Agenda - Council - 06/11/1991 - Laserfiche WebLink

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CASE # 7 RESEARCH REGARDING POULTRY/FOWL REGULATIONS By: Zoning Administrator Sylvia Frolik Background: The issue of rules for keeping poultry and fowl has been a recent subject of discussion at City Council. For the 10 years I have been associated with the City, Staff has been interpreting City Code in the following way with regard to poultry and fowl. On anything less than 20 acres, poultry and fowl may be kept on a property so long as it does not become a public nuisance; on parcels greater than 20 acres, there is no limit to the number of farm animals that may be kept as long as it doesn't become a public nuisance. The interpretation seems logical as I, and staff members before me, did not believe the intent was to prohibit persons with up to 19 acres from having chickens. However, I do receive a great deal of calls regarding rules for poultry and fowl and strongly believe that our ordinance needs to be reviewed and amended for clarification. A copy of Ramsey City Code Section 5.09 (Animals and Fowl) is enclosed for your information. As for the complaint that City Council received on May 14 regarding the keeping of poultry, fowl and a goat at 8940 Hwy. #10 N.W., City Staff and Mediation Services have not been successful in resolving the issue between the parties involved. The City Attorney is now pursuing the matter as a public nuisance. I have again informed the property owner that he must apply for a conditional use permit in order to keep the goat. Observations: I have contacted other cities to find out their rules for the keeping of poultry and fowl and have the following information to provide: DAYTON: No farm animals allowed on less than 2 acres. Definition of farm animals includes horse, mule, donkey, pony, cattle, sheep, goat, swine, chicken, goose, duck, turkey, rabbit. CITY UNKNOWN: No fowl may be kept on parcels less than 2.5 acres in size. In determining such real estate parcel size and number of animals or fowl allowed, 1/2 acre shall be considered as being used for residence, lawns and shall be excluded from acreage size. (In other words, I believe this translates to a minimum of 3 acres is required to keep foWl and poultry.) Twenty fowl are permitted on a 2.5 acre parcel (3 acres allowing for residence and lawn) and one additional acre is required for every additional 10 fowl. It requires a special animal permit from the City Council and 5 acres in order to keep poultry and fowl. COON RAPIDS It requires 5 acres to keep poultry or fowl.