Source: http://cooperyoung.weebly.com/need-to-know-ordinances-for-urban-chicken-farmers.html
Timestamp: 2019-02-21 18:18:50
Document Index: 426218587

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 5', '§ 1', '§ 7', '§ 5', '§ 1', '§ 7', '§ 5', '§ 1', '§ 7', '§ 22', '§ 24', '§ 16', '§ 32']

Need-to-Know Ordinances for Urban Chicken Farmers - MicroMemphis: Cooper-Young
Need-to-Know Ordinances for Urban Chicken Farmers
Photo by: Katie Hannings
by Alice Hart/MicroMemphis Reporter
Urban chicken farmers have a lot to consider before purchasing their first chick. Otis Tidwell, Manager of Code Enforcement for the city of Memphis, does not see urban chickens as a growing trend; however, Cooper-Young residents considering raising chickens should be aware of five local ordinances for keeping livestock.
Before purchasing chickens, suitable living arrangements should be prepared. City ordinances require water, shelter, ventilation and food sufficient for the animal’s health and safety. For each chicken, two square feet of indoor space, inside a coop, for instance, and ten square feet of outdoor space, referred to as “run space”, are recommended.
Run space is important for the health and well-being of chickens, and insufficient space may cause chickens to wander away from the backyard. The second ordinance emphasizes that animals should be kept clear of roads, alleys or lots in the city. This is a sanitation issue just as much as a safety issue: free-roaming livestock can leave refuse in their wake.
Chickens are ideal for small-scale farming, and Memphis city ordinance does not require a permit to keep them. Permits aren’t required for ducks, geese, turkeys and other fowl either; however, a permit is required to keep livestock such as cows, sheep, horses and goats. A permit may be granted by the health department, if keeping the animal won’t disturb the public health.
The final two ordinances for keeping chickens apply to all animals in the city limits. Chickens, like dogs or cats, are prohibited from making enough noise to disturb neighbors, and, to discourage vermin, food should be stored in rat-proof containers.
Tidwell, when asked about chicken noise or sanitation violations in Cooper-Young, said that he hasn’t taken any complaints.
Complaints called in to code enforcement by neighbors will be investigated by officers, and breaking an ordinance could result in a fine starting at $50.
One of the simplest ways to avoid a complaint is to have a conversation with neighbors to make sure that they are okay with chickens. Keeping an open dialogue could solve an easy problem and prevent a complaint from being filed.
Sec. 8-8-1 - General maintenance requirements for animals and fowl. No animal or fowl shall be kept or confined where the water, shelter, ventilation and food are not sufficient and wholesome for the preservation of its health and safe condition. No animal or fowl shall be kept in such place or condition as to become a nuisance either because of odor or contagion of disease. (Code 1985 § 5-2; Ord. 3189 § 1, 3-9-82; Code 1967 § 7-20)
Sec. 8-8-2 - Running at large of livestock and fowl prohibited. It is unlawful for any person in charge of any animal, including, but not limited to cattle, swine, sheep, horses, mules, goats or any offensive animal, or any chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys or other fowl, to permit it to run at large upon any street, alley or unenclosed lot within the city. (Code 1985 § 5-3; Ord. 3189 § 1, 3-9-82; Code 1967 § 7-21)
Sec. 8-8-10 - Keeping of livestock within one thousand feet of residence or place of business. No person shall keep any cattle, cows, sheep, horses, mules, swine or goats within one thousand (1,000) feet of any residence or place of business in the city without a permit to do so from the health officer. The health officer shall issue permits only when the keeping of such animals in the yard or buildings, and under the circumstances set forth in the application for the permit, shall not injuriously affect the public's health. This section shall not apply to slaughterhouses or city parks. (Code 1985 § 5-11; Ord. 3189 § 1, 3-9-82; Code 1967 § 7-30)
Sec. 9-68-7 - Noisy animals and fowl. The keeping of any animal, bird or fowl which, by causing frequent or long continued noise, shall disturb the comfort or repose of any person in the vicinity is prohibited. (Code 1985 § 22-7; Code 1967 § 24-7)
Sec. 9-80-2 - Storage of chicken and animal feed. All food and feed kept within the city for feeding chickens, cows, pigs, horses and other animals shall be kept and stored in rat-free and ratproof containers, compartments or rooms, unless kept in a ratproof building. (Code 1985 § 16-362; Code 1967 § 32-78)
Click here to read Katie's report on Backyard Chickens in Cooper-Young
For more information on raising chickens in an urban setting, visit: