As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
AT LARGE
Off the premises of the owner and not under the control of
the owner or any other person whose personal presence and attention
would reasonably control the conduct of the animal, either by leash,
cord, chain or otherwise.
CHICKEN PEN
A wire enclosure connected to a henhouse for the purpose
of allowing chickens to leave the henhouse while remaining in an enclosed,
predator-safe environment.
DOMESTICATED ANIMAL
Includes but is not limited to dogs, cats, ferrets, wildlife
hybrids or livestock.
HENHOUSE
A structure for the sheltering of female chickens. An existing shed or garage can be used for this purpose if it meets the standards contained in Chapter
280, including the required distance from property lines.
OWNER or KEEPER
Any person or persons, firm, association or corporation owning,
keeping, controlling, or harboring a dog or other animal. The owner
or keeper may be a minor child.
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 female chickens on a noncommercial basis
while limiting the potential adverse impacts on the surrounding neighborhood.
The City 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.
An annual permit is required for the keeping of any domesticated
chickens in the City of Sanford. Additionally, a building permit is
required for the construction of a henhouse and chicken pen.
A. The annual permit to keep chickens is personal to the permittee and
may not be assigned. In the event the permittee is absent from the
property for longer than 60 days, the permit shall automatically terminate
and become void.
B. The first permit year shall be September 1, 2014, through December
31, 2014. Thereafter the permit year shall be January 1 through December
31.
The fee for an annual permit to keep chickens is $25. The fee to construct a henhouse or chicken pen shall be for all other structures as set forth in Chapter
280, Attachment 2, Building Permit Fee Schedule.
Chickens shall be kept as pets and for personal use only; no
person shall sell eggs or engage in chicken breeding or fertilizer
production for commercial purposes. The slaughtering of chickens is
prohibited.
The property owner shall take necessary action to reduce the
attraction of predators and rodents and the potential infestation
of insects and parasites. Chickens found to be infested with insects
and parasites that may result in unhealthy conditions to human habitation
shall be removed by the Animal Control Officer.
Chickens must be provided with access to feed and clean water
at all times; such feed and water shall be unavailable to rodents,
wild birds and predators.
Provision must be made for the storage and removal of chicken
manure. All stored manure shall be covered by a fully enclosed structure
with a roof or lid over the entire structure. No more than three cubic
feet of manure shall be stored. 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.
In addition to any other enforcement action which the City may
take, violation of any provision of this article shall be a civil
violation and a fine not exceeding $100 may be imposed. Each day that
a violation continues will be treated as a separate offense.