Parkersburg West Virginia Chicken Ordinance

This is merely a definition of "Agriculture" as the word is used in Parkersburg WV ordinances. Secction 505.11 is the actual ordinance which upon careful reading indicates that one may keep chickens (and/or other farm animals) in the city by obtaining a variance from the Director of Code Enforcement.

https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/parkersburg/latest/parkersburg_wv/0-0-0-6085
505.11 CERTAIN ANIMALS UNDESIRABLE AND PROHIBITED IN THE CITY.

No person shall bring into the City from any state, territory, county or jurisdiction outside the City, on, over or along any public street, any animal which is not fit for use, or which is not free from lameness, sores or vicious propensities likely to cause a delay in traffic, obstruct any such street, spread contagious disease, or cause accident or injury on any such street or place, to persons or property using the same. No person shall drive or work any such animal on, over or along any public street in the City, nor shall the owner of any such animal allow or permit the same to be driven or worked on, over or along the same or be brought on, along or over the same into the City from any other state, territory, county or jurisdiction beyond the territorial limits of the City.

No farm animals shall be kept within the corporate limits of the City including but not limited to pigs and swine, goats, chickens, cows, horses, sheep, turkeys, donkeys and mules and domesticated wild animals, excluding domesticated cats and dogs.

Variances from the foregoing provisions may be granted by the Director of Code Enforcement based upon but not limited to the following criteria:

(a) Whether or not the animal is a domestic pet;

(b) The space available to confine said animal;

(c) The probability of whether said animal is likely to be a public nuisance;

(d) That the maintenance of said animal will not disrupt the peace and quiet of the neighborhood;

(e) That the owner of said animal maintains adequate hygiene conditions; and

(f) There is no danger to the health, safety and welfare of the citizens by reason of the maintenance of said animal.

Any person or entity requesting a variance from the provisions of this sub-paragraph shall pay a non-reimbursable fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) upon filing for such variance.

(Ord. 0-820. Passed 8-27-96.)

I am looking into getting chickens myself but have just started researching and I have no idea whether variances are routinely denied or approved or even considered.