(a)
Keeping swine.
It shall be unlawful for a person to keep any swine within the city limits.
(b)
Number of livestock.
It shall be unlawful for any person or corporation to keep livestock on any premises the overall area of which is less than one acre. The number of livestock permitted shall not exceed two adults (over six months of age) for the first one acre and one adult for each additional one half acre. The number of livestock less than six months of age and horses (miniature variety), sheep, goats less than 34 inches in height at the withers shall not exceed four (4) for the first one acre and three for each additional one half acre.
(c)
Construction of pens and enclosures.
Any enclosure, pen, corral, or other restrictive area for livestock shall be constructed in such a way and of such material as to ensure containment of such animal or animals.
(d)
Requirements for pens and enclosures.
It shall be unlawful to erect a structure/building upon property within the city for the housing or keeping of livestock which is within 40 feet of the property boundary line and 100 feet of the residence of any person other than the owner. A ten-foot by 12-foot stall or enclosure under roof is required for each adult livestock. Offspring may remain with the female parent in the same stall or enclosure until six months of age. In addition, there must be at least 2,000 square feet of fenced exercise area/pasture for each adult. Horses (miniature variety), sheep and goats less than 34 inches in height at the withers shall be provided a stall or enclosure minimum four feet by eight feet under roof for each adult and 500 square feet of fenced exercise area/pasture. Fencing shall be at least four feet in height, or five feet high in the case of breeding-capable males. Fencing must be of proper strength to contain livestock and maintained in good repair at all times.
(e)
Stallions, bulls and rams.
Male livestock capable of breeding must be contained within a stall/paddock. Males may be exercised only under direct adult supervision, age 18 or over, within an exercise area/pasture, provided fencing meets requirements (five feet), and no direct contact may be made with livestock on adjoining properties. No pasture breeding is allowed. Under no circumstances shall breeding-capable males and females, even though they are the property of one owner, be allowed together in an exercise area/pasture.
(f)
Nuisances or offensive conditions.
The owner or person in possession of livestock shall keep exercise areas/pastures, pens, stalls and enclosures in which such livestock is confined in such a manner so as not to give off odors offensive to persons of ordinary sensibilities, or in any manner to endanger the public health or safety, or create a public nuisance.
(1)
Manure and waste must be removed from the stall daily. Manure must be either placed in a contained compost receptacle or spread in an area where it will be immediately worked into the soil. Manure in the exercise area/pasture must be removed from the premises or spread once weekly.
(2)
Watering troughs shall be provided which shall be equipped with adequate facilities for draining the overflow, to prevent the breeding of flies and mosquitoes or other insects.
(3)
Fly control or a pesticide must be used to protect against the breeding of flies.
(4)
Every effort must be made to keep ground cover on the pasture area. Prevention of livestock on this area after rainfall is strongly recommended.
(g)
Reporting of livestock.
All livestock owners are required to submit a report to animal control listing all animals (species, sex, and age), contact information for the owner, contact information for the veterinarian, and emergency contacts. Reports shall be updated annually and shall be submitted to the city on or before January 1st of each year.
(h)
Compliance.
(1)
Exemptions.
Owners or persons in possession of the livestock will be given the following reasonable times to comply should a violation occur; however, shelters not meeting the area requirements which were being used as of the date of this chapter shall be considered nonconforming and not in violation of this chapter. Also, persons who have legally been maintaining large animals on their property as a nonconforming right under the “grandfather clause” of the animal control code which was adopted in 1978 shall be considered nonconforming and not in violation of this chapter. If any such nonconforming use is discontinued for a continuous period of six months, such right shall be deemed to have been abandoned and such right terminated.
(2)
Time limits for compliance.
(2006 Code, sec. 14-35; Ordinance 09-02-786, sec. 2, adopted 2/16/09; Ordinance adopting 2015 Code; Ordinance 16-08-1015, sec. 2.13, adopted 8/16/16)