Female chickens may be maintained subject however to the following restrictions and limitations:

(a)   Up to twelve (12) female chickens may be maintained as part of a single-family residence with the issuance of a permit therefor approved by the Animal Control Officer and issued by the City Clerk.

(b)   An application for a permit must contain the following items:

(1)   The name, phone number, and address of the applicant.

(2)   An original permit fee of $20, with no annual renewal permit fee.

(3)   The size and location of the subject Property.

(4)   The number of chickens the applicant seeks to keep on the Property.

(5)   A description of any coops or outdoor Enclosures providing precise dimensions and the precise location of these Enclosures in relation to Property lines and adjacent properties.

(c)   Permits will be granted and renewed on an annual basis. The City may revoke a permit at any time, or decline to renew a permit, due to any failure to comply with the applicable restrictions and limitations. Notice of any intended revocation or non-renewal of a permit shall be given in writing to the permit holder at the address provided in the application, identifying the reasons therefor, and such revocation or non-renewal shall become effective ten (10) days thereafter unless the permit holder has by such time submitted to the City Clerk a written request for a hearing on the matter before the governing body, in which case the revocation or non-renewal shall not be effective unless upheld by the governing body following a hearing thereon. The permit holder shall be given not less than fifteen (15) days notice of the date, time and place of any such hearing.

(d)   Chickens shall be provided access to both a predator-proof coop and a run which shall be built in compliance with all building code requirements and setback regulations applicable to residential accessory structures, as well as the following additional minimum standards:

(1)   Coops and runs shall be well ventilated and designed to be easily accessed for cleaning. Any wooden materials must be treated and sealed.

(2)   The coop and run must be cleaned on a regular basis to prevent the accumulation of waste and must be kept in a sanitary condition free from offensive odors. Deceased chickens shall be promptly removed.

(3)   The coop shall be enclosed on all sides and shall be designed in such a way as to protect the chickens from the elements.

(4)   Windows and vents must be covered with predator and bird-proof wire of less than one-inch openings. Access doors must be able to be securely shut.

(5)   The coop shall have three (3) square feet per chicken and the run shall have an additional three (3) feet per a chicken for a total of six (6) square feet per chicken.

(6)   The run shall be completely enclosed and shall consist of sturdy wire or wooden fencing.

(7)   Chickens shall not be allowed out of these Enclosures unless a responsible individual, over eighteen (18) years of age, is directly monitoring the chickens and able to immediately return the chickens to the run or coop if necessary.

(e)   There shall be no outdoor slaughtering of chickens.

(f)   The permit holder shall comply with all orders and regulations issued by the Animal Control Officer or other legal authority in the event of outbreak in the region of any disease or affliction potentially affecting or being passed by Fowl, or in the event of any other matter of public health or safety necessity.

(Ord. 4987-19; Ord. 4998-19; Ord. 5038-21)

Any Person who shall be convicted of violating any provisions of this Article shall be punished by a fine as hereinafter provided. Each day that a violation of this Article occurs shall constitute a separate offense and shall be punishable hereunder as a separate violation. The fine prescribed above for the first conviction for a violation of a provision of this Article shall be an amount not less than $100 nor more than $200; and for the second conviction for a violation of the same provision shall be an amount not less than $200 nor more than $500; and for the third or any subsequent conviction for a violation of the same provision shall be an amount not less than $500 nor more than $1,000.  The fine shall be in addition to any applicable court costs or impoundment fees.  For the purposes of this subsection, prior convictions shall include any past conviction of the same offense with a conviction date that is within five (5) years prior to the offense date of the offense prosecuted as a second, third or subsequent offense.

(Ord. 4987-19; Ord. 4998-19; Ord. 5038-21)