[Adopted as Sec. 4-12 of the 1973 Revised General Ordinances]
This article shall not apply to the keeping of dogs which are licensed and regulated under the provisions of Article II of this chapter, with the exception of limitation of number as provided in § 39-4 below.
A. 
The premises on which animals are maintained and kept shall meet and conform to the following health standards:
(1) 
Location is such as to preclude odors and sounds from interfering with the comfortable enjoyment of life and property on neighboring premises.
(2) 
Buildings, food storage bins, appliances, equipment, feeding areas and other facilities on premises are constructed and maintained in such fashion as to permit proper cleansing.
(3) 
Water supply is adequate for proper sanitation.
(4) 
Water or other liquid to which mosquitoes may have access is properly treated to prevent their breeding.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See also Ch. 284, Mosquito Breeding Control.
(5) 
Disposition is made of animal wastes, garbage, refuse or vegetable matter deposited upon the premises in such manner as to prevent insect breeding or rodent harborage or pollution of the air or any body of water or the creation of any other unhealthy or unsanitary condition.
(6) 
Rodents or insects hazardous to public health do not exist or reproduce therein or thereon.
(7) 
Adequate measures are taken to prevent animals from escaping.
(8) 
Adequate equipment is available to maintain the premises in a sanitary condition at all times.
B. 
The Health Officer and/or Zoning Officer are authorized to inspect any premises where animals under this section are kept for the purpose of enforcing the provisions herein.
[Amended 7-11-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-18]
A. 
Dogs and cats. No person shall keep more than three dogs and three cats six months of age or over on any lot that is less than two acres.
B. 
Horses. No person shall keep any horses except on lots greater than two acres. The number shall be limited to such that can reasonably be maintained and kept in compliance with the health standards of § 39-3.
C. 
Pigs. No person shall raise, herd, breed or otherwise keep in any manner pigs, unless such are limited to a maximum of two animals per the first five acres of land. For each acre after the first five, one additional pig may be kept. In no case shall any pigs be kept on lands of less than five acres, and in no case shall any pig, pigsty, run or any shelter for such animals be located closer than 250 feet to any road or highway abutting on such lands or from any boundary thereof.
D. 
Cows and other animals. No person shall keep any cows or other animals, excluding common household pets, and chickens kept on residential lots less than five acres, which is regulated pursuant to § 39-5.1 below, except on lots greater than five acres. The number shall be limited to such that can reasonably be maintained and kept in compliance with the health standards of § 39-3.
[Amended 7-11-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-18]
[Added 9-8-1987 by Ord. No. 28-87]
A. 
No person shall keep, maintain or harbor any pigeons within the Township of Old Bridge, except upon conditions set forth in this section, which conditions are in addition to any restrictions which may be contained in the Zoning Ordinance of the Township, the Sanitary Code and the Building Code.
B. 
Restrictions.
(1) 
Pigeons shall be kept in a suitable house or coop, not more than 800 cubic feet in size. Pigeon houses or coops may have an attached, enclosed runway, but such structures shall be constructed so as to keep pigeons properly confined and prevent their flying about as provided in Subsection B(3). Not more than 100 pigeons shall be kept at any one time.
(2) 
No pigeon house, coop or runway shall be constructed except on lots greater than two acres, and they shall be within the rear yard of the premises and shall be at least 25 feet from the property line. This subsection shall not apply to residents who are members of the International Federation of Homing Pigeons, Inc., or the American Racing Pigeon Union as of the effective date of this section.
(3) 
Pigeons shall not be permitted to fly about and shall be kept within a house, coop or runway at all times, except that carrier or homing pigeons, when a proper permit has been obtained from the Department of Health and Welfare, may be permitted to be exercised and flown outside the enclosure before 10:00 a.m. and after 5:00 p.m. Homing or carrier pigeons under six months of age may be permitted to be outside their enclosure during their training period. Pigeons returning from training flights may do so at any time, provided that they immediately enter their lot. The flying of carrier or homing pigeons may be prohibited in any specific case where it is satisfactorily established that they soil clothes or other property not belonging to their keeper. Such proof shall be established in an action in the Municipal Court on complaint of a person affected by the violation of this provision.
[Amended 1-9-2006 by Ord. No. 38-2005]
(4) 
Pigeon houses, coops or runways shall be maintained in a proper sanitary condition so as to avoid offensive odors, and no pigeons shall be kept which create loud and excessive noises and sounds. Odors emanating from pigeon houses, coops or runways which are perceptible from adjoining properties, and any noises emitting from pigeons which are audible from adjoining properties, shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this section.
C. 
No person shall attempt to attract pigeons by throwing or scattering food for pigeons on public or private property.
D. 
Any person found to be in violation of the provisions of this section shall be subject to the penalty provisions of Chapter 1, Article II, Penalty, of the Code of the Township of Old Bridge.
[Added 7-11-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-18]
A. 
Chickens may be kept and maintained on single-family residential lots as a permitted accessory use on lots less than five acres, provided a zoning permit is first obtained from the Zoning Office, and subject to the following requirements.
B. 
