DOMESTIC USE OF CHICKENS Proposed options to amend Chapter 7 of the Municipal Code June 8, 2009 Work Session

CLC Municipal Code Chapter 7 – Animals Option 1: Special Permit Option –Amends Section –Section deals with FFA/4-H programs Participation as part of this program requires a special permit –Must be active member in good standing of a locally recognized FFA/4-H program Allows for the keeping of up to 2 chickens Special permit issued through Codes Enforcement Department

CLC Municipal Code Chapter 7 – Animals Option 2: Domestic Chicken Section Option –Creates new section (Section 7-156) –Allows for the keeping of up to 2 chickens –Still requires a special permit from Codes Enforcement Department –Defines conditions for keeping domestic chickens Restricts the keeping of domestic chickens to hens only

CLC Municipal Code Chapter 7 – Animals Option 2: Domestic Chicken Section Option –Maintenance, Care, Confinement: A coop is required –Must comply with requirements of the Development Code (Building, Zoning, etc.) –Anything greater than 120 square feet in size requires a building permit –A coop is considered an accessory structure and the accessory structure provision w/in the Zoning Code will be enforced At least 2 square feet of floor space in any coop for a mature chicken Coop must be maintained and be in sanitary condition, subject to applicable health regulations Chickens must be confined to a coop, except for limited periods as necessary; not allowed to perch or linger on buildings/property of others Must be fed within the coop

CLC Municipal Code Chapter 7 – Animals Option 3: CLUCK option –Allows for the keeping of up to 6 chickens –At least 4 square feet of floor space in a coop for a mature chicken –Chickens are not required to be confined or fed within a coop

Next Step Council may choose one of the 3 options and modify accordingly Upon direction from Council, staff will modify an option and prepare for a public meeting –Date, time, location is TBD After public meeting, staff can bring back proposed amendment via an Ordinance to City Council for consideration and adoption

QUESTIONS?

CLC MUNICIPAL CODE Chapter 7 - Animals See Article V – Keeping of large & small animals –Small animal can be rabbits, poultry, goats, sheep, miniature horses Minimum square footage lot size of one-half acre or more –Each small animal shall have a minimum of 2,000 square feet within the open lot area (not including a dwelling unit) –Total number of small animals cannot exceed 100, regardless of the lot size

CLC Municipal Code No small animal shall be kept closer than 35-feet to an adjoining dwelling Keeping of such animals shall not be permitted in the required front, side, & street side yard setbacks All small animals shall be provided with adequate enclosures to contain them w/in the boundaries of the owner’s property No animal dwelling unit shall be kept closer than 100-ft to a water well

CLC MUNICIPAL CODE All premises/facilities which poultry/fowl are permitted to be kept shall be maintained in a clean, orderly, & sanitary condition at all times –All manure shall be removed/spread as not to constitute a nuisance at least 1x/week, & all premises/facilities shall be treated weekly w/ biologically, ecologically, & environmentally approved pesticides for the control of odors, insects, & rodents, which in any way can be considered a clear & present nuisance or detriment to the health, safety, comfort, welfare, peace & tranquility of the general public

CLC MUNICIPAL CODE Chapter 38 – 2001 Zoning Code Single-Family Rural Residential Zoning Districts –EE (Equestrian Estates & Agriculture) –RE (Residential Estates) –REM (Residential Estates Mobile) Single-Family Urban Residential Zoning Districts –R-1c (SF Low Density) –R-1a (SF Medium Density) –R-1b (SF High Density) –R-2 (Multi-Dwelling Low Density*) –R-3 (Multi-Dwelling Medium Density*) –*permits single-family residential development

CLC MUNICIPAL CODE Chapter 38 – 2001 Zoning Code EE (Equestrian Estates) – Intended as a low density residential district for SF housing on large lots specifically designed for farming and/or the raising & keeping of animals such as horses, mules, cows, pigs, sheep, goats, & fowl RE (Residential Estates) & RE (Residential Estates Mobile) – Intended as a low density residential district for SF housing on large lots specifically designed to limit commercial activity and to limit the raising & keeping of animals

CLC MUNICIPAL CODE Chapter 38 – 2001 Zoning Code Sets forth regulations pertaining to accessory structures –Coops/pens would be considered an accessory structure –Limits the size of a single structure –No limits on the number of structures provided that the cumulative square footage does not exceed 300 square feet –Exceed 300 square feet – limit 3 structures Lot size then determines cumulative square footage Cannot exceed 30% of coverage of the required rear yard

NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES Appears that domestic use of chickens is limited to large lots –Evidenced by the minimum distance restrictions placed between the keeping of chickens & principal residential dwelling structures –Minimum distance restrictions vary between 20 to 350-feet Limits on number of chickens allowed; majority do not allow for the keeping of roosters General trend of requiring all chickens to be enclosed in some type of coop or pen at all times –Pens/coops must be kept clean, sanitary, & odorless at all times