06. Ordinance 1708 - Animal Regulations - 1st ReadingCharles A. Harball Office of City Attorn
City Attorney 201 First Avenue East
P.O. Box 1997
Kalispell, MT 59903-1997
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1113111301 110051 t 11IA
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Mayor Tammi Fisher
and Kalispell City Council
Charles Harball, City Attorney
Jane Howington, City Manager
Tel 406.758.7709
Fax 406.758.7771
charball@kalispell.com
Ordinance No. 1708 — an Ordinance Amending the City of Kalispell
Code That Regulates Fowl — First Reading
December 5, 2011 — Regular Council Meeting
BACKGROUND: Ordinance No. 1708 amends the existing city code at Article I of Chapter 4
that provides the general regulation of domestic animals in the city. Much discussion has taken
place by the Council and with participation of the public. The amendment places limitations and
regulations on the keeping of fowl in the city. Based upon the discussion with the public the
Council advised the staff that more regulation of the keeping of chickens may be necessary such
as used by the City of Bozeman. A violation of this amendment is proposed to be treated as a
civil infraction.
RECONEVEENDATION: That City Council give consideration to and pass Ordinance No. 1708
on first reading.
FISCAL IAIPACTS: There are no anticipated fiscal impacts to the City from these proposed
amendments.
Respectfully submitted,
"N
Charles Harball, City Attorney Yane Howington, City Managel
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WHEREAS, the Kalispell Municipal Ordinances regarding the regulation of fowl kept within
the City has recently been the subject of discussion and debate by the public and
the City Council; and
WHEREAS, members of City Council and staff have regularly heard from city residents
complaining that sounds and smells generated by fowl kept on private property
within the city create a nuisance; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interests of the City and its residents to amend the Municipal Code
regulating fowl in the City to mitigate the factors that create a nuisances that have
been identified as reflected in Exhibit "A" attached hereto.
110-tV, THEREFORE, BE IFF ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CJTY OF
KALISPELL AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION I. The City of Kalispell Municipal Code codified at Chapter 4 of the
Code is hereby amended as set forth in Exhibit "A", attached
hereto and incorporated fully herein by this reference.
SECTION 11. The City Attorney is hereby authorized and directed to recodify
this Ordinance.
SECTION 111. This Ordinance shall take effect thirty (30) days after its final
passage.
PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND SIGNED BY THE MAYOR OF
THE CrrY OF KALISPELL THIS DAY OF DECEMBER, 2011.
Tammi Fisher
Mayor
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Theresa White
City Clerk
D. Limitations on Fowl: No fowl shall be permitted other than chickens which shall be
permitted only under the following limitations:
No roosters shall be kept or maintained within the City,
Chickens may be kept in the following locations subject to all other standards in
this article:
a. On a single -household parcel;
b. On a parcel under unitary ownership with more than one dwelling on site; and
c. On residential parcels under common ownership.
3. The number of chickens authorized per permit shall comply with the following subject
to all other standards in this article:
a. For the first 3,000 square feet of any residential parcel up to four chickens;
b. For each additional 1,000 square feet of any residential parcel one additional
hen up to a maximum of 15; and
c. For parcels with multiple households the physical area used for determining the
maximum number of allowed hens is exclusive to each permit and may not
overlap. This may restrict the number of permits issued on a given parcel
4. General Regulations for the Keeping of Chickens
a. No chickens may run at large within the corporate limits of the city. All
chickens must be contained with the permittee's property boundary.
b. The permittee shall provide the chickens with a covered predator -proof
chicken house that is thoroughly ventilated, of sufficient size to admit free
movement of the chickens. The chicken house must be adjacent to and provide
free access to the chicken enclosure. Any heat source or electrical facilities
installed in a chicken house must comply with all adopted building and electrical
codes of the city.
c. The permittee shall provide the chickens with a predator -proof enclosure of
sufficient size to admit free movement of the chickens. Chicken enclosures may
be movable.
d. Chickens shall be secured within the enclosure from sunset to sunrise.
e. Chicken enclosures and houses must be kept in a neat and sanitary condition at
all times, and must be cleaned on a regular basis so as to prevent offensive odors
f. Chickens shall have continuous access to adequate food and water.
g. Stored feed must be kept in a rodent- and Predator -proof container.
h. Chickens shall be maintained in a healthy condition. Ill chickens shall either
receive appropriate medical care or be culled.
i. No chicken house shall be located closer than 20 feet to any structure inhabited
by someone other than the chicken owner, custodian or keeper, and not closer
than five feet to any property line. Chicken houses may be movable but must
comply with all standards of this section.
i. No chicken shall be kept in a manner so as to create noxious odors or noise of a
loud, persistent and habitual nature.
i. No chickens shall be slaughtered within the public view.
