[Adopted 4-15-1975 by Ord. No. 70; amended in its entirety 4-19-2011 by Ord. No. 506]
[Amended 9-3-2019 by Ord. No. 709; 10-15-2020 by Ord. No. 738; 11-1-2022 by Ord. No. 777]
No person, firm or corporation shall keep, harbor, feed or raise cows, hogs or any other livestock, chicks or poultry, not in accordance with this chapter, in the City of Isanti.
[Added 9-3-2019 by Ord. No. 709; amended 7-20-2021 by Ord. No. 763; 4-1-2025 by Ord. No. 836]
The City allows the keeping of chickens on residential properties, subject to the following requirements:
A. 
Coops or enclosures are required and shall:
(1) 
Meet all setback requirements for the zoning district of the property.
(2) 
Be at least 10 feet from a side or rear property line.
(3) 
Not be located in a drainage or utility easement or in a shoreland protection area or in a wetland setback area.
(4) 
Be at least 30 feet from any residential dwelling on any adjacent property.
(5) 
Be no more than 15 square feet per chicken.
B. 
On properties that are less than five acres in size, outdoor pens attached to the coop must be fully enclosed to contain chickens within the pen area.
C. 
The owner must keep the chickens in a coop or fenced area.
D. 
The City does not allow the keeping of free range of chickens on properties less than five acres in size. Free range is allowed if the animals are supervised and fenced.
E. 
Animal fighting is prohibited.
F. 
There shall be no roosters.
G. 
The property owner shall maintain the coops and/or enclosures such that they are in good shape, not unsightly and free from major defects.
H. 
The property owner shall properly store all animal feed such to ensure that it does not attract insect or rodents.
I. 
The property owner shall dispose of all animal waste in an appropriate manner on a weekly basis.
J. 
Chickens are prohibited in multifamily structures and/or homes.
K. 
Sale of eggs commercially is prohibited in residential districts.
L. 
The slaughtering of chickens in view of the public is prohibited.
M. 
All coops, regardless if they have heat-lamps or not, shall be located 10 feet or further from any primary structure.
N. 
Guineafowl are prohibited.
O. 
The maximum total number of chickens allowed on properties are as follows:
Lot Size (Acres)
Maximum Number Allowed
Less than 3 acres
10 chickens
More than 3 acres
20 chickens
[Added 10-15-2020 by Ord. No. 738]
The City allows the keeping of racing pigeons on residential properties in the R-1A Zoning District, subject to the following requirements:
A. 
"Racing pigeon" means a pigeon which, through selective breeding, developed the distinctive physical and mental characteristics to enable it to return to its home after having been released a considerable distance therefrom, and which is accepted as such by the American Racing Pigeon Union, Inc., or the International Federation of Racing Pigeon Fanciers. Also commonly known as "racing homer," "homing pigeon," or "carrier pigeon."
B. 
Lofts, coops or enclosures are required and shall:
(1) 
Meet all setback requirements for the zoning district of the property or be at least 10 feet from a side or rear property line, whichever is greater.
(2) 
Not be located in a drainage or utility easement or in a shoreland protection area or in a wetland setback area.
(3) 
Be at least 30 feet from any residential dwelling on any adjacent property.
(4) 
Comply with accessory structure zoning requirements.
(5) 
Be located 10 feet or further from any primary structure on the subject property.
(6) 
Be located in the rear yard only.
(7) 
Provide a minimum of one square foot of floor space per bird.
(8) 
Be prohibited on properties with multifamily structures.
C. 
Lofts or coops are allowed only on properties within the R-1A Zoning District.
D. 
The property owner shall maintain the lofts or coops and/or enclosures such that they are in good condition, not unsightly and free from major defects, and reasonably clean from filth, garbage and any substance that attracts rodents.
E. 
The property owner shall properly store all animal feed in a rodent-proof container.
F. 
The property owner shall dispose of all animal waste in an appropriate manner on a weekly basis.
G. 
All pigeons must be banded with owner's information at all times.
H. 
Only owners in good standing with a pigeon club can allow their birds to fly.
I. 
The maximum total number of pigeons shall not exceed 100.
J. 
All persons possessing pigeons shall register and show proof of club membership to the Police Department on an annual basis.
[Added 5-4-2021 by Ord. No. 755]
The keeping of honeybees is permitted on residential properties within R-1A, R-1, R-2, R-3A, and R-3B Zoning Districts, subject to the following requirements:
A. 
Apiaries shall:
(1) 
Be at least 20 feet from a side or rear property line.
(2) 
Be at least 30 feet from any residential dwelling on an adjacent property, public right-of-way or trail easement.
(3) 
Not be located in a front yard, drainage and utility easement, shoreland protection area or in a wetland setback area.
B. 
