What was the reason for the violation? I'm going to guess noise or chickens not confined, since it appears it is legal to keep them in Royal Oak?
I didn't see anything about a permit being required, either, but the city offices should be able to tell you if you need one.
Here's a link to your code.
Id=RO2029
I found this on another site:
http://urbanchickens.org/we-need-your-chicken-ordinances
City of Royal Oak Michigan allows chickens:
Must not be allowed to roam "free range" unconfined. Pens/coops must be clean.
No excessive noise.
No limits on hens or roosters.
http://www.e-codes.generalcode.com/codebook_frameset.asp?ep=fs&t=ws&cb=2...
ARTICLE I Chickens and Fowl at Large [Adopted 1-27-1919 by Ord. No. 84]
§ 195-1. Running at large prohibited. [Amended 1-24-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-01]
It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to permit any chickens or other fowls owned by them or in their possession or under their control to run at large within the corporate limits of the City of Royal Oak.
§ 195-2. Violations and penalties.
Any person violating the provisions of this article shall, on conviction thereof, be punished by a fine not exceeding $25, or, in default of the payment of such fine, the offender shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for a period of not more than 60 days unless such fine is sooner paid.
http://www.e-codes.generalcode.com/codebook_frameset.asp?ep=fs&t=ws&cb=2...
§ 484-13. Keeping of pets.
No person shall harbor or keep any animal, bird, bee, or pet, which causes annoyance in the neighborhood either by: A. Barking, howling, braying, crowing, or making other sounds common to its species.
B. Failure of the owner, caretaker, or custodian to maintain in a clean and sanitary condition devoid of rodents and vermin and free from objectionable odor, all structures, pens, coops, or yards wherein any animal, fowl or bee is kept.
C. Failure of the owner, caretaker, or custodian to keep the said animal confined on his own premises.
D. In the case of bees, stinging or molesting any person.
§ 484-14. Keeping of livestock; removal of animals. A. No person shall keep any livestock, or any other animals, in the City in such a manner as to become a public nuisance. No person shall keep any horses, cattle, sheep, goats, hogs or similar animals in the City without first obtaining a permit therefor. Application for such permit shall be made to the City Clerk upon blanks furnished for the purpose. Such application shall state the location where such livestock or other animal is to be kept and describe the conditions under which the same shall be kept. Such permit shall be granted by the City Commission only after investigation and recommendation by the Chief Inspector. No permit shall be issued for the keeping of any such livestock or animal except where it appears that the keeping of such livestock or animals is not likely to create a public nuisance. If at any time it appears that the keeping of any such livestock or animals creates a public nuisance, the City Manager, Health Officer or Chief Inspector may, whether or not a permit has been issued, order the owner or keeper to abate the nuisance or remove such livestock or animals from the City, and if he fails to do so within seven days after he has been served with said notice, the City Manager, Health Officer or Chief Inspector may summarily remove said animals and abate said nuisance.
B. The owner or keeper of any stable where horses or any kind of livestock are kept, or of any chicken house, rabbit hutch, or any other building used for the housing of animals shall keep such stable, hutch, or building in a clean and sanitary condition at all times and shall as often as is necessary remove the accumulations of manure or other excreta in order to prevent the same from becoming a public nuisance in the neighborhood. No stable shall be maintained without concrete floor draining to a sump of a style and character approved by the Building Department with a drain connection to the sewer. Said concrete floors shall be completely flushed and washed at least once each day. Every stable shall have a complete set of screens on all openings for ventilation, or ingress or egress, so that insects may be excluded therefrom. Such screens shall be kept closed at all times except when opened for purposes of ingress or egress.
