10-11-2023 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

2. PURPOSE. a. It is recognized that the ability to cultivate one’s own food is a sustainable activity that can also be a rewarding past time. Therefore, it is the purpose and intent of this ordinance to permit the keeping and maintenance of poultry for egg sources or meat in a clean and sanitary manner that is not a nuisance to or detrimental to the public health, safety, and welfare of the community. 3. INVESTIGATION AND ENFORCEMENT. a. Officers designated by the city administrator shall have authority in the investigation and enforcement of this article, and no person shall interfere with, hinder or molest any such officer in the exercise of such powers. The officer shall make investigations as is necessary and may grant, deny, or refuse to renew application for permit, or terminate an existing permit under this article. 4. LICENSE DURATION AND FEE. a. The license duration to keep and raise chickens is a two (2) year duration which will expire on December 31 of the second year. Licenses may be revoked or denied by the City Council based on cruelty, negligence or nuisance. In such event, the property owner shall be provided with an opportunity to be heard. b. The initial fee for the license is $30, and then $15 upon renewal. 5. LIMITATIONS FOR KEEPING OF POULTRY. a. Residents on properties zoned R-1, single-family residential, may be permitted to keep and raise up to a maximum of ten (10) chickens under the following conditions and restrictions. i. Residents seeking approval to keep and raise chickens shall submit for an application, site plan, and coop specifications incorporating generally held best practices. Renewals may be approved administratively unless the city has received substantiated complaints or related violations have been noted during the previous year. ii. Coop structures shall be set back at least 5 feet from property lines and the subject home; coops shall only be located in the side and rear yards. iii. Coop size shall be a minimum of 4 square feet per chicken up to 40 square feet, not counting the run size. iv. Coops and the subject property shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary manner and may be subject to city inspection as may be deemed necessary. v. Neither roosters, nor fowl shall be permitted. vi. No slaughtering, butchering, beheading, culling, or breeding shall be permitted on the subject premises or used for commercial purposes. vii. Food shall be stored in water-tight, rodent-proof containers. viii. Dead chickens must be disposed of according to the Minnesota Board of Animal Health rules which require chicken carcasses to be disposed of as soon as possible after death, usually within forty-eight (48) to seventy-two (72) hours. Legal forms of chicken carcass disposal include burial, off-site incineration or rendering, or composting.