The Town Board of the Town of Moreau recognizes that the keeping
of chickens can be a safe, productive, nondisruptive practice, provided
that such animals are properly cared for in a clean, structurally
sound environment, kept in appropriate numbers, and maintained at
a reasonable noise level, with food sources properly contained and
managed to avoid odors or the attraction of wildlife or vermin. Accordingly,
the Town of Moreau hereby enacts a local law to regulate the keeping
of chickens on residential properties with less than five acres within
the Town's residential zoning districts, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4,
R-5, UR and RP (hereinafter referred to as "Residential Zoning Districts")
so as to ensure that these animals are kept and maintained in a manner
that protects the Town and its residents from nuisances associated
with their keeping. This article shall not apply to any lots located
in any of the Residential Zoning Districts which are five or more
acres in size. Any such lots will be permitted chickens without the
requirement of obtaining a permit or be subject to the regulations
contained in this article.
It shall be lawful for any person to keep, permit or allow any
chickens in the Residential Zoning Districts under the following terms
and conditions and after having received a permit to keep said chickens
from the Building Department as prescribed herein:
A. No person shall keep, maintain, house or possess more than six chickens.
B. No chickens shall be allowed in multifamily complexes without the
expressed written consent of the owner of the building and all tenants
residing in the building other than the applicant.
C. No roosters shall be allowed.
D. All pens, coops or houses maintained for the keeping of chickens shall comply with the rear and side yard setback requirements set forth in the Schedule of Uses contained in Chapter
149 herein for the respective Residential Zoning District.
E. No property may have more than one enclosure for the keeping of chickens.
F. All pens, coops or houses shall be limited to the rear yard as such is defined in Chapter
149 herein.
G. All enclosures shall be constructed and maintained in such a manner
as will safely and securely house chickens and shall be kept free
of rodent infestation at all times.
H. Pens, coops or houses shall be suitably screened from the view of
surrounding residences and surrounding streets by a fence or by shrubs,
unless said pen, coop or house is located in such a manner as not
to be visible from the surrounding residences and streets.
I. All feed and other materials associated with the keeping of chickens
shall be protected in a container with a tightly fitted lid so as
to prevent the attraction of rodents or other pests.
J. There shall be no less than two square feet of floor space per chicken
in any pen, coop or house in which such chickens are kept. The pen,
coop or house shall be large enough to provide adequate access for
cleaning and egg collecting.
K. There shall be no less than 10 square feet per chicken in any chicken
run.
L. Chickens shall be confined at all times to the property on which
they are kept, possessed or maintained.
M. Chickens shall be provided with adequate food and water at all times.
N. Any chickens maintained, housed or possessed and all eggs produced
from said chickens shall be for the sole use and consumption of the
homeowner or tenant in possession and shall not be offered for resale.
No person shall engage in chicken breeding or fertilizer production
for commercial purposes.
If any provision of this article or the application thereof
to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of this
chapter and the application of such provisions to other persons and
circumstances shall not be rendered invalid thereby.
This article shall take effect immediately upon filing with
the Secretary of State.