§ 6-170. Backyard chickens.

(a)

It shall be unlawful for any person to own, possess, harbor, keep, slaughter or care for, backyard chickens unless such person first obtains a backyard chicken license granted by the community development department upon its determination that the proposed licensed premise is in compliance with all requirements of this section. Licensees must be at least 18 years of age, only one license per address is permitted and licenses are neither assignable nor transferable. A non-refundable application fee, the amount of which shall be established by resolution of city council, must be submitted with the backyard chicken license application.

(b)

Backyard chickens are allowed only upon developed single-family residential lots excluding mobile home parks.

(c)

The ownership, possession, harboring, keeping, slaughtering, and care of, backyard chickens is subject to the following requirements:

(1)

No more than six backyard chickens are permitted per developed single-family residential lot.

(2)

Roosters, and any other fowl or poultry, including but not limited to, ducks, quail, geese, pigeons, peafowl or turkeys are prohibited.

(3)

Backyard chickens may only be kept in the rear yard of a residential lot with an existing single-family residence and within a designated chicken coop, which may include a run, meeting the following requirements:

a.

The coop shall be fully enclosed, having floors, walls and roofs sufficient to protect the backyard chickens from predators, inclement weather and extreme temperatures;

b.

The coop shall provide a minimum of six square feet of living space per chicken;

c.

The coop shall not exceed a maximum gross floor area of 120 square feet;

d.

The coop shall not exceed six feet in height as measured from the ground;

e.

The coop or run shall have a minimum ten feet setback from any side or rear property line;

f.

No coop or run shall be located between the rear of principal structure and the front yard lot line;

g.

Only one coop and one run is allowed per rear yard; and

h.

Any run shall be fully enclosed, adequately fenced and protected from predators, and shall have direct access to the chicken coop.

(4)

Backyard chickens must be securely kept within the coop in the rear yard from dusk until dawn.

(5)

During daylight hours or from dawn to dusk, backyard chickens may be allowed to roam within a designated chicken run, or outside of a designated chicken run and only within the enclosed rear yard, if such backyard chickens are rendered unable to fly.

(6)

A rear yard with backyard chickens shall be fully screened by a privacy fence a minimum of six feet in height located on or inside all property lines of the rear yard.

(7)

A fresh water supply for backyard chickens shall be provided and maintained in the rear yard of the property at all times, in a location readily accessible to all backyard chickens.

(8)

Chicken coops and runs shall be kept in good working condition and regularly maintained in a clean, sanitary condition so as to control dust, odor, and waste and to minimize the presence of flies and other insects and potential for disease.

(9)

Animal excrement and other waste must be stored in a re-sealable, airtight, vermin-proof and predator-proof container, and shall be properly disposed of to control odor and minimize potential for disease.

(10)

Chicken feed shall be enclosed in a re-sealable, airtight, vermin-proof and predator-proof container.

(11)

The slaughtering of backyard chickens is permitted outdoors however the slaughtering shall be limited only to the property subject to the license and to those backyard chickens permitted by the license. In addition, the slaughtering location must be screened so as to not be visible from any adjoining private or public property or right-of-way.

(d)

It shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep, harbor, possess, slaughter, or care for backyard chickens in violation of the requirements of this section and any such violation is hereby deemed a nuisance that may be abated pursuant to the provisions specified in article IV of chapter 30 of this Code.

(Ord. No. 18-08, § 3, 8-7-2018)