Below is a section of the Haines Township Zoning ordinance. If you plan to have Chickens and live in a zone that permits Chickens, complete the Zoning Application form and submit it for approval. ZONING PERMIT APPLICATION
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Zoning Ordinance Section 51.11.6 Non-Commercial Keeping of Chickens
A. Residents are permitted to keep chickens in the Agriculture (A), Village Mixed Use (V-1), Village Residential (V-2), Forested Conservation (FC) and Rural Residential (RR) Districts for personal use. Roosters are permitted for noncommercial purposes in all Zoning Districts except the Village Mixed Use (V-1) and Village Residential (V-2) Districts.
B. For any property within the Village Mixed Use (V-1) and Village Residential (V-2) Districts, the maximum number of chickens allowed shall be six (6).
C. Chickens shall be kept in a shingle roofed coop that is sanitary, ventilated, predator resistant, and enclosed in a way that contains the hens. An outdoor run is required which is predator proof and shall be enclosed so the chickens are contained.
D. The coop and run shall not be located in the front or side yard areas within the Village Mixed Use (V-1) and Village Residential (V-2) Districts. The location of the coop and run shall follow the setback requirements for accessory structures.
E. It shall be unlawful for the owner of any chickens to allow the same to run at large upon any of the common thoroughfares, sidewalks, passageways, play areas, parks, streets, alleys, or public highways or any place where people congregate or walk, or upon any public or private property. Any chicken not contained within an approved coop or run shall be deemed “at large.”
F. An owner of chickens within the Township is hereby required to house the same at all times under sanitary conditions so that the keeping of chickens shall not become either a public or private nuisance. The following provisions apply: 1. All chicken feces accumulated on private property shall be removed by using the approved sanitary method of double bagging and placed in the trash for collection unless composted as provided for below. 2. All coops and runs shall be maintained in a neat and sanitary condition and shall be cleaned as necessary to prevent any odor detectable at any property line of the lot on which the chickens are kept. In cases where chicken feces does accumulate on private property, the Township Ordinance Enforcement Officer may conduct an investigation, after which the accumulation may be declared a public health hazard or nuisance and the owner shall be ordered to remove and dispose of the accumulated feces in an approved manner. Written notice shall be provided to the owner of the property which has been declared a public health hazard or nuisance of such violation and a time period not to exceed seven (7) days shall be given to abate the violation.
G. It shall be unlawful for a person to spread, cause to be spread or to deposit chicken manure upon any ground or premises within the Township. However, chicken manure may be composted on the property where the chickens are housed and the composted material then applied to gardens and yards.
H. Slaughtering or butchering of chickens for personal consumption or religious practices shall be permitted, provided that it is done wholly on the property where the chickens are kept. Slaughtering or butchering shall be conducted only in an indoor location and any waste created from slaughtering or butchering shall be disposed of in a proper and sanitary manner. Commercial slaughtering or butchering is prohibited.
I. All feed, water and other items associated with the keeping of chickens shall be stored and dispensed in a way that prevents infestation by rats, mice, or other rodents or vectors. Failure to keep all feed, water and other items associated with the keeping of chickens in a clean and sanitary condition constitutes a violation of this Ordinance.
