As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
CHICKEN
A member of the subspecies Gallus domesticus, a domesticated
fowl.
CHICKEN PEN
Also known as a "run." Fenced area which allows chickens
a protected, unsupervised outside area.
[Amended 2-11-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-02]
ENCLOSURE
Fenced area which protects chickens and prevents them from
entering unwanted areas.
[Added 2-11-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-02]
HENHOUSE
Enclosed area with nesting boxes and roost in which chickens
have access during the daylight hours and protects them from weather
and predators during nighttime hours. A chicken pen or run is usually
attached to it.
[Amended 2-11-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-02]
PERMITTEE
An applicant who has been granted permission to raise, harbor
or keep chickens pursuant to this article.
SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING
Any building that contains only one dwelling unit used, intended,
rented, leased, or let or hired to be occupied for living purposes.
The purpose of this article is to provide standards for the
keeping of domesticated chickens. It is intended to enable residents
to keep a small number of chickens on a noncommercial basis while
limiting the potential adverse impacts on the surrounding neighborhood.
The Town recognizes that adverse neighborhood impacts may result from
the keeping of domesticated chickens as a result of noise, odor, unsanitary
animal living conditions, unsanitary waste storage and removal, the
attraction of predators, rodents, insects, or parasites, and nonconfined
animals leaving the owner's property. This article is intended
to create licensing standards and requirements that ensure that domesticated
chickens do not adversely impact the neighborhood surrounding the
property on which the chickens are kept.
Permits will only be granted for property located in the residential
districts.
A permit shall not allow the permittee to engage in chicken
breeding or fertilizer production for commercial purposes.
The fee for an annual permit to keep chickens is $10.
A henhouse shall be provided and shall be designated to provide
safe and healthy living conditions for the chickens while minimizing
adverse impacts to other residents in the neighborhood.
A. The structure shall be enclosed on all sides and shall have a roof
and doors. Access doors must be able to be shut and locked at night.
Opening windows and vents must be covered with predator- and bird-proof
wire with openings of less than one inch.
B. The henhouse shall be well maintained.
[Amended 2-11-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-02]
An enclosed chicken pen must be provided, consisting of sturdy
wire fencing. The pen must be covered with wire, aviary netting, or
solid roofing. The enclosed chicken pen area must be kept in a clean
manner to prevent manure-borne pathogens such as coccidiosis and roundworms.
Enclosures, henhouses and pens are not permitted in the front
yard of any property and may not be closer than 25 feet to any residence.
Only motion-activated lighting may be used to light the exterior
of the henhouse.
The property owners shall take all necessary action to reduce
the attraction of predators and rodents and the potential infestation
of insects and parasites.
Chickens must be provided with access to feed and clean water
at all times; such feed and water shall be rodent-proof.
[Amended 2-11-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-02]
Provisions must be made for the storage and removal of chicken
manure. The proper methods for removal of chicken waste are composting;
burning; and/or double-bagged and placed in trash receptacles. All
stored manure shall be rodent-proof by a fully enclosed structure
with a roof or lid over the entire structure. All other manure not
used for composting or fertilizing shall be removed. In addition,
the henhouse, chicken pen and surrounding area must be kept free from
trash and accumulated droppings. Uneaten feed shall be removed in
a timely manner.
All chickens must be afforded veterinary care if they are known
or suspected to be sick or injured.
A person appealing the issuance, denial, suspension or revocation
of a permit by the Permitting Officer may appeal to the Board of Appeals
within 30 days of the decision being appealed.
In addition to any other enforcement action which the Town may
take, violation of any provision of this article shall be civil violation,
and a fine not exceeding $100 may be imposed. Each day that a violation
continues will be treated as a separate offense.