[Ord. No. 01-161 §11, 11-28-2001; Ord. No. 15-120 §1, 12-21-2015;[1] Ord. No. 22-075, 11-28-2022; Ord. No. 24-047, 5-13-2024]
A. 
All owners and anyone having care, custody or control of any animal shall prevent the animal from:
1. 
Being at large.
2. 
Molesting persons or moving vehicles by chasing or otherwise encumbering them.
3. 
Attacking other animals that are being maintained in a lawful and otherwise proper way on the premises of their owner(s) or that are in the ordinance-prescribed control of their owner(s) away from their premises.
4. 
Damaging property other than that of the animal's owner.
B. 
All dangerous dogs, when such dangerous dog is off of their premises, shall be securely muzzled with a humane muzzle, on a leash not to exceed four (4) feet in length, and under the adequate control of their owner. All other domesticated animals, when such animal is off of their premises, in a residentially zoned district, shall be on a leash not to exceed ten (10) feet in length and under the adequate control of their owner.
C. 
The provisions of this Section shall not apply to:
1. 
Dogs being used in hunting, training, field trials and dog shows while on any property with express permission of the property owner;
2. 
Animals responding to persons trespassing or threatening to trespass upon the premises occupied by the owner of the animal;
3. 
Animals being tormented, abused, assaulted, teased, or provoked; or
4. 
Animals reacting to persons who have been observed or reported to have tormented, abused, or assaulted the animal in the past; or
5. 
Animals maintained by any governmental Law Enforcement Agency so long as it is maintained and utilized for law enforcement purposes.
[1]
Editor's Note: Ord. No. 15-120 also redesignated this Section from "205.039" to "205.032."
[Ord. No. 15-120 §1, 12-21-2015; Ord. No. 22-075, 11-28-2022]
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any owner or anyone having care, custody or control of any animal to:
1. 
Confine an animal in an outdoor pen or enclosure without adequate space so as to provide the animal with free movement or exercise.
2. 
Leave an animal tethered outdoors for ten (10) consecutive hours in a twenty-four-hour period or on a tether that allows a dog or cat to enter upon a sidewalk or right-of-way.
3. 
Tether an animal except by means of:
a. 
A properly fitting harness or collar.
b. 
A tether in proportion to the size of the animal so that its weight and construction do not burden or encumber the animal's movement but not allow breakage. The tether must be at least fifteen (15) feet in length with a swivel at both ends. If a trolley system is used the trolley cable must be at a safe height from the ground.
4. 
Tether an animal in such a manner that the animal cannot access adequate shelter while tethered.
5. 
Tether an animal in conditions where the animal or tether can become entangled causing a hazard for injury or death, or where the tether can restrict the animal's access to adequate shelter, adequate food, or adequate water.
6. 
Tether an animal outdoors in a manner that does not allow the animal to defecate or urinate in an area separate from the area where it must eat, drink or lie down.
7. 
Expose an animal to any weather conditions that cause immediate or imminent threat to the animal's physical well-being.
8. 
Tether an animal in an area where it stays wet or muddy for more than twenty-four (24) hours after the cessation of a period of rain.
9. 
Leave an animal tethered outside in a residentially zoned area between the hours of 10:00 P.M. and 6:00 A.M., except temporarily tethering outdoors for a time period not exceeding fifteen (15) minutes for the purpose of urination/defecation.
10. 
Tether a dog or cat under the age of six (6) months.
[Ord. No. 15-120 §1, 12-21-2015; Ord. No. 22-075, 11-28-2022]
A person may not harbor any stray animal, unless it is reported to the Division within twenty-four (24) hours of finding the animal. The Division may impound the animal at its discretion.
[Ord. No. 93-162 Art. II §1, 10-4-1993; Ord. No. 15-120 §1, 12-21-2015; Ord. No. 22-075, 11-28-2022]
A. 
An owner or competent person is guilty of animal neglect when having custody or ownership or both of an animal and he or she fails to give it adequate care, adequate food, adequate water, adequate shelter, or adequate control, or allows an animal to be at large.
[Ord. No. 23-023, 3-13-2023]
B. 
An owner or competent person is guilty of animal abuse when he:
1. 