Beehives shall:
(1) 
Have removable frames with a frame depth not exceeding 9 5/8 inches.
(2) 
Not consist of more than a ten-frame structure.
(3) 
Not exceed six feet in height.
(4) 
Be removed within 30 days once colonies are gone.
(5) 
Have a water source within 10 feet of the beehive.
C. 
The maximum number of colonies on properties are as follows:
Lot Size
(Acres)
Maximum Number of Colonies Allowed
1/2 acre or less
2
1/2 acre to 3/4 acre
4
3/4 acre to 1 acre
6
1 acre or larger
8
D. 
Sale of honey commercially is prohibited in residential districts.
E. 
Beekeeping equipment shall be maintained in good condition. Unused beekeeping equipment must be protected to prevent occupancy by swarming honeybees.
F. 
The City reserves the right to spray or otherwise treat for mosquitoes and other potential insect disease vectors and is not liable for adverse effects on the health of honeybees that may result from such spray treatment.
G. 
Registration forms for beekeeping must be completed through the City of Isanti Police Department.
[Added 7-6-2021 by Ord. No. 757]
The City allows the keeping of ducks on residential properties in the R-1A, R-1, R-2, R-3A and R-3B Zoning Districts, subject to the following requirements:
A. 
Ducks shall not be kept inside the principal structure.
B. 
Ducks shall not be kept in such a manner as to constitute a public nuisance as defined by the City.
C. 
Coops or enclosures are required and shall:
(1) 
Meet all setback requirements for the zoning district of the property.
(2) 
Be at least 10 feet from a side or rear property line.
(3) 
Not be located in a drainage or utility easement or in a shoreland protection area or in a wetland setback area.
(4) 
Shall be at least 30 feet from any residential dwelling on any adjacent property.
D. 
The owner must keep the ducks in a coop or fenced-in area and shall be contained within the owner's parcel at all times.
E. 
Duck wings shall be clipped to avoid flight.
F. 
The property owner shall maintain the coop or enclosures such that they are in good shape, not unsightly and free from major defects.
G. 
The property owner shall properly store all animal feed such to ensure that it does not attract insect or rodents.
H. 
The property owner shall dispose of all animal waste in an appropriate manner on a weekly basis.
I. 
Ducks are prohibited in multifamily structures and/or homes.
J. 
Sale of eggs commercially is prohibited in residential districts.
K. 
All coops or enclosures shall be kept at least 10 feet or further from any primary structure.
L. 
The maximum total number of ducks allowed on properties are as follows:
Lot Size
(Acres)
Maximum Number Allowed
Less than 3 acres
2 ducks
More than 3 acres
4 ducks
[Added 11-1-2022 by Ord. No. 777]
The City allows the keeping of horses on residential properties, subject to the following requirements:
A. 
Must be located in an R-1A Residential Rural Zoning District.
B. 
Must have at least 30 acres of land between one or more adjacent parcels under the same ownership.
C. 
There shall be no more than one horse per two acres of land.
D. 
A conditional use permit is required for horse stables within the R-1A Residential Rural Zoning District.
E. 
Stables are required and shall:
(1) 
Be located at least 50 feet from a side or rear property line.
(2) 
Not be located in a drainage or utility easement or in a shoreland protection area or in a wetland setback area.
(3) 
Be at least 100 feet from any residential dwelling on any adjacent property.
(4) 
The property owner shall maintain the stable such that they are in good shape, not unsightly and free from major defects.
F. 
The owner must keep the horses in a fenced area. Fence type shall be reviewed by City staff.
G. 
The property owner shall properly store all animal feed such to ensure that it does not attract insect or rodents.
H. 
The property owner shall dispose of all animal waste in an appropriate manner on a weekly basis.
I. 
Manure stockpiles shall:
(1) 
Be located at least 50 feet from a side or rear property line.
(2) 
Not be located in a drainage or utility easement or in a shoreland protection area or in a wetland setback area.
(3) 
Be at least 100 feet from any residential dwelling on any adjacent property.
(4) 
Have a management plan that meets requirements set by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
J. 
No person may ride or drive an animal regulated under this article after sunset or before sunrise along or crossing a public way without appropriate lighting or reflectorized clothing.
K. 
No person, firm, or corporation will permit any animal regulated under this article to run at large within the City. Any such animal will be deemed "at large" when it is off the premises owned or rented by its owner and unattended by the owner or any agent or employee of the owner.
L. 
The animal control authority, any peace officer of the state, and any other personnel under the direction and control of the City, or any agent of the City, may impound any such animal found at large as regulated by Minn. Stat. § 347.14.
[Amended 7-20-2021 by Ord. No. 763]
Any person, firm or corporation violating the provisions of this article shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punished as provided by Chapter 1, Article I.