Ferndale Michigan Chicken Ordinance
| Are Chickens Allowed in this location | Yes |
| Max Chickens Allowed | 3 |
| Roosters Allowed | No |
| Permit Required | Yes |
| Coop Restrictions | yes: coop must be over 150ft away from any building used by a person for habitation |
| City/Organization Contact name | Code Enforcement (248) 546-2365 Administration (248) 546-2388 Animal Control (248) 546-2394 |
| Additional Information | ORDINANCE REVISED JANUARY 2012 Sec. 5-8. Keeping of Chickens. (1) Any person residing in R-1 or R-2 residential zoned district property, in a single family detached structure, obtaining a permit from the city, may keep not more than three (3) hen chickens in the city for personal use only and not for any business or commercial use. Completed applications shall be submitted to the community and economic development department along with the fee which shall be determined by city council resolution. Application shall be made to the community and economic development department and shall include any drawings or other information required by the department. The department shall issue a permit where the application is in compliance with all requirements, regulations and ordinances of the city. Approved permit holders shall- schedule an inspection within thirty (30) days of permit issuance. Failure to schedule an inspection shall- result in an automatic revocation of the permit. If an inspection identifies noncompliance with any of the requirements set forth in (3), the permit holder shall have fifteen (15) days to achieve compliance with the requirements or the department may revoke the permit or seek prosecution of the violation under Chapter 26-19 of the Ferndale Code. Permits shall be valid for up to one (1) year, shall be nontransferable, site-specific and shall expire on December 31st of each year. A person who wishes to continue keeping chickens shall obtain a new permit prior to expiration of the previous permit. Application for a new permit shall be pursuant to the procedures and requirements applicable at the time a person applies for a new permit. (3) A person residing in R-1 or R-2 residential zoned district property, in a single family detached structure who keeps hen chickens shall comply with all of the following requirements: a. Keep no more than three (3) hen chickens at any time. b. Roosters or male chickens and any other type of fowl or poultry are prohibited. c. Slaughtering of any chickens at the property is prohibited. d. Chickens shall be maintained in a fully enclosed structure or a fenced enclosure and shall be kept in the enclosed structure or fenced enclosure at all times. Fenced enclosures are subject to all fence provisions and restrictions in the Ferndale Code. An enclosed structure shall be constructed of permanent materials and shall be properly maintained in accordance with the property maintenance code adopted by the city in Section 6-16 of the Ferndale Code, as amended. e. Chickens shall not be kept in any location on the property other than in the backyard. For purposes of this section, “backyard” means that portion of a lot enclosed by the property’s rear lot line and the side lot lines to the points where the side lot lines intersect with an imaginary line established by the rear of the single-family or two-family structure and extending to the side lot lines. f. No enclosed structure shall be located within any side or rear yard setback area. An enclosed structure or fenced enclosure shall not be located closer than ten (10) feet to any residential structure on adjacent property. g. All structures and enclosures for the keeping of chickens shall be constructed and maintained so as to prevent rats, mice, or other rodents or vermin from being harbored underneath or within the walls of the structure or enclosure. h. All feed and other items associated with the keeping of chickens likely to attract rats, mice, or other rodents or vermin shall be secured and protected in sealed containers. i. Chickens shall be kept in compliance with the Michigan Department of Agriculture Generally Accepted Agricultural and Management Practices for the Care of Farm Animals, as it relates to Laying Chickens, as amended, except as otherwise provided in this ordinance. j. Any violation of any of these provisions may be prosecuted as provided in Chapter 26-19. ADDTL OLD ORDINANCE VERBIAGE: Sec. 5-1. Keeping such as to create disturbing noises prohibited. The keeping of any animal or fowl which by causing frequent or long continued noise shall disturb the comfort or repose of any persons in the vicinity is prohibited.(Ord. No. 361, § 3, 3-22-54; Ord. No. 573, § V, 10-5-70) Cross references: Noise generally, §§ 2-96--2-106. Sec. 5-2. Livestock running at large prohibited. It shall be unlawful for any person to permit any horse, mule, mare or colt, ox, steer, cow, calf, hog, shoat, pig, boar or sheep, or any other such animal, excluding cats and dogs, owned by them, including chickens or other domestic fowl, in their possession, or under their control to run at large or pasture the same, on any of the public streets, highways, public places or commons, within the corporate limits of the city. (Ord. No. 1, § 1, 6-10-18; Ord. No. 3, § 1, 6-10-18) Sec. 5-3. Sale of baby chicks, rabbits, ducklings, etc., prohibited; exceptions; seizure. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, or offer for sale, barter or give away baby chicks, rabbits, ducklings or other fowl as pets or novelties, whether or not dyed, colored or otherwise artificially treated. This section shall not be construed to prohibit the display or sale of natural chicks or ducklings in proper brooder facilities by hatcheries or stores engaged in the business of selling the same to be raised for commercial purposes. Nor shall this section be construed to prohibit the display or sale of rabbits in a licensed pet store. (b) In the case of any violation of this section, it shall be the duty of any fully appointed police officer, or the dog warden, to seize such fowl or pets and provide the necessary care and attention, and such fowl or pets shall not be returned until all expenses for such care and attention shall have been paid. (Ord. No. 468, §§ 1, 2, 6-18-62; Ord. No. 515, 4-17-67) Cross references: Business regulations and licenses generally, Ch. 7. Sec. 12-116. Keeping, housing fowl. It shall be unlawful to keep, house or maintain fowl within a distance of 150 feet of any building or part of a building used by any person or persons for habitation other than that of the person (including members of his household) so keeping, housing or maintaining fowl. It shall also be unlawful to maintain pigeons, seagulls or other wild fowl so as to create an unsanitary condition or odor. Violation of this section constitutes a misdemeanor and is declared a public nuisance subject to abatement as provided in section 12-112. (Ord. No. 899, Pt. VII, 10-12-98) |
| Link for more Information | http://library1.municode.com/default-test/home.htm?infobase=19936&doc_action=whatsnew |
| Information Last Updated | 2010-07-27 17:49:39 |
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.
