[1]
Editor’s Note: The title of this article was changed from “Backyard Chicken Pilot Program” to “Backyard Chickens” 8-28-2018 by Ord. No. 1388.
[Amended 10-25-2016 by Ord. No. 1363; 8-22-2017 by Ord. No. 1375; 8-28-2018 by Ord. No. 1388]
Keeping of backyard chickens shall be permitted in the Township of Haddon subject to the rules and regulations as specified in this article.
A. 
Residents of single-family homes or residents of "twin" homes or "row" homes which meet the criteria set forth in this section shall be eligible to keep backyard chickens.
[Amended 8-28-2018 by Ord. No. 1388]
B. 
No more than 30 licenses may be issued at any one time. Any additional households wanting to participate may be considered on an individual basis by the Chicken Advisory Board established pursuant to § 79-7 in conjunction with the liaison to the governing body.
[Amended 8-22-2017 by Ord. No. 1375; 8-28-2018 by Ord. No. 1388]
C. 
There shall be a limit of eight chickens per license. New licensees, defined as those individuals obtaining a license on or after the effective date of this article, shall only be permitted a maximum of four chickens for their first year. Following the first year, new licenses must notify the Chicken Advisory Board if they wish to add more hens, subject to the aforesaid eight-chicken limit. No roosters are permitted.
[Amended 8-22-2017 by Ord. No. 1375]
D. 
Chickens, chicken coops and enclosed chicken runs are permitted only in the rear yard of any eligible property as same is defined in § 142-10 of the Haddon Township Code.
[Amended 8-22-2017 by Ord. No. 1375]
E. 
Every chicken coop and enclosed run shall be set back at least 20 feet from the habitable portion of any neighboring residential dwelling and in addition shall be set back no less than five feet from any property line. Garages, attached or otherwise, and accessory buildings shall not be considered a "residential dwelling" for purposes of calculating the required distance.
[Added 8-22-2017 by Ord. No. 1375]
F. 
The maximum permitted area of the chicken coop shall be 100 square feet.
[Added 8-22-2017 by Ord. No. 1375]
G. 
The maximum permitted height of any chicken coop structure(s), whether or not said coops are stacked, shall be six feet six inches as measured from the natural grade.
[Added 8-22-2017 by Ord. No. 1375]
H. 
Chickens may roam outside the coop area in a back yard suitably fenced to keep them contained, provided that a resident age 18 or older is present the entire time.
[Added 8-22-2017 by Ord. No. 1375]
A. 
No person shall keep chickens on his/her property without first obtaining a license from the Municipal Clerk's office and paying the required fee therefor. No license shall be issued unless the applicant therefor has demonstrated compliance with all criteria set forth in this Article II. Every license issued pursuant to this article shall expire on December 31 of each year.
[Amended 8-28-2018 by Ord. No. 1388]
B. 
A license fee of $10 shall be paid for each license issued pursuant to this article.
C. 
Any applicant wishing to keep backyard chickens shall be required to take a class on the basics of raising backyard chickens. Proof of attendance must be presented with the completed application. The Township will provide a class minimally once a year at a nominal fee for anyone who has not previously met this requirement. The handling of this class will be the responsibility of the Chicken Advisory Board. A member of the Chicken Advisory Board will review the application with the applicant prior to final submission.
[Amended 8-28-2018 by Ord. No. 1388]
The following regulations and conditions for the keeping and housing of chickens shall be complied with:
A. 
The coop shall be the appropriate size for the number of chickens.
B. 
The coop shall be dry and well-ventilated with windows to admit sunlight.
C. 
The coop must be kept clean.
D. 
The coop and enclosed run must be made predator-proof.
E. 
Clean water must be provided, and food must be kept tightly closed in a metal container away from the coop and run at night.
F. 
The yard in the area where the coop is located shall be clean and free from odors.
G. 
There shall be no slaughter of chickens in Haddon Township.
H. 
Waste will be handled in such a way as proper composting to prevent offensive odors or disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner.
I. 
There shall be no selling of eggs.
[Amended 10-25-2016 by Ord. No. 1363; 8-22-2017 by Ord. No. 1375; 8-28-2018 by Ord. No. 1388]
A. 
A Chicken Advisory Board consisting of eight members of the community shall be formed. The Chair will be appointed to a one-year term by the Mayor. The Chair will select the other seven members, with approval of the governing body, who will also serve for one-year terms. Besides the Chair, one member will be appointed Vice-Chair, one member will be appointed Secretary of the Board, and the remaining members will be at-large. The Board shall meet on a quarterly basis and keep minutes which shall be submitted along with an annual report to the governing body via the Township Commissioner selected as liaison to the Chicken Advisory Board. These reports will include any activities of the Board, as well as any complaints from residents concerning backyard chickens and the resolution, if any, of those complaints.
B. 
When a complaint is received by the Township, it will be forwarded to the Board for investigation by two members of the Board. If the Board finds a violation of this article, solutions will be discussed with the offending resident to allow him/her to meet the requirements of this article as soon as possible. However, if, after 30 days, the violation has not been remedied, the Township Commissioner liaison will be notified so that enforcement proceedings can be implemented. The Chicken Advisory Board will assist anyone desiring to no longer keep backyard chickens to relocate his/her chickens.