Williams Municipal Code Ch. 6.48 Miscellaneous Animals

A. It is unlawful for any person to keep any geese, ducks, or turkeys within three hundred feet of a building or structure occupied, used or maintained as a dwelling.

1. Each parcel may have up to four female chickens

2. All chickens and chicken coops must be permitted

3. Chickens may not be slaughtered on premises.

4. Coops may not be closer than ten feet to any fence or property line.

5. Chickens must be confined and properly caged in a coop at all times.

6. Chickens are prohibited from being a noise disturbance.

7. The coop must be well-maintained and clean.

8. Chicken enclosures shall be a minimum of twenty floor square feet (combination of nesting boxes and contained run space).

9. Coops must have four walls and a roof constructed of suitable material.

10. Coops may only be kept in the rear yard.

11. Nesting boxes in the coop are required.

12. Chickens must be provided with adequate food and water, along with adequate ventilation.

13. Feed must be stored properly to prevent spoilage and access to other animals and rodents.

14. Feces and feathers must be removed every twenty-four hours and shall be stored in an airtight container prior to disposal. Use of city issued garbage containers is acceptable.

15. Chickens shall be kept for personal use only. Selling chickens, eggs, chicken manure, or the breeding of chickens for commercial purposes is prohibited.

16. Manure must be kept in a fly-tight bin and not to be located closer than ten feet to any property line.

17. You will be required to submit a site plan of your property showing where the coop will be located, with the dimensions of the coop and the distances to the property lines clearly drawn.

18. The maximum height of the coop shall be six feet.

19. The maximum size of the coop shall be one hundred twenty square feet.

20. If the coop is larger than one hundred twenty square feet a building permit must be obtained.

21. Prior to permit issuance, documentation that notices were sent to all adjacent residentially zoned properties shall be required.

22. Upon any violation, the city may revoke the corresponding permit. The issuance of any future permit may be denied following such revocation.

B. It is unlawful for any person to keep any rooster over sixteen weeks old within the city.

C. It is unlawful for any person to keep any peafowl (peacocks) or guinea fowl within the city.

D. The number of animals allowed shall be based on lot area as follows:

1. Lots with an area of one acre or more: No combination of domestic fowl to exceed thirty and combination to include no more than twenty-five chickens, or four geese, or four turkeys or ten ducks.

2. Lots with an area of one-half acre or more: No combination of domestic fowl to exceed twenty and combination to include no more than fifteen chickens, three geese, two turkeys, or six ducks.

E. The issue born of such animals which increases the total number upon the premises beyond the numbers permitted shall be removed no later than sixteen weeks from birth.

(Ord. 154-07 § 3(part), 2007).

(Ord. No. 273-25, § 3, 9-17-2025)

A. Each property keeping chickens MUST have a permit. Chicken permits are twenty-five dollars annually.

B. Chickens must be kept inside an appropriate coop that is permitted. Chicken coop permits are a one-time fee of forty dollars.

(Ord. No. 273-25, § 4, 9-17-2025)

Domestic fowl shall be kept in a sanitary enclosure which shall not be located within ten feet of any building or property line.

(Ord. 154-07 § 3(part), 2007).

(Ord. No. 273-25, § 3, 9-17-2025)

No person shall keep more than seven rabbits.

(Ord. 154-07 § 3(part), 2007).

Rabbits shall be enclosed within a sanitary facility which shall not be located less than twenty feet from any building or property line.

(Ord. 154-07 § 3(part), 2007).

A. Animals including, but not limited to, dogs, cats, guinea pigs, hamsters, white rats, mice, parakeets, parrots, and other animals that are generally considered by the public to be tame, and commonly considered as pets, may be kept.

B. Domestic swine may be kept as household pets as provided by this title.

(Ord. 154-07 § 3(part), 2007).

A. No person shall keep more than three dogs over the age of four months.

B. No person shall keep more than five cats over the age of four months.

C. Except when kept completely within a dwelling unit or otherwise provided for in this title, restrictions applicable to rabbits as set forth in Sections 6.48.030 and 6.48.040 of this chapter shall apply to those animals, except dogs and cats, covered in Section 6.48.050(A) of this chapter.

(Ord. 154-07 § 3(part), 2007).

No person shall keep more than two hives of bees.

(Ord. 154-07 § 3(part), 2007).

Bees shall be kept at least five hundred feet from any building or structure in which persons or animals normally live or are kept.

(Ord. 154-07 § 3(part), 2007).

This chapter shall not apply to those persons specified in Section 6.44.020.

(Ord. 154-07 § 3(part), 2007).