Intentionally or purposely kills an animal in any manner not allowed by or expressly exempted from the provisions of this Section;
2. 
Purposely, intentionally or recklessly causes injury, suffering, or pain to an animal;
3. 
Abandons an animal;
4. 
Overworks, overloads, drives, tortures, beats, or recklessly or maliciously wounds or kills an animal, or carries or transports it in any vehicle or other conveyance in an inhumane or unsafe manner or causes any of these acts to be done; or
5. 
Purposely, intentionally or recklessly fails to provide adequate food, adequate water, adequate shelter, adequate care or adequate control or allows an animal to be at large.
C. 
A proprietor of a boarding or breeding kennel, pet shop, dealership or grooming parlor is guilty of animal neglect if they fail to ensure that an animal with a serious illness or injury receives prompt treatment by a licensed veterinarian.
D. 
The provisions of this Section shall not apply to euthanasia of an animal by the owner or a veterinarian.
E. 
Any person found guilty of animal abuse or neglect shall be responsible for all actual costs associated with the impound, care and all diagnostic tests and treatments.
[Ord. No. 93-162 Art. II §2, 10-4-1993; Ord. No. 00-064 §1, 5-31-2000; Ord. No. 15-120 §1, 12-21-2015; Ord. No. 22-075, 11-28-2022]
A. 
An owner or competent person is guilty of failure to register/vaccinate or microchip when he:
1. 
Fails to arrange registration/vaccination of any cat, dog, puppy, kitten or ferret with the Division when or before the puppy, kitten or ferret reaches six (6) months of age, but not before it reaches three (3) months of age;
2. 
Fails to arrange registration/vaccination of any dog or cat within forty-five (45) days of acquisition by the owner;
3. 
Fails to have a collar or harness bearing a current tag on the vaccinated dog or cat when the animal is outside the residence of the owner;
4. 
Fails to implant a microchip in an animal when required by Sections 205.080, 205.140 and/or 205.141; or
5. 
Fails to maintain current contact information with the microchip registry company or the Division by which the owner or competent person of the microchipped animal can be reached, when the microchip is required by Sections 205.080, 205.140 and/or 205.141. Said contact information shall be updated within thirty (30) days of any change.
[Ord. No. 93-162 Art. II §3, 10-4-1993; Ord. No. 00-064 §§1—2, 5-31-2000; Ord. No. 01-161 §1, 11-28-2001; Ord. No. 15-120 §1, 12-21-2015; Ord. No. 22-075, 11-28-2022; Ord. No. 24-047, 5-13-2024]
A. 
No person shall own, possess, control, keep, or harbor upon any premises a habitually barking dog or other noisy animal.
1. 
For the purposes of this Section "habitually barking dog" means a dog that barks, bays, cries, howls, or makes any noise for an extended period of time to the disturbance of any person at any time of day or night, regardless of whether the dog is physically situated in or upon private property. An "extended period of time" means incessant noise for thirty (30) minutes or more in any twenty-four-hour period, or intermittent noise for sixty (60) minutes or more in any twenty-four-hour period. A dog shall not be deemed a "habitually barking dog" for purposes of this Section if the dog is barking due to a brief disturbance on or near private property on which the dog is situated, due to a person trespassing or threatening to trespass upon private property where the dog is situated, or due to the dog being teased or provoked.
2. 
For the purposes of this Section, "noisy animal" means an animal that makes any noise for an extended period of time to the disturbance of any person at any time of day or night, regardless of whether the animal is physically situated in or upon private property. An "extended period of time" means incessant noise for thirty (30) minutes or more in any twenty-four-hour period, or intermittent noise for sixty (60) minutes or more in any twenty-four-hour period. An animal shall not be deemed a "noisy animal" for purposes of this Section if the animal is making noise due to a brief disturbance on or near private property on which the animal is situated, due to a person trespassing or threatening to trespass upon private property where the animal is situated, or due to the animal being teased or provoked.
B. 
Complaints during normal business hours of the Division shall be taken by the Division. Complaints after the Division's normal business hours shall be directed to the St. Charles County Police Department.
C. 
Before investigating the complaint, the authority receiving it shall take the name, address and telephone number(s) of each complainant. If the Police Department investigates the complaint, the Police Department shall forward a copy of the complaint, as well as an incident report, if any, to the Division. Upon complaint to the Division or upon the Division's receipt of a copy of a complaint taken by the Police Department, the Division may investigate.
