Belmont Municipal Code Art. II Keeping Domestic Fowl or Livestock

The animals and fowl coming under the provisions of this article are any chicken, goose, duck, turkey, pigeon (except homing pigeon), dove, squab, or similar fowl, or hare, rabbit, monkey, cow, sheep, llama, horse or goat (except pygmy goats of the genus "Capra hircus" as regulated under article IV of chapter 5).

(Ord. No. 983, § 1, 2-11-03; Ord. No. 1011, § 1, 12-13-05)

It is hereby declared unlawful and a nuisance for any person or persons to keep and maintain animals and fowl unless said animals and fowl are kept and maintained pursuant to the provisions of this Article. Nothing in this Article shall prohibit a property owner from temporarily maintaining goats to clear vegetation for fire safety purposes provided the goats remain on the property no more than thirty (30) days within a one (1) year period, and are confined within a fenced area which does not extend beyond the property line. If the fence is electrified, signs shall be posted to advise the public that the fence is electrified.

(Ord. No. 983, § 1, 2-11-03)

It is hereby unlawful and a public nuisance for any person or persons to possess, keep or control within the city any animal or fowl mentioned in this article or permit or suffer any such animal or fowl to be kept or maintained unless the following requirements are complied with:

(1) Under no circumstances shall the animals and fowl hereinabove mentioned be permitted to run at large or to suffer or permit such animals and fowl to habitually create noise so as to continuously disturb the peace of any citizen. They shall be at all times confined within a suitable enclosure, coop, cage, stable, barn or shed, with enclosed runway. Such enclosure shall be of sufficient size to safely and adequately house, maintain and exercise the animals and fowl, and provide adequate shelter from the elements and from other animals.

(2) Such house, coop, cage, stable, barn, shed or runway shall at all times be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition; shall be cleaned once a week or more often if necessary; and shall at all times be free from offensive odors.

(3) Every such house, coop, cage, stable, barn, shed or enclosed runway shall at all times be kept in such condition as to comply with all sanitary rules and regulations of the city and the county health department.

(4) On any property housing five (5) or more adult animals, no part of any such house, coop, cage, stable, barn, shed or runway for such animals or fowl shall be placed within the required front, side or rear setbacks as delineated in the city zoning code.

(5) No more than twenty (20) adult animals shall be permitted upon any property.

(6) No rooster over four (4) months old shall be permitted within the city.

(Ord. No. 983, § 1, 2-11-03)

Notwithstanding anything herein contained to the contrary, it is hereby declared unlawful and a public nuisance for any person or persons to keep, maintain or possess a horse, cow, sheep, llama or goat within the city unless, in addition to all other conditions of this chapter, the following requirements are met:

(1) The minimum lot area upon which any horse, cow, sheep, llama or goat may be kept shall be one (1) acre; and two (2) of such animals may be kept on such a parcel.

(2) The minimum distance of the stable from any neighboring house existing at the time of issuance of the permit shall be one hundred (100) feet.

(3) The minimum distance of the stable building from any neighboring property line shall be forty (40) feet.

(4) The minimum distance of the corral from the neighboring property line or street line shall be twenty-five (25) feet.

(5) The minimum distance of the stable from the residence on the same lot shall be forty (40) feet.

(6) One (1) additional horse, cow, sheep, llama or goat may be kept on each one-half (½) acre in addition to the one-acre minimum.

(7) Minimum distance of stable from street or front property line shall be seventy-five (75) feet.

(8) Subject to the approval of the planning commission, horses, cows, sheep, llamas or goats may be kept in a pasture containing two (2) or more acres.

(Ord. No. 983, § 1, 2-11-03; Ord. No. 1011, § 1, 12-13-05)

It is hereby declared unlawful and a public nuisance for any person or persons to keep within the limits of the city any stallion, swine, bull, ram or billy goat.

(Ord. No. 983, § 1, 2-11-03)

It shall be unlawful and a public nuisance to keep any of the foregoing animals or fowl to be hatched, raised, bred or used for commercial purposes.

(Ord. No. 983, § 1, 2-11-03)

All horses, cows, sheep, llamas and goats within the city when not in use must be kept inside the enclosures at night. No person shall stake or tie or leave staked or tied within one hundred (100) feet of any inhabited residence any horse, cow, sheep, llama or goat in a vacant lot without the written consent of the occupant of such residence. All enclosures, barns and sheds in which there is kept any horse, cow, sheep, llama or goat shall be kept in a sanitary condition to comply with all sanitary rules and regulations. The manure shall be removed daily.

(Ord. No. 983, § 1, 2-11-03)