Des Moines Iowa Chicken Ordinance
| Are Chickens Allowed in this location | Yes |
| Max Chickens Allowed | 25-50 per acre with 50 more per additional acre |
| Roosters Allowed | Yes |
| Permit Required | No |
| Coop Restrictions | Must be 25\\\' from neighboring residence, of sufficient size as decided by breed associations, and may not be in front yard |
| City/Organization Contact name | |
| Additional Information | Sec. 18-4. Agricultural nondomestic animals and exotic animals. (a) No horse, cow, calf, swine, sheep, goat, llama, camel, ostrich, peacock, chicken, goose, duck or other agricultural animal or any nondomestic animal shall be kept within the city\\\'s corporate limits on any lot or parcel of land unless such parcel of land shall be an acreage, except as provided under subsections (f), (g) and (h) of this section and article IV of this chapter. The area where any such animal is kept on the acreage shall be 75 feet from any neighboring residential dwelling and not located in a front yard area. The keeping of bees in hives is exempted from this section. (b) No such animal shall be kept on the same lot or premises with any multiple dwelling. (c) Not more than two such animals may be kept on an acreage, except that one additional animal may be added for each additional acre over one acre. An exception is made for fowl, which may be 25 in number per acre and 50 for each additional acre. (d) Any animal kept on an acreage shall be kept for personal use only and not for commercial use except as provided in subsections (f) and (g) of this section. (e) No person having the care of any cow or cattle of any kind, horse, swine, goat or other animal, domestic or nondomestic, shall permit the animal to run at large as defined in subsection 18-55(a) of this chapter within the corporate limits. (f) Subsections (a), (b), and (d) of this section shall not be deemed to prohibit the keeping or maintaining of any animal which was legally kept upon any land on June 25, 2009, provided no additional animals to those legally kept upon such date shall be placed upon any land on or after June 26, 2009, and any animal which dies, is removed or ceases to be kept or maintained under this section may not be replaced as long as the total number of animals kept exceeds the number allowable under this Code. In order to establish a right to keep animals under this subsection, a person having control over land must make application to the community development department on or before June 30, 2010, upon forms to be provided by the department. To establish that animals were legally kept on land on June 25, 2009, the community development director or the director\\\'s designee may make reasonable requests, including a request to inspect land, to verify any claim of exemption. (g) Subsection (f) of this section notwithstanding, the keeping of animals for commercial or agricultural purposes which was lawful on June 25, 2009, may continue so long as the commercial or agricultural use is not discontinued. In order to establish a right to keep animals for agricultural or commercial purposes under this subsection, a person having control of the land must make application to the community development department on or before June 30, 2010, upon forms to be provided by the department. To establish that animals were legally kept for agricultural or commercial purposes on June 25, 2009, the community development director or the director\\\'s designee may make reasonable requests, including a request to inspect land, to verify the claim of exemption. (h) Small caged animals and fowl such as falcons, pigeons, pheasants, quail, chickens, ducks, geese, rabbits, ferrets and other small animals and fowl which are of such type and nature that state and national associations exist establishing norms for breeding, confining and rearing shall be allowed, provided that: (1) Cages, hutches, coops, cotes, lofts or other confinement shall be at least 25 feet away from any neighboring residence; such enclosures shall be of sufficient size to house the number of animals or fowl permitted by state or national standards. (2) The area is maintained free of odors, insects and rodents, and disturbing noises such as crowing, cackling and gobbling, causing no safety or health hazards to the general public or interfering with the enjoyment of life and property by any neighboring resident. (3) Animals and fowl included in this subsection shall be fed in the confines of their enclosures; all grains and food shall be stored in rodentproof containers. (4) On any parcel of land less than an acre, such animals shall be limited to two species and 30 in total number, unless by state and national standards more are permitted. (5) On any parcel of land of one acre or more, such animals shall be limited to six species and 50 in total number for the first acre and 50 for each additional acre, unless by state and national standards more are permitted. (6) No animal or fowl under this subsection may be maintained, enclosed or fenced in the front yard of a dwelling or within a dwelling. (7) The young produced by any animals or fowl of this nature may be maintained with the parent animals for a period of approximately eight weeks but in no case more than ten weeks, unless by state and national standards a longer period is required. (i) Nothing in subsection (f), (g) or (h) of this section shall be construed as abrogating any requirement in this Code which requires the licensing or permitting of any animal or the keeping thereof. (j) Except as provided in subsection (f), (g) or (h) of this section, this article shall apply to all persons harboring, any animal in a manner not consistent with this article. (k) Animals inclusive of fowl maintained for educational purposes by schools, day care centers, vocational agricultural programs and for other public education programs; animals inclusive of fowl maintained for display at Blank Park Zoo, state and county fairs, science center, circuses; primates maintained for research or educational programs by the Iowa Primate Learning Sanctuary; and the bringing in of such animals and fowl on a temporary basis for exhibits or shows are exempt from this section, provided all other requirements under this Code are met. (l) Any person presently owning or maintaining animals that are not in compliance with this chapter may make application to the city manager or the manager\\\'s designee for a variance, provided such application meets the following conditions: (1) The keeping of such animals has been of long-standing duration, that is, in excess of three years, or is presently under commercial contract. (2) The area where such animals are maintained is so located as to cause no safety or health hazards to the general public or interferes with the enjoyment of life and property by any neighboring resident. Any such variance is conditioned upon all circumstances for the granting of the variance remaining constant. The city manager or the manager\\\'s designee may revoke the variance at any time after notice and opportunity for comment by the applicant, of it is determined that due to changed circumstances, the presence of the animals is causing a safety or health hazard to the general public or interferes with the enjoyment of life and property by any neighboring resident. (C42, § 114-3; C54, C62, § 5-3; C75, § 7-5; O.9211; C79, C85, § 7-5; O.11,292, 11,558; C91, § 7-5; O.11,730, 13,011, 14,866, 14,904) |
| Link for more Information | http://library2.municode.com/default-test/home.htm?infobase=13242&doc_action=whatsnew |
| Information Last Updated | 2010-03-30 12:31:42 |
NOTE: This information was submitted by a member of our chicken forum. Please make sure to double check that this information is accurate before you proceed with raising chickens. Learn more about local chicken laws and ordinances.
