[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township of Gloucester 5-22-2017 by Ord. No. O-17-19. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A. 
Residents of single-family homes which meet the criteria set forth herein, and desire to keep backyard chickens, shall secure a license to be issued by the Township Clerk.
B. 
A maximum of 20 licenses may be issued.
C. 
There shall be a limit of six chickens per license. No roosters are permitted. A license holder shall maintain chicken coops and enclosed chicken runs.
D. 
Chickens, chicken coops and enclosed chicken runs are permitted only in a fenced-in (four-foot-high fence) rear yard of any eligible property as same is defined by the Code of the Township of Gloucester.
E. 
Every chicken coop and enclosed run shall be set back a least 20 feet from the habitable portion of any neighboring residential dwelling and, in addition, shall be set back no less than five feet from any property line. Garages, attached or otherwise, and nonhabitable accessory buildings shall not be considered a "residential dwelling" for purposes of calculating the required distance.
F. 
The maximum permitted area of any chicken coop and enclosed chicken run area, and defined as the total area of all chicken coops and enclosed runs, shall not exceed 80 square feet.
G. 
The maximum permitted height of any chicken coop structure, whether or not said coops are stacked, shall be five feet six inches as measured from the natural grade.
H. 
Chickens may not roam outside of the coop/enclosed run area.
A. 
No person shall keep chickens on their property without first obtaining a license from the Municipal Clerk's office and paying the required fee therefor. No license shall be issued unless the applicant therefor has demonstrated compliance with all criteria set forth herein. Every license issued pursuant to this chapter shall expire on December 31st of the issued year. Every license issued shall be renewed on or before January 31st of each year. Failure to renew the license shall require the removal of all chickens, chicken coops, enclosed chicken runs and other related items.
B. 
A license fee of $10 shall be paid for each license issued.
C. 
Each applicant wishing to keep backyard chickens shall be required to take a class on the basics of raising backyard chickens. The initial class shall be acceptable for each renewal year. Proof of attendance must be provided as part of the application process.
The following regulations and conditions for keeping and housing chickens shall be complied with:
A. 
The coop shall be the appropriate size for the number of chickens, not to exceed six chickens.
B. 
The coop shall be dry and well ventilated with windows to admit sunlight and prevent odors.
C. 
The coop must be kept clean.
D. 
The coop and enclosed run must be made predator-proof.
E. 
Clean water must be provided, and food must be kept tightly closed in a metal container away from the coop and run at night.
F. 
The yard in the area where the coop is located shall be clean and free from odors.
G. 
There shall be no slaughter of chickens on sight under this pilot program.
H. 
Waste will be handled in such a way as proper composting to prevent offensive odors or disposed in an environmentally friendly manner. Waste shall not be disposed of as part of the normal trash collection and recycling collection.
I. 
There shall be no selling of eggs.
Failure to comply with the conditions and regulations set forth in this program shall result in revocation of the license following an admission and/or determination of violation by the Municipal Court of the Township of Gloucester.
Any person who violates any provision of this program shall, upon conviction in the Municipal Court of the Township of Gloucester or in any other court having jurisdiction, be sentenced to a fine of not to exceed $1,000 or imprisonment for a term not to exceed 90 days, or community service for a term not exceeding 90 days, or all of the above. Each day the violation continues may be deemed a separate subsequent offense and may be subject to the penalty above stated.