5. Permits required/inspections.
a. Prior to the keeping of any chickens, a party seeking to keep chickens shall
obtain a permit from the citespermit fee may be established by resolution of the
City Council and may be revised from time to time Only one permit shall be
issued per household. Issuance of a permit is a discretionary
b. The owner of the chickens shall keep a copv of all signed city approval
documents for inspection upon request by an animal control officer.
c. A permit for chickens under this section does not relieve any party from any
requirement to obtain an offer permit or other necessary pprovals for any
structure, fence, lighting, heat source, etc. as required by this Code.
d. A party wishing to keep chickens shall submit an application to keep chickens
to the Kalispell Police Department — Animal Control. The application shall
contain the following:
i. A sketch_ identifying the property boundaries, the location of all
structures on the property and distances between said structures and
between the property boundaries. The sketch must also indicate the
location of the chicken enclosure and chicken house.
ii. The name, address, and signed statement of the property owner, if
different from the applicant consenting to the keeping of the applied for
number of chickens on the property.
iii. Whether the number of chickens kept will be between one and six or
between seven and 15.
iv. A description of the enclosure and chicken house, including materials
used and cubic footage.
v. A sworn statement that all statements contained in the application are
true and that the permit holder shall keep the chickens in compliance with
the terms of the permit, application and this section.
6. For any party wishingto o keep seven or more chickens up to the maximum number
allowed, the party shall have the location inspected by city animal control officer prior
to the keeping of seven or more chickens. The animal control officer shall review the
enclosure, chicken house, and all matters related to the keeping of chickens.
7. If, during any inspection, the animal control officer determines changes are to be made
to the enclosure, chicken house, or to the number of chickens to be kept or require
mitigation for the impact to adjacent properties such as fencing or other screening, the
applicandpermit holder shall comply with the order of the animal control officer. A
person aggrieved by a decision of the animal control officer may gppeal to the city
manager who shall review all applicable information and issue a decision on the appeal
Appeals from the city manager's decision on an application permit or order of an animal
control officer's decision may be made to the City Council. At the time of final approval
by animal control the officer shall indicate final approval on the permit and keep a record
of final approval.
8. A permit to keep chickens is specific to the permit holder and the location of the
permit. A person wishing to move chickens to a different property shall obtain a new
permit. A new resident of a property who intends to keep chickens shall obtain a new
permit regardless of whether chickens were kept on the property or continue to be kept on
the property_
9. Approval of a permit to keep chickens authorizes the permit holder to keep the number
of chickens in the manner described on the application and permit Any increase to the
number of chickens to seven or more up to the maximum number allowed or a
significant change to the manner of keeping said chickens shall require a new permit
10. Changes to the standards contained in this section shall require any permit holder to
comply with any new standard, regulation or condition and no notice to a permit holder
is required prior to enforcement of any new standard beyond that required for adoption of
a new or revised ordinance.
11. Protest and hearing. For the keeping of seven or more chickens a request by the
occupants, owners or residents of two or more adjacent properties for the City Council to
conduct a hearing on the application shall subject the application to a hearing before the
City Council. Adjacent properties shall include those properties adjacent by a public
right-of-wav and include those connected by property corners. If a hearing is held the
council may issue a permit if the council finds:
a. That the site for the proposed use is adequate in size to accommodate such the
keeping of chickens, and all yards, spaces fences and enclosures are adequate to
properly relate such use with the land and uses in the vicinitys
b. That the proposed use will have minimal adverse impact on adjacent properties
or residents, and
c. That any conditions stated in the approval are in addition to those required in
this article and are deemed necessary, and shall apply and be followed by the
applicant and the property owner as a condition of approval
12. Enforcement. Upon receiving a complaint of a possible violation the animal control
officer will investigate and determine if a violation of this section exists. If the animal
control officer determines a violation exists, the officer may serve upon the owner or
occupier of the property with a warning and directive to take corrective action or may
immediately issue a violation notice and citation into Kalispell Municipal Court
13. Pre�e,k„ ewn t � ntaii the ,.h�,.i-� Chickens must be maintained in a
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manner that does not cause adverse impact to neighboring property owners. Potential
negative impacts on adjacent properties include offensive odors and the unusual presence
of insects, rodents or feathers. Evidence of these negative impacts are sufficient if they
are perceptible outside of the boundaries of the subject property. Failure to maintain the
property in accordance with these requirements shall be considered a violation of this
section.