[Adopted 9-7-1967 as § 9-4 of the Revised General Ordinances]
No person shall keep any birds or animals except in accordance with the provisions of this article.
This article shall not apply to the keeping of dog kennels or pet shops licensed and regulated under Article I of this chapter. Animals kept as pets, provided they are of a species and of a number usually kept for that purpose, shall be exempt from the provisions of §§ 21-24 and 21-26, but shall be kept in compliance with all other provisions of this article.
The premises on which birds and animals are maintained shall meet and constantly conform to the following requirements:
A. 
Location is such as to preclude odors and sounds from interfering with the comfortable enjoyment of life and property on neighboring premises.
B. 
Buildings, food storage bins, appliances, equipment, feeding areas and other facilities on premises which are constructed and maintained in such fashion as to permit proper cleansing.
C. 
Water supply is adequate for proper sanitation.
D. 
Water or other liquid to which mosquitoes may have access is properly treated to prevent their breeding.
E. 
Disposition is made of animal wastes, garbage, refuse or vegetable matter deposited upon the premises in such manner as to prevent insect breeding or rodent harborage or pollution of the air or any body of water, or the creation of any other unhealthy or unsanitary condition.
F. 
Rodents or insects hazardous to public health do not exist or reproduce therein or thereon.
G. 
Adequate measures are taken to prevent birds or animals from escaping.
H. 
Adequate equipment is available to maintain the premises in a sanitary condition at all times.
A. 
Birds or animals shall not be maintained on any premises until the Health Officer has given formal approval therefor by the issuance of a license.
B. 
Application for a license shall be made by letter of request therefor submitted to the Health Officer, together with a report of facts relating to each provision of § 21-23.
C. 
A license to maintain birds and animals shall not be issued until the Health Officer has inspected and approved the site and the facilities where birds or animals are to be maintained.
D. 
Premises on which birds or animals are maintained shall be subject to inspection by the Health Officer.
E. 
The license of any person to maintain birds or animals may be suspended at any time when, in the opinion of the Health Officer, such action is necessary to obtain abatement of a nuisance as defined in § 21-25.
Premises on which birds or animals are maintained in violation of any provision of § 21-23 are hereby declared to be a nuisance and detrimental to public health.
The fee for a license to keep birds or animals shall be $10 per year.
Except as a licensee to operate a kennel, pet shop or other lawful activity involving the keeping of animals, no person shall keep or house animals of any species in such numbers or of such size or innate characteristics as to constitute a public nuisance. The keeping of animals shall be deemed to be a public nuisance if the property within which they are kept is not of a size, configuration, or improved with appropriate facilities to adequately provide for the containment of all such animals or to accommodate the natural spatial needs of each individual animal, sheltered or unsheltered from the elements, while providing simultaneously for the minimal spatial needs of the regular human occupants of the property. A public nuisance shall also be deemed to exist when, by reason of the physical structure or other characteristic of the property or of an adjoining property, the public or occupants of neighboring property are exposed to an unreasonable degree of dangerous contact with the animal or of an odor or noise.
Whenever in the opinion of the Health Officer, or his designee, the keeping of any animal constitutes a nuisance as defined under this article, he shall give written notice to the owner, tenant or other occupant of the property advising of the basis for his complaint and giving notice of the time and place for a hearing, at the election of the owner, tenant or occupant, on the complaint. The Health Officer, whenever he deems it necessary to determine any matter involving expertise in the area of animal keeping, may engage the services of a veterinarian, the services of a qualified representative of the Trenton Kennel Club, or utilize such other resources as shall be available and within budgetary limits. The hearing shall be conducted in such a manner as to permit the owner, tenant or occupant a reasonable opportunity to learn the basis of the complaint and the nature of the violations and the scientific authority or references relied upon. The owner, tenant or occupant shall also be given an opportunity to present any evidence, authority or reasons in opposition to the complaint. At the conclusion of the hearing, the Health Officer, or his designee, shall reissue, modify or withdraw the complaint, with or without conditions. Thereafter, unless the complaint is withdrawn unconditionally, if the violation persists, the Health Officer shall cite the owner with a violation of this article.
Violations of this section shall be punishable in the manner provided for in Chapter 1, Article III, General Penalty.