[Ord. No. 12-20, 9-11-2012]
A. Keeping of up to four chickens on an occupied single-family residential
lot shall be allowed, provided that:
(1) No person shall keep any rooster.
(2) The chickens shall be used only for non-commercial household egg
production. Selling eggs and slaughtering chickens shall be prohibited.
(3) The chickens shall be provided with a clean, covered, well-ventilated
enclosure that is secure from predators.
(4) The chickens must be kept in the covered enclosure or within a fenced
area at all times.
(5) No enclosure shall be located closer than 25 feet to an occupied
residential dwelling, 20 feet to a side yard line and five feet to
a rear lot line.
(6) The person shall obtain a license under §
14-241.
B. Any person who keeps chickens under this section shall comply with
all City and Virginia laws, ordinances, and regulations regarding
care, shelter, sanitation, health, noise, cruelty, neglect, reasonable
control, and any other requirements pertaining to the adequate care
and control of animals in the City.
[Ord. No. 12-20, 9-11-2012]
A. Any person who keeps chickens [or bees] in the City of Fredericksburg
shall obtain an annual license prior to January 1 of each year, or
prior to acquiring the chickens. The license year commences on January
1 and ends on the following December 31.
B. Application shall be made to the City Treasurer and the fee for the
license shall be $10.
C. The treasurer or other authorized individual shall collect the fee
and shall assess and collect a late fee of $5 if the person fails
to obtain a license prior to April 1 of each year, or fails to obtain
a license prior to acquiring the chickens. All late fees received
or collected shall be paid to the City Treasurer.
D. The applicant for the license shall provide written permission from
the owner of the property if the applicant is not the owner. The owner's
written permission is not required for license renewal.
E. The City Manager may address any condition related to chicken-keeping that constitutes a public nuisance as defined in City Code Chapter
59, including but not limited to chickens running at large, unsanitary conditions, or excessive noise, using the nuisance abatement procedures contained therein.
F. A law enforcement officer may address any such violation of City Code Chapter
14, "Animals," Article
VI, "Animal Care and Control," associated with a permitted chicken through the issuance of a criminal summons or through a written notice of violation. The notice of violation shall conform to the requirements set forth in City Code §
59-5, "Notice to abate." However, the failure of the person responsible to abate the violation within the time provided shall result in the issuance of a criminal summons for the violation.
G. The City Manager or his designee may revoke the license if, after the issuance of a notice of violation, there remains one or more uncorrected violations of this or any ordinance [section] in this chapter, the noise ordinance, or the public nuisance Chapter
59, or any other applicable Virginia or local law or regulation regulating the keeping of chickens [or bees] after the time provided therein for correction, or in the case of multiple corrected violations within a twelve-month period.
[Ord. No. 12-21, 9-11-2012]
Keeping of up to two hives of honeybees on an occupied, single-family
residential lot shall be allowed, provided that:
A. No hive shall be located closer than 10 feet to any side property
line or public sidewalk or closer than five feet to a rear property
line.
B. A constant supply of fresh water shall be provided on the lot, within
20 feet of all hives.
C. A flyway barrier at least six feet in height shall shield any part
of a property line that is within 25 feet of a hive, or facing a hive
opening. The flyway barrier shall consist of a wall, solid fence,
dense vegetation or a combination thereof.
D. The owner, operator, or tenant shall obtain a license under §
14-241.
[Ord. No. 12-21, 9-11-2012]
A. Any person who keeps [chickens or] bees in the City of Fredericksburg
shall obtain an annual license prior to January 1 of each year, or
prior to acquiring the honeybees. The license year commences on January
1 and ends on the following December 31.
B. Application shall be made to the City Treasurer and the fee for the
license shall be $10.
C. The treasurer or other authorized individual shall collect the fee
and shall assess and collect a late fee of $5 if the person fails
to obtain a license prior to April 1 of each year, or fails to obtain
a license prior to acquiring the honeybees. All late fees received
or collected shall be paid to the City Treasurer.
D. The applicant for the license shall provide written permission from
the owner of the property if the applicant is not the owner. Notification
is not required for license renewal.
E. The City Manager may address any condition related to bee-keeping that constitutes a public nuisance as defined in City Code, Chapter
59, including but not limited to aggressive bees or overcrowded hives, using the nuisance abatement procedures contained therein.
F. Bees kept by a licensed beekeeper pursuant to this section shall be considered to be "animals" for purposes of City Code, Chapter
14, "Animals," Article
VI, "Animal Care and Control," §
14-153, "Cruelty to animals," §
14-154, "Maintaining animals under offensive or unsanitary conditions," §
14-155, "Care of animals by owner; penalty," §
14-156, "Use of animals as prizes or inducements," and §
14-157, "Nuisance animals." A law enforcement officer may address any such violation associated with a permitted beehive through the issuance of a criminal summons or through a written notice of violation. The notice of violation shall conform with the requirements set forth in City Code §
59-5, "Notice to abate." However, the failure of the person responsible to abate the violation within the time provided shall result in the issuance of a criminal summons for the violation.
G. The City Manager or his designee may revoke the license if, after the issuance of a notice of violation, there remains one or more uncorrected violations of this or any ordinance [section] in this chapter, the noise ordinance, or the public nuisance Chapter
59, or any other applicable Virginia or local law or regulation regulating the keeping of [chickens or] bees after the time provided therein for correction, or in the case of multiple corrected violations within a twelve-month period.