The purpose of this article is to prevent nuisances
arising from malodors, noises and health hazards caused by the presence
of poultry or hogs or by the slaughter of poultry or hogs within the
Borough of West Chester.
A.
If any police officer or housing official of the Borough
of West Chester learns of a violation of this article, he shall forthwith
give notice of the violation to the person or persons, including partnerships,
corporations or other similar entities, keeping the poultry or hogs
to remove the poultry or hogs within 72 hours or face prosecution
hereunder.
B.
Each day or part thereof that poultry or hogs remain
on the concerned property after the seventh day subsequent to the
giving of notice shall constitute a separate violation of this chapter.
[Added 6-17-2014 by Ord. No. 6-2014; amended 5-21-2015 by Ord. No. 7-2015]
Notwithstanding the prohibitions of this section, hens may be
kept as an accessory use to single-family dwellings subject to the
following regulations:
A.
A maximum of six hens may be kept on each parcel where there is a
single-family dwelling, provided that a permit is first obtained from
the Department of Building and Housing. An applicant seeking to obtain
a permit to maintain hens must submit an application on forms provided
by the Borough and pay the applicable permit fee as determined by
resolution of Borough Council.
B.
Roosters are prohibited.
C.
Slaughtering of hens outdoors is prohibited.
D.
All hens must be maintained in a fully enclosed shelter with a covered
fenced enclosure which may only be located in the rear yard. The shelter
must provide a minimum of two square feet per hen and meet all applicable
setback requirements in the Zoning Ordinance,[1] be a minimum of 25 feet from all dwellings and 10 feet
from all property lines. The fenced enclosure must have a minimum
of four square feet per hen.
E.
It shall be unlawful for the owner of hens to allow the same to run
at large upon any public land, including, but not limited to, sidewalks,
streets, roads, alleys, parks, or upon another person's private
property.
F.
All owners of hens must maintain sanitary living conditions for the
hens so that the keeping of hens does not become a public or private
nuisance. The owners shall not allow feces from the hens to accumulate
on the owner's land such that it becomes a nuisance caused by
odors. The feces must be regularly removed by double bagging and placing
the bagged feces in trash for collection.
G.
All feed which is stored on the property must be kept in rodentproof
closed containers.
H.
If the hens are permitted to roam in an area on the owner's
private property, such area shall be limited to the rear yard and
must be enclosed by a fence and screened from view from the public
streets and adjacent properties.
