[Adopted 9-18-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-016; amended 11-13-2013 by Ord. No.
2013-023]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Any female of the chicken species.
No more than 12 chicken hens shall be allowed on properties of less than one acre in accordance with the provisions of § 500-90B(3) of the Township Code.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The number of chicken hens allowed was changed
from six to 12 pursuant to Ord. No. 2021-002, adopted 2-3-2021.
A.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, chicken hens
shall be housed and kept in a manner which will not constitute a public
or neighborhood nuisance. Chicken hens shall not be permitted to fly
or run at large.
B.
All chickens hens shall be housed in coops or structures that are
properly designed for such use and completely separated from any building
utilized for dwelling purposes.
C.
Coops and runs shall be restricted to the rear yard area and shall adhere to the applicable side and rear yard setbacks pursuant to § 500-12 of Chapter 500, Zoning. The setback requirement for accessory buildings and structures from other buildings set forth in § 500-12 shall not apply to coops and runs.
D.
The Zoning Officer shall approve the structures prior to their installation
with the issuance of a zoning permit.
E.
No chicken hens shall be kept unless they can be contained on the
property of their owner or the agent of their owner.
A.
Chicken hen manure may be applied to garden soil and incorporated
into the soil.
B.
Chicken hen manure shall not be used on the surface of any property
or portion thereof in a manner similar to that used in the laying
of mulch or topsoil.
C.
Chicken hen manure may be composted in such a way as to minimize
any fly and odor problems.
D.
Chicken hen manure may be bagged and removed from the premises.
E.
Chicken hen manure may not be stored, composted or applied to soil
within 10 feet of the property line.
F.
There shall be no runoff of chicken hen manure to neighboring properties.
All parties seeking to house, keep or maintain chicken hens
on properties of less than one acre in size in the Township of West
Milford shall comply with the provisions of this legislation.
A.
All enforcement agents of the Township shall have the authority to
enforce the provisions of this article. Such enforcement agents shall
include but not be limited to the Zoning Officer, the Construction
Code Official, the Health Officer and his staff, the Animal Control
Officer and/or the Police Department.
B.
Penalties may include the removal of chicken hens from the property.
C.
Summonses for noncompliance with any provision hereof may be issued
by the appropriate enforcement officials.
D.
Penalties may be imposed by the Municipal Court Judge up to the maximum
penalty allowed by law.
