[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Health of the Borough of Somerdale as Ch. 112 of the 1973 Code; amended in its entirety 5-11-2022 by Ord. No. 2022:04. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
The keeping of the following animals anywhere in the Borough of Somerdale is prohibited: swine, cattle, horses, donkeys, mules, ponies, goats, sheep or any other livestock, singly or in any number; ducks, geese, pheasants, pigeons or any other fowl, with the exception of chickens singly or in any number; and other animals determined by the Nuisance/Health Inspector with the advice and consent of the Mayor and Council. The keeping of any other animal of whatever species is to be prohibited when, in the judgment of the Board of Health, it is found that a public health nuisance is being maintained by the continued keeping of such animal.
A. 
Residents of single-family homes which meet the criteria set forth in this chapter shall be eligible to participate in keeping backyard chickens.
B. 
There shall be limits of four chickens per residence. Roosters are strictly prohibited.
A. 
The coop and run, located in the backyard, shall not exceed 100 square feet and shall be located no closer than 25 feet to the windows and/or doors of the habitable portion of the participant's residential dwelling or to the neighboring residential dwelling.
B. 
Garages, attached or otherwise, and accessory buildings shall not be considered a "residential dwelling" for purposes of calculating the required distance. Chickens may temporarily "free range" outside of the coop in a suitably contained area, provided that an adult, age 18 or older, is present the entire time. A predator-proof run must be attached to the coop and must also be 25 feet from the habitable portion of the participant's residential dwelling and of the neighboring residential dwelling.
C. 
Chickens, chicken coops and enclosed chicken runs are permitted only in the rear yard of any eligible property as defined above.
Participants shall comply with the following regulations and conditions for keeping and housing of chickens:
A. 
The coop shall be suitable in size to house the number of chickens subject to this program (which is no more than four.
B. 
The coop shall be dry and well ventilated with windows to admit sunlight.
C. 
The coop must be kept clean.
D. 
The coop and enclosed run must be made predator-proof.
E. 
Clean water must be provided, and food must be stored in closed metal containers with tight lids to prevent drawing of rats and other vermin.
F. 
The yard in the area where the coop is located shall be clean and free from odors.
A. 
There shall be no slaughter of chickens in the Borough of Somerdale.
B. 
There shall be no selling of eggs in the Borough of Somerdale.
Waste will be handled by the resident/participant to prevent offensive odors and shall be disposed in an environmentally friendly manner.
No person shall keep chickens on their property without having first obtained a permit from the Borough of Somerdale. The annual fee shall be in the amount of $25 and shall expire on December 31 of each year. Licenses shall be renewed annually.
A. 
The participant/resident shall allow the inspection of the chicken coup at the time of construction and a yearly inspection or any time a complaint has been received by the Code Enforcement Officer.
B. 
The Somerdale Code Enforcement Officer, Camden County Health Department personnel, Camden County Animal Control officers, any police officer of the Borough of Somerdale, and any designee thereof are hereby given full power and authority to enforce this ordinance and investigate any complaints.
A. 
Any person, persons, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions and regulations of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, pay a penalty of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000 for each violation, in the discretion of the judge before whom such conviction is had.
B. 
Each day a particular violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.