed by the Zoning Ordinances without conflicting with this subsection.
G. Small Birds Or Fowl: The raising of parakeets and/or other small birds or similar fowl shall be permitted within the City without license or permit requirements, subject to the following provisions:
1. All activities associated with the raising of parakeets shall be completely enclosed and out of the public view;
2. Premises utilized for the raising of parakeets shall be maintained in accordance with subsection D of this section; and
3. All requirements of any adopted Zoning Ordinance shall be met.
H. Rodents: The raising or keeping of rodents, for any purpose, shall be permitted, in accordance with the provisions of subsection D of this section and any applicable license and permit requirements outlined in article A of this chapter, as well as any applicable provisions of the adopted Zoning Ordinance.
I. Rabbits: The raising or keeping of rabbits shall be permitted, in accordance with the provisions of subsection D of this section, as well as any applicable provisions of any adopted Zoning Ordinance.
J. Wild Animals: The keeping or raising of any wild animals shall be prohibited within the City, except for those wild animals which may be under the care of traveling shows or circuses, and for which the license requirements of article A of this chapter are met and a permit obtained.
K. Snakes: No snakes which are poisonous in their natural state may be kept within the corporate limits of the City, except under the conditions and provisions of any license required for such snakes in article A of this chapter; it shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to keep or raise such snakes within the City, without having met permit requirements and obtained a permit.
L. Farming Or Ranching Operations: Consistent with provisions of the City's current or future Zoning Ordinance, persons living within the City's corporate limits who are conducting farming and/or ranching operations on tracts of land of five (5) acres or larger, may keep and maintain such animals as may be required or useful in their operations; provided, that such sanitary requirements as may be detailed in this section and chapter shall be complied with at all times, regardless of the size of the tract of land involved. (2007 Code § 3-4; amd. Ord. 07112022-14, 7-11-2022; Ord. 08082022-18, 8-8-2022)