Source: https://hensforhouston.com/ordinances/current-ordinance/
Timestamp: 2017-06-28 17:22:32
Document Index: 38974374

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 6', '§ 1', '§ 2', '§ 6', '§ 6', '§ 6', '§ 6', '§ 6', '§ 1']

Current « Hens for Houston
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Current Houston Ordinance Regarding Chickens
The Houston city code essentially prohibits chickens on most city lots. Up to 30 (roosters or hens) can be kept on 65×125 ft2 , as long as the coop is 100 ft from any building, school, residence not owned by the chicken keeper. It is also prohibited to compost the manure. The only exception is for a medical condition requiring unfertilized eggs, and then up to 7 hens can be kept.
Code of Ordinances, Chapter 6, Article II, Sections 6-31, 6-33 – 36, 6-38
According to the Houston Heights Association, anti-chicken sentiment in Houston is almost 100 years old, from1913, with an ordinance which passed during the same time as anti-livestock rules. One concern was that chickens should not be allowed to roam loose, a valid point for any pet. But the result today is an ordinance that goes too far beyond addressing this concern. Houston needs a new ordinance that reflects the changing needs of the city, and isn’t mired in a century-old mindset.
Click Here to go to the full text of the Houston City Ordinances on municode.com
Download the full text of the ordinance in easy 2 pg PDF format.
Full Text of the Current Ordinance:
ARTICLE II. KEEPING OF FOWL, RABBITS AND GUINEA PIGS Sec. 6-31. Location restrictions for fowl.
It shall be unlawful, except as provided in sections 6-33 and 6-34 of this Code, for any person to keep, possess or maintain in the city any chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, pea-fowls, or any other bird or fowl, except parakeets, canaries, parrots, cockatoos, macaws or similar size birds, or any pens, enclosures, or other structures in which any such fowl are kept or possessed within 100 feet of any actual residence or habitation of human beings, or within 100 feet of any church, school or hospital, other than the residence of the keeper, possessor or owner of such fowl, such distance of 100 feet to be measured in a straight line from the nearest point of any pen, enclosure, or other such structure in which such fowl are kept to the nearest point of such actual residence or place of human habitation, or church, school or hospital.
(Code 1968, § 6-37; Ord. No. 70-1448, § 1, 8-25-70; Ord. No. 99-404, § 2, 4-28-99)
(Omitted, N/A: Sec. 6-32. Location restrictions for rabbits or guinea pigs.)
Sec. 6-33. Keeping for commercial purposes.
It shall be unlawful for the owner or keeper of any geese, ducks, turkeys, chickens or other domestic fowl or rabbits or guinea pigs, where such fowl or animals are kept for sale or for any purpose other than domestic use or home consumption, to allow such fowl or animals to roam in open pens on the ground; but such owner or keeper may keep such fowl or animals for sale or commercial purposes, provided he keeps such fowl or animals in batteries or coops arranged inside of buildings and kept in a sanitary condition, and he shall remove all droppings from such buildings, batteries or coops at least once each day, and disinfect and deodorize such buildings, batteries or coops at least once each day. (Code 1968, § 6-39)
Sec. 6-34. Keeping for public showing.
Notwithstanding anything in this article, it shall be lawful for any person to keep, possess and maintain chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, pea-fowls, guineas, rabbits and guinea pigs for the purpose of a legitimate showing of such fowl and animals for purely public exhibition, provided the conditions provided in this article are observed. (Code 1968, § 6-40)
Sec. 6-35. Limitation on number to be kept.
No more than 30 chickens, or 30 turkeys, or 30 geese, or 30 ducks, or 30 pea-fowls, or 30 rabbits, or 30 guinea pigs, and no more than 40 of any combination of such chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, pea-fowls, rabbits and guinea pigs shall be kept upon any lot or enclosure of the size of 65 by 125 feet or less. In the event that such fowl or animals are kept in a larger enclosure, the number so kept and maintained may be increased only in the ratio that the above figures of 30 and 40 bear to the increase in the square footage of such larger enclosure.
(Code 1968, § 6-41)
Sec. 6-36. Maintenance of premises where kept.
(a) Pens, hutches, or houses or any enclosure in which fowl, rabbits or guinea pigs are kept must be cleaned and disinfected daily, must be limed every two days and must be kept in a clean and sanitary condition at all times.
(b) Litter and droppings from such fowl, rabbits and guinea pigs must be collected daily and stored in a flytight container and hauled away at intervals of not to exceed seven days. Rabbit and guinea pig hutches must have traps or floors to keep droppings or urine from such animals off the ground.
(Code 1968, § 6-42)
(Omitted, N/A: Sec. 6-37. Keeping guineas prohibited.)
Sec. 6-38. Permit to keep chicken hens.
Notwithstanding anything in this article it shall be lawful for any person who has obtained a permit therefor from the health officer to keep, possess and maintain no more than seven chicken hens for the purpose of providing such person with fresh unfertilized eggs. A revocable permit therefor may be issued by the health officer for the keeping of seven or less chicken hens under the following conditions:
(1) The applicant shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the health officer written certification from a licensed physician that in the opinion of such physician the applicant has need of fresh unfertilized chicken eggs for serious reasons pertaining to said person’s health.
(2) The health officer, after inspection by him or his authorized representative, has determined that the premises where the applicant proposes to keep the chicken hens is adequate for the number of chicken hens for which a permit is sought, and that if properly maintained, the keeping of the chicken hens will not create a health hazard or nuisance.
(3) The permit, if granted, may be revoked upon finding pursuant to a public hearing conducted by the health officer that the permittee cannot or will not maintain the premises in a sanitary condition or that the permittee has failed to permit inspection by the health officer of the place where the hens are kept, provided that the permittee shall be given prior notice of the date, time and place of the hearing setting forth the grounds upon which the revocation is based and affording the permittee an opportunity to appear in person or through counsel, present evidence and cross examine witnesses appearing at such hearing.
(Code 1968, § 6-44; Ord. No. 68-308, § 1, 2-27-68)
End of Article II: Keeping of Fowl, Rabbits and Guinea Pigs