Frequently Asked Questions|Raising Livestock

Where can I raise and keep animals such as cattle, horses, goats, sheep, swine, poultry, ducks, geese, and rabbits?

AG (General Agricultural) properties have no limits to the number of livestock except that the animals must be kept in safe and humane conditions. Livestock may be raised on property in a Residential zoning district as long as the lot has a minimum of 2 acres and only 1 animal per acre. The only exceptions to this residential livestock limit are the following provisions for Backyard Chickens.

Backyard Chickens: The keeping of hens supports a local, sustainable food system by providing an affordable, nutritious food source of fresh eggs. The keeping of hens also provides free nitrogen-rich fertilizer; chemical-free pest control; animal companionship and pleasure; and weed control, among other notable benefits. This regulation is intended to make provision for the limited keeping of female chickens (Gallus domesticus), referred to as hens, for the health, convenience, and personal enjoyment benefits afforded by such use within single family residential districts provided that:

i. No more than 8 hens are kept on a residential lot as a non-commercial accessory use

(i) Said residential lot must be 20,000 sf or greater.

(ii) Residential lots greater than 8 acres may keep one additional hen per every whole acre over 8 acres.

ii. No rooster shall be kept upon the property.

iii. The slaughter of any hen on site is strictly prohibited.

iv. Hens shall be confined to a fenced enclosure located in backyard only. The enclosure shall be at least twenty five (25) feet from any property lines and fifty (50) feet from residential structures on adjacent properties, and shall enclose an area of not less than 10 sf per hen.

v. Within the fenced enclosure, a well-maintained structure (henceforth referred to as a coop) shall be required for the hens. The coop must be less than 15 feet in height and impermeable to rodents, wild birds, and predators, including dogs and cats, and must contain 2 sf per hen.

vi. The coop and area within the fenced enclosure must be clean and odorfree, kept in a neat and sanitary condition at all times, in a manner that will not disturb the use or enjoyment of neighboring lots due to noise, odor or other adverse impact.

vii. Odors from hens, hen waste, or other hen-related substances shall not be perceptible at the property boundaries.

viii. Provision must be made for the storage and removal of hen droppings and any dead birds. All stored droppings shall be covered by a fully enclosed structure with a roof or lid over the entire structure. All other droppings not used for composting or fertilizing shall be removed. In addition, the coop, enclosure and surrounding area must be kept free from trash and accumulated droppings. Dead hens must be disposed of in a sanitary manner.

ix. Perceptible noise from hens shall not be loud enough at the property boundaries to disturb persons of reasonable sensitivity.