(A) It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or permit to be kept on his or her premises any farm animal, whether gratuitously or for a fee.
(B) An exception to the above prohibition of farm animals shall be any continued use, as defined by the City Council or any applicable state law. A factor the City Council may use in determining if a property qualifies under this continued use exception would be the length of uninterrupted time animals have been kept on the property.
(C) The City Council may make an exception to the above prohibition of farm animals for any property in excess of five acres that is zoned or contiguous to property which is zoned an A-L Agricultural Limited as defined in the Unified Zoning Ordinance of Randolph County, Indiana. If the property owner requests an exception, the owner must petition in writing to the City Council. The City Council shall hold a public hearing on any such request. Prior to the public hearing, the petitioner shall be required to notify all adjacent abutting property owners or other property owners within 150 feet of the petitioner's property by certified/registered mail, stating the time, date, and purpose of the public hearing.
(D) The City Council may establish any other parameters it deems appropriate for the granting of such an exception. The City Council may, it its sole and absolute discretion, deny or revoke the request at any time. If the property owner is granted an exception and discontinues keeping farm animals on his or her property for more than one year, the exception shall automatically be revoked. This exception is non-transferrable to future property owners.
(Ord. 2005-12, passed 11-7-05; Am. Ord. 2010-18, passed 12-20-10) Penalty, see § 91.999