[Added 2-10-1993 by Ord. No. 642]
No more than five cats or dogs shall be sheltered
or kept by any one family group. If any family group possesses more
than five cats or dogs on the effective date of this section, the
person in control shall arrange for their removal within 60 days.
This restriction shall not apply to properly licensed pet shops, kennels,
shelters and pounds. It is understood that the maximum number of dogs
and cats combined shall be no more than five in number.
[Added 2-10-1993 by Ord. No. 642]
No person owning, keeping or harboring a dog
or cat shall permit or suffer it to do any injury or to do any damage
to any lawn, shrubbery, flowers, grounds or property.
No person, firm or corporation shall knowingly
feed, harbor or maintain any stray and unlicensed cat.
[Added 9-20-1995 by Ord. No. 698]
A. No person shall keep within the Township of Rochelle
Park any cattle, chickens, bees, goats, guinea hens, hogs, horses,
ocelots, pigs (including potbelly pigs), pigeons, sheep, swine or
any other animal that can be deemed dangerous to humans if said animal
escapes from captivity.
B. It is understood that residents who presently have
chickens and bees on their premises are allowed to keep said chickens
and bees but may not expand the number or volume of or replace said
animals.
C. Exceptions.
[Added 3-8-2023 by Ord.
No. 2023-006]
(1) Notwithstanding the above, the keeping of up to six hens shall be
allowed per dwelling for personal used only. "Hen" shall mean a female
chicken. This exception shall not apply to male chickens or roosters
or any type.
(2) License required. An annual license to keep the hens in the Township
is required. License renewal will be granted if the Department of
Health receives no complaints regarding the permit holder's keeping
of hens. The permit will be presumptively renewed upon payment of
the application permit fee, and the licensee may continue to keep
chickens under the terms and conditions herein. The Department of
Health may revoke the permit at any time if the licensee does not
comply with the terms of the permit or this section.
(3) The Health Officer of the Township (or his/her designee) shall act
upon such application based upon the standards set forth in this section
within a reasonable amount of time after receiving a complaint. The
applicant shall have the right to appeal an adverse action to the
Board of Health or its designee. The appeal shall be filed with the
Board of Health or its designee.
(4) License period, license fee. The license period shall be from January
1 through December 31 of each year. The annual license fee to keep
the hens shall be $25 regardless of the number of hens covered by
such license.
(5) Regulations.
(a)
All hens shall be confined in coops and outdoor enclosure, all
of which shall be located outside of, and completely apart from, any
building used for dwelling purposes or as a food/eating structure,
or in which people congregate. Coops and outdoor enclosures containing
hens shall be kept no less than 25 feet from the door or window of
any dwelling or occupied structure, other than the owner's dwelling.
(b)
The coop and outdoor structure shall be kept in clean and sanitary
condition at all times.
(c)
All chicken feed, when not in use, shall be stored in a metal
or plastic container fitted with a cover. Chicken feed shall be dispended
from a suitable feeding trough, or similar container, and not scattered
about the coop, outdoor enclosure, or other parts of the property.
(6) Prohibitions.
(a)
This article shall not apply to the keeping of hens for sale
or slaughter, which are prohibited.
(b)
No person shall keep roosters.
(c)
No live hens shall be permitted to run at large.
(d)
No poultry food or excrement shall be scatted about the property.
(e)
This article does not permit the sale of eggs.