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Portland, Oregon, allows up to three pygmy goats in a residential backyard without a
<br />Permit (§s3.95 o15
<br />There are, however, many common aspects
<br />to these regulations. Most of them limit the
<br />number and type of livestock that can be
<br />kept in the city, establish setbacks for where
<br />the animals can be kept on the property,
<br />and require a certain amount of space per
<br />animal. Some also require a license.
<br />Micro -Livestock Standards
<br />Most cities have not taken a comprehensive
<br />regulatory approach to micro -livestock,
<br />but appear to allow particular livestock in
<br />response to citizen lobbying. Hundreds of
<br />cities have legalized chickens in the past
<br />few years. And the growing popularity of
<br />beekeeping means many cities have also
<br />adopted separate ordinances to allow for it.
<br />For example, South Portland, Maine (§§3-51
<br />& 3-710; Cary, North Carolina (§5.3.40) &
<br />(0)); Ypsilanti, Michigan (§§14-13 & 14-171);
<br />and Littleton, Colorado (§§10-4-4 & 10-4-14)
<br />have recently passed ordinances separately
<br />allowing for both chickens and bees.
<br />Some cities make idiosyncratic
<br />choices. For example, Ponca City, Oklahoma,
<br />allows miniature horses and donkeys, but
<br />still bans all other fowl and livestock (§7-3-
<br />10). Sebring, Florida, allows two hens and
<br />two pot-bellied pigs (§4-1). And Carson City,
<br />Nevada, allows chickens, pigs, rabbits, and
<br />bees, but no goats (§§7.o2 & 7.13.19o).
<br />And some only allow goats. In 2011,
<br />Loveland, Ohio, allowed two pygmy goats on
<br />residential properties of any size (§5o5.16).
<br />It defines pygmy as a goat no heavier than
<br />6o pounds. The choice of such a light weight
<br />is curious, given that many micro -goat
<br />breeds weigh more than 6o pounds. Also,
<br />many breeds of dogs weigh up to three times
<br />as much, but most cities do not restrict the
<br />size of dogs. In 2010, Carl Junction, Missouri,
<br />allowed just one pygmy goat on a property
<br />of any size (§2o5.2oo(C)). Because goats
<br />are herd animals, this limit encourages poor
<br />animal husbandry practices.
<br />Meanwhile, many cities are legalizing
<br />a wider variety of livestock. For example,
<br />Denver allows up to eight ducks or chickens
<br />and up to two dwarf goats and two beehives
<br />(§8-91; §11.8.5.1). But it requires 16 square
<br />feet of permeable land available to each
<br />chicken and 13o square feet for each goat.
<br />The city also requires adequate shelter to
<br />protect the animals from the elements and
<br />from predators. This means that to keep the
<br />full complement of eight chickens and two
<br />goats, the yard would have to have approxi-
<br />mately 40o square feet of space. For chick-
<br />ens, ducks, and goats, Denver has a 15-foot
<br />setback from neighboring structures used
<br />for dwelling and requires that the animals
<br />be kept in the rear half of the lot. For bees,
<br />Denver has a five-foot setback from any
<br />property line and requires that hives be kept
<br />in the back third of the lot.
<br />Seattle allows up to eight domestic
<br />fowl, four beehives, one potbelly pig, and
<br />two pygmy goats, or no pig and three pygmy
<br />goats, on any lot (§23.42.o52). It then em-
<br />ploys a step system for additional animals.
<br />For lots larger than 20,000 square feet, an
<br />additional small animal —which means a
<br />dog, cat, or goat, may be kept on the lot.
<br />Seattle also allows other farm animals, in-
<br />cluding cows, horses, or sheep, to be kept
<br />on lots that are greater than 20,000 square
<br />feet. Seattle allows one of these animals per
<br />10,00o square feet. Also, it has a 50-foot
<br />setback from the neighboring property for
<br />all farm animals, not including potbelly pigs,
<br />fowl, or miniature goats. Finally, Seattle has
<br />a separate ordinance that restricts goats
<br />to their premises, "except for purposes of
<br />transport or when on property other than
<br />ZONINGPRACTICE 4.13
<br />AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION I page 5
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