[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough
of Washington 5-1-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-08. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The words hereinafter defined shall have the meanings herein
indicated for the purposes of this chapter, as follows:
Any animal other than a dog or cat as defined in this chapter
whose ownership and keeping is not otherwise regulated by the State
of New Jersey or the United States Government and that lives primarily
outdoors and/or outside of a primary structure on any property located
within the Borough.
A unit of measure equaling 1,000 pounds of live animal weight.
The Borough of Washington, in the County of Warren.
Any female or hen domesticated subspecies of the red junglefowl,
also known as Gallus gallus domesticus, and specifically excluding
males or roosters, and guinea fowl.
Any chicken house, chicken yard, chicken coop, chicken run,
or other structure, or combination thereof, for the harboring and
keeping of any chickens.
A.
The keeping of chickens shall be restricted to one to four family
residential properties. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed
to permit the keeping of chickens on multifamily residential properties
or any commercial or public property.
B.
Chickens kept within the Borough shall be required to be housed in
a chicken enclosure providing adequate shelter and protection from
wind, precipitation, sun, cold, and heat with not less than three
square feet of interior space per chicken. Chickens shall be permitted
to "free range" on residential property, provided the property is
enclosed by a fence not less than four feet in height and free of
any opening large enough to permit passage of a chicken of any size.
Chicken enclosures located on unfenced properties shall be required
to include a completely enclosed chicken run attached thereto which
provides 10 square feet of space per chicken as well as protection
from predators on the top, bottom, and sides constructed of wire cloth,
woven wire, or like material. Verification of adequacy of fences and/or
chicken enclosures and runs shall be subject to approval by the Zoning
Officer with the advice and consent of the Animal Control Officer.
C.
Chicken enclosures on any lot shall be located not less than 75 feet from any dwelling house located on any property other than the dwelling house occupied by the owner of the chickens enclosed therein and shall further be located in accordance with any and all regulations regarding the permitting, construction, and location of accessory structures provided for in Chapter 94, Zoning and Land Development.
D.
Chicken enclosures shall be kept in a clean and sanitary condition
which will prevent them from becoming a nuisance or annoyance or interfering
with the general well-being of other residents of the Borough.
E.
The keeping of chickens within the Borough of Washington shall require
a license issued by the Borough Clerk, and zoning approval for a chicken
enclosure must be obtained as a prerequisite before a chicken-keeping
license can be issued.
F.
For all lots of 2.99 acres in area or less, the keeping of not more
than six chickens shall be permitted. No other type of agricultural
animals may be kept on lots of 2.99 acres or less.
G.
For all lots of 3.0 acres to 3.99 acres in area, the keeping of not
more than four chickens per acre shall be permitted. No other type
of agricultural animals may be kept on lots of 3.00 acres or less.
A.
The keeping of agricultural animals of any kind, as defined in this
chapter, for any purpose, with the exception of chickens, as defined
in this chapter and subject to certain regulations contained herein,
shall be expressly prohibited on lots of less than 4.0 acres. On lots
of 4.0 acres or more, the keeping of the equivalent of 0.25 animal
unit per acre shall be permitted.
B.
Any person owning, harboring, or keeping agricultural animals
not specifically permitted by this chapter, or owning, harboring,
or keeping agricultural animals in such a manner inconsistent with
this chapter, shall be required upon passage of this chapter to dispose
of, relinquish, or otherwise convey said animals in order to comply
with this chapter.
No person shall slaughter any agricultural animal regulated
under this chapter for any purpose.
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any of the
provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction, be punished by
a fine not more than $500 or by imprisonment in the county jail for
a term not to exceed 90 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment,
and each violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, and each
day the same is violated, shall be deemed and taken to be a separate
and distinct offense.
