[Adopted 8-10-2016 by Ord. No. 498; amended in its entirety 8-8-2018 by Ord. No. 503]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
EXOTIC ANIMALS
Any animal that is not normally domesticated in the United States or is wild by nature. Exotic animals include, but are not limited to, any or all of the following orders and families, whether bred in the wild or in captivity, and also any or all of their hybrids with domestic species. The animals listed in parentheses are intended to act as examples and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list or limit the generality of each group of animals, unless otherwise specified.
A. 
Nonhuman primates and prosimians (monkeys, chimpanzees, baboons).
B. 
Felidae (lions, tigers, bobcats, cougars, leopards, jaguars, mountain lions and nondomesticated cats).
C. 
Canidae (wolves, coyotes, foxes, jackals, not domesticated dogs).
D. 
Ursidae (all bears).
E. 
Reptilia (all venomous snakes and all constricting snakes over seven feet).
F. 
Crocodilia (alligators, crocodiles).
G. 
Proboscidae (elephants).
H. 
Hyaenidae (hyenas).
I. 
Artiodactyla (hippopotamuses, giraffes, camels, but not cattle, swine, sheep or goats).
J. 
Procyonidae (raccoons, coatis).
K. 
Marsupialia (kangaroos, opossums).
L. 
Perissodactyla (rhinoceroses, tapirs, but not horses, donkeys or mules).
M. 
Edentata (anteaters, sloths, armadillos).
N. 
Viverridae (mongooses, civets and genets).
O. 
Gallus gallus domesticus (chickens).
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to own, possess, keep, harbor, bring or have in one's possession an exotic animal(s) within Borough limits.
B. 
It shall be unlawful for the owner, possessor or any other person in control of a lot, tract or parcel of land within the Borough limits or any residence or business premises situated thereon to knowingly permit any other person to be in possession of an exotic animal upon the property, residence or premises.
C. 
No animal located in the Borough prior to the enactment of this article shall be exempt from the provisions of this article.
(1) 
The outdoor keeping of chickens as an accessory use to single-family homes in any conservation or residential zoning district shall be permitted, providing the following requirements are met:
(a) 
A minimum lot size of 2,000 square feet is required. For property with a minimum of 2,000 square feet in size, the property owner is permitted to keep three chickens. For every additional 1,000 square feet of property, the owner is permitted one additional chicken.
(b) 
The maximum number of chickens permitted on any lot shall be six.
(c) 
No mature roosters shall be permitted.
(d) 
All structures related to the housing of chickens shall be at least six square feet in size and a minimum of two square feet per additional chicken.
(e) 
All structures and roaming areas shall be kept sanitary and free from accumulations of animal excrement and objectionable odor.
(f) 
Outdoor roaming areas for chickens shall be sufficiently enclosed and screened from the street and neighboring properties to protect them from vehicular traffic, and to minimize external impacts of the outdoor roaming areas.
(g) 
All structures, including fences, necessary for and related to the keeping of chickens shall be subject to any required setbacks of the underlying zoning district, but shall in all cases be a minimum of 10 feet from any property lines.
(h) 
The killing or dressing of animals raised on the premises shall be prohibited.
A. 
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of this article, upon conviction thereof, in an action brought before a Magisterial District Judge in the manner provided for the enforcement of summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000, plus costs, and, in default of payment of said fines and costs, to a term of imprisonment not to exceed 90 days. Each day that a violation of this article continues or each section of this article which shall be found to have been violated shall constitute a separate offense.
B. 
In addition to the foregoing, the Borough may, at its sole discretion, cause to be seized any animal which is located in Houston Borough in violation of this article. Furthermore, the Borough may seek injunctive relief in the Court of Common Pleas of Washington County, requiring any animal located in Houston Borough, in violation of this article, be removed. These remedies available to the Borough are not mutually exclusive, and the Borough may, at its sole discretion, fine any person, cause to be seized any animal and/or request injunctive relief regarding the same for violations of this article.
The provisions of this article shall not apply to:
A. 
Institutions accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association.
B. 
Licensed humane societies.
C. 
Animal control officers.
D. 
Licensed veterinary hospitals or clinics.
This article may hereby be amended by resolution of the Council of the Borough of Houston.