Chapter 8.12
POULTRY/CHICKEN
Sections:
8.12.010 Definitions.
“Chicken” is defined as a domestic fowl kept for its eggs or meat and is a hen.
“Coop” is defined as a structure generally made from wood and mesh wire for keeping chickens.
“Poultry” is defined as roosters, turkeys, waterfowl, game birds, pigeons, peacocks, doves and other domestic fowl.
“Run” is defined as an enclosed outdoor area attached to a coop to allow exercise for chickens. (Ord. 1035 § 3, 2023).
8.12.015 Poultry prohibited.
No person shall own, possess, keep, raise, or harbor poultry on his/her premises or property anywhere within the city limits except for chickens. (Ord. 1035 § 3, 2023).
8.12.020 Requirements.
No more than six chickens are allowed at each property.
A property owner must obtain a permit for keeping chickens on their property. The permit fee will be set forth in the master fee schedule as amended from time to time for each property. The application for the permit must include the property address and the location on the property where the coop and/or run is located. (Ord. 1035 § 3, 2023).
8.12.030 Housing standards.
Chickens shall be housed in an enclosure that is designed to be predator-proof, thoroughly ventilated, water-tight, easily accessed and cleaned, and at a minimum ten square feet of coop and/or run area per chicken.
Direct access from the coop to an outdoor enclosure shall be provided with the outdoor enclosure designed to be predator proof.
All coops and runs shall be located within a side or rear yard only. Coops shall be at least ten feet from any neighboring dwelling and within the property line.
All coops and runs shall be kept in a neat, sanitary, dust-free condition and must be cleaned at least once per week or more frequently if, in the opinion of the city of or their designee, it is necessary to prevent an unsanitary condition.
Proposed coops and runs will be inspected by the city prior to the permit being issued. (Ord. 1035 § 3, 2023).
8.12.040 Chickens at large.
It is unlawful for any person having custody or control of any chicken to permit such chicken to be present upon any public street, sidewalk, school ground, public park, playground or any public place, or any unenclosed private property not owned or lawfully possessed by such person, or upon any private property, without the consent of the owner of such property. (Ord. 1035 § 3, 2023).
8.12.050 Prohibited acts.
No person shall own, possess, harbor, control or keep on any property, any chicken that continuously or incessantly makes noise for a period of fifteen minutes or intermittently for an hour or more so as to unreasonably disturb the peace or quiet of any person.
It is unlawful for any person to kill or butcher any chicken in open public view within the city limits except if determined to be necessary by the city or their designee. (Ord. 1035 § 3, 2023).
8.12.060 Penalties.
Any person or persons violating any provision of this chapter shall be deemed to have committed an infraction. Any person found to have committed an infraction under this chapter shall be assessed a monetary penalty as set forth in the master fee schedule as amended from time to time.
If any violation is continuing, each day shall be deemed as a separate violation. A violation may also result in revocation of the permit. If the permit is revoked by the city, the chicken(s) will be held for seventy-two hours in order for the owner to remedy the conditions causing revocation. If the conditions are not corrected, chickens held past seventy-two hours may be destroyed or transferred. If the violation is remedied, a repermitting fee, as set forth in the master fee schedule as amended from time to time, will be paid prior to release of the chickens to the owner.
The chief of police or designee has the authority to issue a notice of infraction and to enforce the provisions of this chapter.
Any person requested to identify himself or herself to a city designee pursuant to an investigation of any chicken infraction has a duty to identify himself or herself and give their current address. Failure to do so will result in a misdemeanor punishable by up to a one thousand dollar fine and/or up to ninety days’ imprisonment. (Ord. 1035 § 3, 2023).