[HISTORY: Adopted by the Common Council of
the City of Middletown as indicated in article histories. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 2-8-1978 as § 13-8
of the 1978 Code; amended 11-7-1994]
[Amended 3-7-2011 by Ord. No. 3-11]
The keeping of livestock in the City of Middletown
shall remain consistent with the Federal Right to Farm Act and Federal
Farm Bill as well as any federal and/or state regulations pertaining
to farming, agriculture and the Connecticut Public Health Code. Furthermore,
existing and future registered farms meeting the criteria above are
exempt from this section.
In all other applications, the keeping of poultry and other
species of birds, cattle, horses, goats, sheep or any other animal
that, in the opinion of the Director of Health, based on state health
regulations and codes, may create a nuisance or public health hazard
is prohibited. The Director of Health for good cause, including, but
not limited to, past use of the property, physical configuration of
the property or environmental and/or public health impact, may grant
authorization to a person(s) requesting an exception:
A.
No livestock shall be kept within 25 feet of a property line.
B.
No livestock shall be kept within 75 feet of any private water supply
well or body of water that is used for any other purpose or flows
into another body of water.
C.
The storage of manure shall be kept 75 feet from a private potable
well water supply or body of water to protect the City watersheds.
Manure must be maintained/removed on a weekly basis in order to break
up the reproductive cycle of flies and mosquitoes.
D.
Manure shall be kept in accordance with Section 19-13-B21 of the
State of Connecticut Public Health Code, which provides as follows:
"In populous districts manure shall be kept in a covered water-tight
pit or chamber and shall be removed at least once a week during the
period from May first to October first and during the other months
at intervals sufficiently frequent to maintain a sanitary condition
satisfactory to the Director of Health. Manure on farms or isolated
premises other than dairy farms need not be so protected and removed
unless ordered by the director of health."
E.
No livestock shall be kept within a minimum of 100 feet from a neighboring,
livable structure.
F.
A secured fence of appropriate size shall completely surround any
area(s) used by the livestock.
G.
A minimum of one acre is needed for the keeping of one horse or cattle.
An additional 1/2 acre is required for each additional horse or cattle:
H.
No livestock shall be kept or maintained within 10 feet of any public
road.
I.
Residents requesting an exception will be required to notify adjacent
property owners via certified mail and posting signage on the property
at locations adjacent to all public streets abutting the property.
J.
The keeping of swine shall be consistent with regulations set forth
in the Public Health Code of the State of Connecticut Section 19-13-B23(a).
[Adopted 7-1-1985]
It shall be the duty of each dog owner or person
having possession, custody or control of a dog to remove any feces
left by his dog on any public or private property.
The provisions of this article shall not apply
to a guide dog accompanying any blind person.
Any violation of this article shall be punishable
by a fine of $25.