Restrictions.
(1) 
The number of chickens permitted shall be five female chickens, per 5,000 square feet of lot size, with the minimum lot size being 10,000 square feet, but in no case shall there be more than 15 chickens.
(2) 
No person shall keep a rooster or a male chicken on any residential lot of less than five acres.
(3) 
No person who rents the property where chickens are proposed to be kept or maintained may obtain a zoning permit without first receiving written permission from an owner of the property. Such written permission shall be provided to the Zoning Officer at the time of application.
(4) 
On properties where the owner is keeping the chickens, the zoning permit shall terminate in the case of change in ownership. On properties that are rented, and the tenants are keeping the chickens, the zoning permit shall terminate on change of tenant.
(5) 
Applicants for a zoning permit for the keeping of chickens shall present, as part of the zoning permit application, proof of an education class on the keeping of poultry.
(6) 
A zoning permit shall be obtained from the Township Zoning Office. The fee for a zoning permit for the keeping of chickens shall be a one-time fee of $25, regardless of the number of chickens maintained. The Township Zoning and/or Code Enforcement Officer shall have the authority to determine the paperwork, filing deadlines and procedures governing the issuing of the permit.
(7) 
No person shall keep or maintain chickens for consumption or sale. Chickens may not be slaughtered on the property.
(8) 
Chickens shall be kept in a roofed shelter or coop, which shall provide a minimum of three square feet per adult bird and shall also include a fully enclosed fenced chicken run that provides a minimum of five square feet per adult bird. The run shall be attached to the coop such that chickens are at no time outside of both the coop and run. The shelter/coop and run shall be treated as an accessory structure and for purposes of this section shall not exceed 2% of the subject property or 600 square feet, whichever is smaller.
(9) 
The chicken shelter shall be bird, rat, and predator proof, and designed to be visually compatible with the residential area.
(10) 
Chain-link, metal wire, poultry, or mesh fence shall fully enclose the chicken run and be securely constructed with fence or netting overhead to keep the chickens separated from other animals and from roaming freely. Chicken run fencing height and coop height shall not exceed six feet. (Concertina wire and razor wire of any type is prohibited.)
(11) 
A chicken shelter/coop and chicken run are only permitted in the rear yard and, except as provided herein, shall comply in all other respects with the accessory structure setbacks for the zone in which it is located, as set forth in 250 Attachment 5, Appendix E, Schedule of Area, Height and Yard Requirements, of the Old Bridge Township Land Development Ordinance, as amended from time to time. In no case, however, shall the chicken shelter/coop and chicken run be located less than 10 feet from an adjoining property line. In the case of a corner property, the secondary frontage shall be treated as a front yard for purposes of this section.
(12) 
The chicken shelter/coop shall comply with applicable impervious and building coverage standards for the zone.
(13) 
The fenced chicken run shall be well drained so that there is no accumulation of moisture. The coop floor shall be raised a minimum of six inches above the surrounding grade. The floors and walls of the chicken shelter or coop shall be kept in a clean and sanitary condition, with all droppings collected at least weekly. Droppings shall be kept in a covered and secured metal container until disposed of or transported off-premises.
(14) 
All chicken feed shall be kept in a covered and secured metal container off of the ground and inside the coop or other structure as may be the case.
(15) 
Permits shall be obtained for the chicken shelter/coop: construction, electric, and plumbing, as applicable. Electric lines shall be installed underground. Electrical connections to a coop must be installed pursuant to a permit and be permanent in nature. (Temporary connections are prohibited.)
(16) 
If, for any reason, an applicant no longer wishes to keep and/or raise chickens, they shall be removed from the property in a humane manner.
(17) 
The Zoning Officer and/or Code Enforcement Officer shall have the right to periodically inspect the premises to ascertain compliance with these regulations.
(18) 
Chickens shall be kept and maintained at all times in a humane manner and in accordance with good agricultural practices. The Animal Control Officer/Cruelty Investigators shall have all powers under N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.16c[1] to ensure the chickens are maintained in a humane way and under humane conditions. Any failure to comply with the Animal Control Officer/Cruelty Officer shall be grounds for revocation of the zoning permit permitting the keeping and maintenance of chickens.
[1]
Editor's Note: N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.16c was repealed by P.L. 2018, c. 69, § 3, effective February 1, 2019.
(19) 
The Middlesex County Board of Health, and/or any similar body the Township contracts with for public health services, shall have the power to investigate any claims under their jurisdiction related to the keeping and maintenance of chickens. Any failure to comply with such body shall be grounds for revocation of the zoning permit permitting the keeping and maintenance of chickens.
(20) 
If the zoning permit permitting the keeping and maintenance of chickens is revoked, the chicken shelter/coop and chicken run shall be removed from the premises within 30 days of revocation of the permit.
C. 
Any person found to be in violation of the provisions of this section shall be subject to the penalty provisions of Chapter 1, Article II, Penalty, of the Code of the Township of Old Bridge. Additionally, any violation of the restrictions set forth in Subsection B above may be grounds for the revocation of the zoning permit permitting the keeping and maintenance of chickens.