[Ord. No. 1-2024, 1/2/2024]
This Part shall be known as the "Hopewell Township Chicken and Other Fowl Ordinance."
[Ord. No. 1-2024, 1/2/2024]
It is declared that the enactment of this Part is necessary for the protection, benefit and preservation of the health, safety and welfare of the inhabitants of this Township.
[Ord. No. 1-2024, 1/2/2024]
This Part shall apply to the keeping of chickens and other fowl within the Residential (R) and Residential II (R-II) zoning districts only. This Part shall apply to the keeping of chickens and other fowl within any other zoning districts. Notwithstanding this Part, the noncommercial keeping of livestock shall continue to be governed by Chapter 27, § 27-317, of the Code of the Township of Hopewell, as that section may apply.
[Ord. No. 1-2024, 1/2/2024]
Chickens kept under this Part may be kept for personal use and consumption only and owners shall not engage in any sales on the property, breeding or other endeavor with regard to the chickens permitted hereunder; provided, however, that owners may sell surplus eggs produced by chickens at off-site locations. References to chickens in the Part shall mean chickens and other fowl, including ducks, geese, turkeys, guineafowl, grouse, quail, swans, pheasants and peacocks. No roosters are permitted. Only hens are allowed.
[Ord. No. 1-2024, 1/2/2024]
1.
Chickens must be kept in a coop, enclosure or fenced area at all times. Coops, enclosures and fences shall be constructed in a manner that will keep chickens contained within the confined area at all times so that chickens may not roam outside the confined area.
2.
All chicken coops, enclosures or fenced areas containing the chickens shall be at least 15 feet from any property line. No chicken coops, enclosures or fenced areas shall be allowed in the front yard of any lot. Coops, enclosures and fences shall be required to obtain permits and submit any building and stormwater plans, as required, by ordinance or other law applicable to buildings, structures and fences.
3.
Coops, enclosures and fenced areas shall be kept in a clean, dry, odor-free, neat and sanitary condition at all times.
4.
Coops and enclosures shall provide adequate ventilation and adequate sun/shade and must be reasonably impermeable to rodents, wild birds and predators, including dogs, cats, raccoons, etc.
[Ord. No. 1-2024, 1/2/2024]
1.
The control and safety of chickens at all times shall be the responsibility of the property owner.
2.
Chickens shall be provided with access to feed and clean water at all times.
3.
Manure shall be stored in a fully enclosed structure or watertight container. Manure may be used as fertilizer so long as the use does not cause a nuisance due to odor or otherwise to adjacent properties. Any manure not used as fertilizer or stored as permitted shall be promptly removed. The coop, enclosure, fenced area and surrounding area shall be kept free of trash and accumulated feces.
4.
Owner shall remove or have treated any chickens found to be infested with parasites or insects or sick. Dead chickens shall be removed and disposed of in accordance with Township ordinances and state law, as applicable, immediately upon discovery.
5.
The owner shall not allow the owner's chickens to roam off of the permitted tract of land. The Township shall have the right to kill, trap or remove any chickens running at large or not confined. A property owner shall not be held liable by the Township for killing, trapping or removing any chicken running at large that enters onto the property owner's tract without permission. No dog, cat or other domesticated animal which kills a chicken off the permitted tract of land shall, for that reason alone, be considered a dangerous or aggressive animal.
[Ord. No. 1-2024, 1/2/2024]
1.
The following acts shall be deemed to be violations of this Part:
2.
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of this Part, 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 reasonable attorney fees incurred by the Township in the enforcement proceedings and, in default of payment of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment not to exceed 90 days. Each day that a violation of this Part continues or each section of this Part which shall be found to have been violated shall constitute a separate offense.