The keeping and maintenance of chickens is permitted within the city only as provided below:
A. Not Household Pets: Chickens kept as provided in this chapter shall not be considered household pets.
B. Keeping Contrary To Chapter Prohibited: It shall be unlawful for any person to keep any chicken in a manner contrary to the provisions of this chapter.
C. Keeping For Familial Gain: Chickens may be kept on a non-nuisance basis strictly for familial gain from the production and consumption of eggs only and there shall be no sale or income resulting from the keeping of chickens.
D. Number; Location Of Enclosure: Up to five egg laying hens and up to five chicks may be kept on a lot.
1. There shall be no roosters or crowing hens.
2. All enclosures, pens and coops shall be located in the rear yard of the main dwelling or in an interior side yard provided all of the requirements of this chapter are met.
3. Enclosures, pens, and coops shall not be located in a corner side yard unless the side yard is completely fenced using sight-obscuring fencing or vegetative screening, so as to prevent sight of the areas from the street or neighboring properties to the greatest degree possible.
4. All enclosures, pens and coops shall be located at least twenty feet from the nearest primary structure or habitable dwelling on adjoining properties and at least five feet from the property line, provided that a portable wheeled coop may encroach temporarily and from time to time on the five foot (5') separation from the property line. During any time a heating device is employed in the pen or coop, the pen or coop must be separated and at least ten feet (10') from any structure containing a habitable dwelling on the same property.
5. Dead birds and unused eggs shall be removed within twenty-four (24) hours or less and shall be properly discarded.
6. Chickens may not wander to neighboring properties. Chickens which are located off the premises of the Fowl Keeping Permit holder may be seized by Animal Services.
E. Structures And Coops:
1. To keep chickens, a coop is required.
2. The coop shall be constructed to provide adequate shelter and space for chickens to roost with at least one and one-half (1-1/2) square feet provided per chicken. If chickens are not allowed to roam outside the coop, the coop shall have a minimum floor area of six (6) square feet per chicken. (Ord. 10-05, 1-27-2010; amd. Ord. 24-10, 4-10-2024)