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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10.B.2. Backyard Chickens, Ordinance No. 885 .r. General Business 10. B. 2. SH.AKOI'EE TO: Mayor and City Council Mark McNeill, City Administrator FROM: Jeff Tate, Police Chief DATE: 06/17/2014 SUBJECT: Backyard Chickens, Ordinance No. 885 (A) Action Sought Council is asked to consider Ordinance No. 885, an Ordinance amending Shakopee City Code Section 10.22 pertaining to the keeping of hen chickens. Background There have been multiple requests from Shakopee residents calling for an ordinance allowing for backyard chickens within city limits. Several metro cities currently have ordinances that allow for the keeping of chickens in residential areas. The police department has reviewed several ordinances from metro cities as well as contacted those departments to determine what impacts allowing of these animals has had in terms of calls for service. Through this research the police department has been able to identify what we feel are best practices when implementing these types of ordinances. If council chooses to allow the keeping of backyard chickens within the city limits, the attached proposed ordinance amendment has conditions and restrictions that staff feel are in line with identified best practices. The proposed ordinance amendment would allow those who desire to keep up to five hen chickens on their property, provided they meet all conditions outlined in the ordinance. Chicken coops and runs must be located in the backyard and shall be screened from view with a solid fence or landscape buffer with a minimum height of four feet. Chickens would not be allowed outside the confinement, including in the home or garage at any time. All five chickens must be hens. The ordinance also outlines minimum requirements for the coop structure and food storage. Recommendation Staff recommends Ordinance 885. Budget Impact There is no budget impact. Relationship to Vision This action supports: Goal A: Keep Shakopee a safe and healthy community where residents can pursue active and quality lifestyles. Requested Action If council concurs, they should, by motion, adopt Ordinance 885, an ordinance of the City of Shakopee amending Shakopee City Code Section 10.22 pertaining to the keeping of hen chickens and authorize the publication of the approved ordinance summary. Attachments: Hen Chicken Ordinance 885 Summary of Hen Chicken Ordinance 885 ORDINANCE NO. 885, Fourth Series AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SHAKOPEE AMENDING SHAKOPEE CITY CODE SECTION 10.22 PERTAINING TO THE KEEPING OF HEN CHICKENS THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SHAKOPEE, MINNESOTA, ORDAINS: Section 1. Section 10.22, Subdivision 2 of the Shakopee City Code is amended to read as follows: Subd. 2. Keeping. It is unlawful for any person to keep any wild animal in any part of the City. It is unlawful for any person to keep any animal which is not approved by the United States Department of Agriculture, or the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, in any part of the City. Except as otherwise allowed in Subdivision 8 of this Section, farm animals, pot bellied pigs, and pygmy goats may be kept only in that portion of the City zoned for agricultural purposes or where these animals are a permitted, conditional, or accessory use. Section 2. Section 10.22 of the Shakopee City Code is amended by adding the following subdivision: Subd. 8. Hen Chickens A. No more than five hen chickens are allowed on any parcel of land in the City. B. Every person who owns, controls, keeps, maintains or harbors hen chickens must keep them confined on the premises at all times in a chicken coop or chicken run. Hen chickens are not allowed in any part of a house or garage. C. Any chicken coop or chicken run must comply with all applicable building and zoning codes and regulations. D. No chicken coop or run shall be constructed on any parcel of land before construction of the principal building. E. A chicken coop or run cannot be located in the front or side yard. F. A chicken coop or run must be set back at least fifty feet from any residential structure on any adjacent lot and at least ten feet from the property line. G. A chicken coop or run must be screened from view with a solid fence or landscaped buffer with a minimum height of four feet. H. A chicken coop can be no larger than ten square feet per chicken and cannot exceed six feet in height.A chicken run cannot exceed twenty square feet per chicken and the fencing cannot exceed six feet in height.A chicken run may be enclosed with wood or woven wire materials, and may allow chickens to contact the ground.A chicken run must have a protective overhead netting to keep the chickens separated from other animals. I. A chicken coop must be elevated a minimum of twelve inches and a maximum of twenty four inches above grade to ensure circulation beneath the coop. J. Chicken grains and feed must be stored in rodent-proof containers. K. No chicken may be kept or raised in a manner as to cause injury or annoyance to persons on other property in the vicinity by reason of noise, odor or filth. L. Any chicken running at large may be impounded by the City and, after being impounded for three days or more without being reclaimed by the owner, may be destroyed or sold. A person reclaiming any impounded chicken must pay the cost of impounding and keeping the same. Section 3.Effective Date. This ordinance becomes effective from and after its passage and publication. Passed in regular session of the City Council of the City of Shakopee,Minnesota held this 17th day of July,2014. Mayor of the City of Shakopee Attest: City Clerk Official Summary of Ordinance No. 885 The following is the official summary of Ordinance No. 885 Fourth Series, Approved by the City Council of the City of Shakopee, Minnesota on June17,2014 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SHAKOPEE AMENDING SHAKOPEE CITY CODE SECTION 10.22 PERTAINING TO THE KEEPING OF HEN CHICKENS 1. The ordinance amends the City Code by allowing a person to keep up to five hen chickens on a parcel of land. 2. The ordinance establishes requirements for the keeping of hen chickens and requirements for chicken coops and chicken runs. A printed copy of the ordinance is available for inspection by any person at the office of the City Clerk and at the Shakopee Library.