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 title shall not be deemed as household pets.
B. Keeping Contrary To Title Prohibited: It shall be unlawful for any person to keep any chicken in a manner contrary to the provisions of this title. Any such violation shall be a class B misdemeanor.
C. Keeping For Familial Gain: Chickens may be kept on a nonnuisance 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 (5) egg laying hens and up to five (5) chicks may be kept on a residential lot.
1. Chickens may only be kept on properties containing a single-family detached dwelling unit, duplex or twin home, although vacant properties directly adjacent to a lot or parcel containing a single-family detached dwelling unit under the same ownership may be used for the keeping of chickens.
2. There shall be no roosters or crowing hens.
3. 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 title are met.
4. Enclosures, pens, and coops shall not be located in a corner side yard unless the side yard shall be completely fenced using site obscuring fencing or vegetative screening, so as to prevent sight of such areas from the street or neighboring properties to the greatest degree possible.
5. All enclosures, pens and coops shall be located at least twenty feet (20') from the nearest primary structure of habitable dwelling on adjoining properties and at least five feet (5') 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 the time a heating device is employed in the pen or coop during cold weather, such pen or coop must be separated and at least ten feet (10') from any structure containing a habitable dwelling on the same property.
6. Dead birds and unused eggs shall be removed within twenty four (24) hours or less and shall be properly discarded.
E. Structures And Coops:
1. To keep chickens, a coop is required.
2. The coop shall be constructed such that it provides adequate shelter and space for chickens to roost with at least one and one-half (1.5) 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)