D. 
This Section shall not apply to sanctuaries, impounding facilities, boarding kennels, breeding kennels, or grooming shops or parlors operating under licenses issued by St. Charles County at the time this Chapter takes full force and effect.
[Ord. No. 00-064 §4, 5-31-2000; Ord. No. 01-161 §2, 11-28-2001; Ord. No. 15-120 §1, 12-21-2015; Ord. No. 16-088 §1, 10-24-2016]
A. 
No owner or competent person shall keep or harbor upon his/her premises any dangerous dog in violation of the provisions of this Chapter, nor shall any owner or competent person fail to control his or her dangerous dog as required by the provisions of this Chapter, the provisions of an order issued pursuant to Section 205.145, or the provisions of an agreement between an owner and the Division. Violation of this provision shall be subject to the penalties set out in Section 205.250, in addition to the fees and penalties set out in Section 205.240.
[Ord. No. 22-075, 11-28-2022]
B. 
This Section shall not apply to:
1. 
Dogs being used for official purposes by any government agency.
2. 
Kennels operating under licenses issued by St. Charles County.
[Ord. No. 01-161 §8, 11-28-2001; Ord. No. 15-120 §1, 12-21-2015; Ord. No. 23-023, 3-13-2023]
A. 
It shall be unlawful to fight-train an animal or to keep, harbor, board or in any manner possess an animal for the purpose of animal-fighting or animal-fight exhibitions. Scars, wounds, training and/or fighting paraphernalia shall be used as evidence of participation in animal-fight training or exhibitions. "Fight training" shall include, but not be limited to:
1. 
Actions designed to torment, badger, bait or in any way encourage any animal for purposes of engaging in an animal fight exhibition.
2. 
The use of other animals of any sort for blood sport or animal-fight training.
3. 
Abusing the animal by inflicting blows, kicks or other physical contact in order to encourage the animal to develop aggression or fighting skills.
4. 
Any other activity, the primary purpose of which is the training of animals for aggressive or vicious behavior or animal fights.
[Ord. No. 93-162 Art. II §4, 10-4-1993]
A. 
No owner or competent person shall place or leave the carcass of any dead animal in any street, alley or lot, or allow the carcass to remain on his or anyone else's property.
[Ord. No. 22-075, 11-28-2022]
B. 
The owner of any animal which has died from any cause shall dispose of the body within twenty-four (24) hours after knowledge of such death. The animal shall be buried no closer than four (4) feet to the natural surface of the ground or disposed of by the County, a private veterinarian, or a disposal plant licensed under Chapter 269, RSMo., 1986.
[Ord. No. 93-162 Art. II §5, 10-4-1993; Ord. No. 15-120 §1, 12-21-2015;[1] Ord. No. 22-075, 11-28-2022]
It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, own, possess or harbor any wild or exotic/dangerous animal in any place other than a properly maintained zoological park, circus, scientific or educational institution, research laboratory, or a licensed sanctuary or refuge. All such animals present in the County for more than thirty (30) days out of each year shall be identified by a microchip and that microchip registered at the Division. Any violation of the Section shall be considered a separate violation for each day the animal is subject to microchip and registration and, upon conviction, shall result in a fine of up to one hundred dollars ($100.00) a day for such failure to microchip and register such exotic or dangerous animal.
[1]
Editor's Note: Ord. No. 15-120 also changed the title of this Section from "Keeping Exotic Animals" to "Keeping Exotic/Dangerous Animals."
[Ord. No. 15-120 §1, 12-21-2015]
It shall be unlawful for any person to own, possess, harbor or keep a rooster in a residentially zoned parcel of land less than five (5) acres in size.
[Ord. No. 15-120 §1, 12-21-2015]
A. 
No person shall harbor, keep or allow another to harbor or keep more than four (4) domesticated animals on any parcel of property located within a residentially zoned district; except that any person may keep more than four (4) animals on any parcel of property only after obtaining a kennel registration issued by the Division Director.
[Ord. No. 22-075, 11-28-2022]
B. 
