§ 10-34. Keeping of chickens.

Any person who keeps chickens in the city must obtain a permit prior to acquiring the chickens. Chickens may only be kept in zoning districts where chickens are an allowed accessory use. The initial permit is valid for up to two years beginning on the date the chickens arrive on the site and ending on December 31 of the following year. Subsequent permits are valid from January 1 of one year to December 31 of the second year. Applications for permits must be made to the zoning and planning director.

(1)

Fees charged for the issuance of a permit to keep chickens will be set by the city council.

(2)

If the permit applicant is not the fee owner of the premises on which the chickens are sought to be kept and for which the permit would apply, the application shall be signed by all fee owners of the premises.

(3)

The city may refuse to grant or may revoke a permit if the chickens become a nuisance, as evidenced by a second substantiated violation (within 12 months of a first substantiated violation) of this section of the City Code, or chapter 22 of the City Code.

(4)

The city may refuse to grant a permit to, or may revoke a permit from, a person convicted of cruelty to animals.

(5)

Permits are non-transferable and do not run with the land.

(6)

A permit is a license granted to the chicken keeper by the city and does not create a vested zoning right.

(7)

Prior to issuance of a permit, the prospective permit holder must acknowledge they have read the chicken run educational material provided by the city.

(8)

Prior to issuance of a permit, the prospective permit holder must provide a detailed sketch plan of the premises on which chickens are sought to be kept, including the location, the dimensions and design of the coop and run, establishing compliance with the chicken coop and run specifications provided in this article.

(9)

Prior to issuance of a permit, the prospective permit holder must provide a plan for maintaining an adequate temperature in the coop for the safety of the chicken hens. The plan must address both extreme winter and summer temperature conditions.

(10)

The permit application will be processed administratively. It will not be referred to the city council for consideration.

(Ord. No. 13-04, § 1, 7-24-2013)