No person shall harbor, keep or allow another to harbor or keep more than four (4) snakes on any parcel of property located within a residentially zoned district. This shall not apply to any property zoned single-family residential.
[Ord. No. 22-075, 11-28-2022]
C. 
In all residential zoning districts, the occupant of a dwelling may only keep chickens for personal use under the following conditions:
[Ord. No. 18-051, 6-11-2018;[1] Ord. No. 22-075, 11-28-2022]
1. 
Hens may be kept on residential property. A rooster may only be kept on a residentially zoned parcel of land five (5) acres or more in size.
2. 
In residential lots of ten thousand (10,000) square feet or more, the maximum number of hens that may be kept is eight (8).
3. 
Hens shall not be kept for commercial or resale purposes. Hens and eggs may not be sold, nor may they be advertised for sale.
4. 
Hens shall be confined in an enclosure by a secure fence (as defined in Section 205.010) meeting the following specifications:
a. 
Constructed of wire mesh, wire grid or chicken wire;
b. 
Six (6) feet or less in height;
c. 
The area enclosed by the fence shall contain a minimum of ten (10) square feet per hen; and
d. 
Located entirely in the rear yard of the residence.
5. 
A chicken coop shall be located within or adjacent to the fenced confinement area described in Section 205.085(C)(4). No more than one (1) chicken coop may be located on a lot. The chicken coop shall be structurally sound and meet the following specifications:
a. 
A roof constructed of standard building material but not a tarpaulin;
b. 
Walls constructed of wood or metal which are six (6) feet or less in height;
c. 
A non-porous floor of vinyl, plastic or concrete, covered with straw or wood shavings;
d. 
Contain a minimum of four ( 4) square feet per animal kept;
e. 
A coop shall not exceed one hundred (100) square feet in area, and shall be located entirely in the rear yard of the residence.
6. 
The enclosure and chicken coop may be located within a rear yard setback for the residence provided the following setbacks are maintained:
a. 
A minimum of ten (10) feet from any property line; and
b. 
A minimum of twenty-five (25) feet from any residence other than the owner's residence.
7. 
Both the fenced enclosure and the coop shall be maintained as to not pose a threat to the public health, safety or welfare or to cause a public nuisance. No material from the confinement area or coop shall run off onto adjoining property. Any manure or waste shall be collected and properly removed from the premises or tilled into the soil on the premises promptly and regularly to prevent offensive smells or conditions conducive to diseases.
8. 
Food for hens shall be stored in a sanitary, leak-proof container that cannot be contaminated by rodents or insects.
9. 
Chickens shall not be slaughtered on the property under any circumstances.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection (C), which immediately follows, was also relettered (D) by Ord. No. 18-051.
D. 
Any person that obtains a kennel registration must comply with requirements set forth in Ordinance of St. Charles County Sections 205.160 — 205.210, inclusive. Nothing herein shall be construed to repeal the provision of the County's Keeping Exotic/Dangerous Animals Ordinance, Ordinance of St. Charles County Section 205.080. Nothing herein shall be construed to limit the number of livestock on agriculturally zoned property.
[Ord. No. 93-162 Art. II §6, 10-4-1993; Ord. No. 00-064 §1, 5-31-2000; Ord. No. 22-075, 11-28-2022]
A. 
An owner or competent person is guilty of interfering with an officer when he:
1. 
Conceals an animal from an officer of the Division or Police Department.
2. 
Refuses to surrender an animal upon the lawful request of an officer of the Division or Police Department.
3. 
Physically attempts to prevent impounding by the officer of the Division or Police Department.
[Ord. No. 93-162 Art. II §7, 10-4-1993; Ord. No. 15-120 §1, 12-21-2015;[1] Ord. No. 22-075, 11-28-2022]
All fecal and urine accumulations in any pen, run, cage or yard where any animal is kept shall be removed and disposed of or cleaned in such a manner as to prevent insects, pests or vermin infestation and/or the creation of offensive, disagreeable, or noxious odors. Dog or cat owners or anyone having care, custody or control of a dog or cat shall immediately dispose of, in a sanitary manner, fecal matter created while off the dog or cat owner's property.
[1]
Editor's Note: Ord. No. 15-120 also changed the title of this Section from "Disposal of Fecal Matter" to "Disposal of Fecal and Urine Matter."