Town of Ridgefield, CT Article II Keeping of Livestock on Residential Property

[Adopted 11-28-2007]

§ 120-6 Purpose.

The purpose of this article is to:

A. Regulate the keeping of livestock on small lots in high-density residential areas, defined as the R7.5, R10, R20, and SD R20 Zones, shown on the Town's Official Zoning Map.

B. Regulate the management of livestock and livestock waste on small lots in high-density residential areas.

C. Protect, preserve and promote the health, safety, welfare and quality of life of its residents.

§ 120-7 Definitions.

As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

LIVESTOCK

Any hooved animal such as cattle, bison, swine, goats, sheep, llamas, camels, horses, ponies, donkeys, mules and other hooved animals. When used in the singular, the term in this article shall be referred to as "livestock."

[Amended 12-13-2017]

RESIDENTIAL LOT/PROPERTY

For the purpose of this article, "residential property" and "residential lot" shall be any property lot situated in the R7.5, R10, R20, and SD R20 Zones, as shown on the Town's Official Zoning Map.

§ 120-8 Minimum lot size; manure storage.

A. It shall be unlawful for any person to keep livestock on a residential lot which is less than 1/2 of an acre in size.

B. It shall be unlawful for any person to keep any additional hooved animal on a residential lot unless the lot consists of an additional 1/2 acre in size over the first 1/2 acre, for each additional hooved animal

[Amended 12-13-2017]

C. Manure storage or structures for manure storage (permanent or temporary) for any livestock subject to this article shall not be located any closer than 25 feet to any property line on the residential lot.

§ 120-9 Sanitation of enclosures.

All stables, pens and yards, or other buildings or enclosures, either permanent or temporary, used for the keeping or use of livestock shall be maintained in a sanitary condition and subject to inspection by the Director of Health, who may order the same closed or removed if not maintained in a sanitary condition, after notice to abate the unsanitary condition within a reasonable time as stated in § 120-10.

§ 120-10 Enforcement; penalties for offenses.

A. The Director of Health shall enforce the provisions of this article pursuant to the Public Health Code. The Director of Health shall, pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes § 19a-229 and § 19a-9-14 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, include in any order issued pursuant to this section a notice of an individual's right to appeal any such order to the Commissioner of Public Health.

B. The Director of Health shall first issue a warning to a landowner if such landowner's property is in violation of this article. Thereafter, if the landowner does not comply (within 30 days), the Director of Health shall issue an order, in writing, to the landowner via certified mail, return receipt requested, to comply with this article by a specified date, not to be more than 30 days after issuance of such order. If the landowner does not comply with the order by the specified date, the landowner shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less than $100 nor more than $250 per day for each day the violation persists after the date specified by the Director of Health.

C. Penalties shall be made payable to the Town of Ridgefield and shall be deposited with the Town's Tax Collector.

D. Pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes § 19a-206, the Director of Health, or any official authorized to institute civil proceedings on behalf of the Town, in order to enforce an order of the Director of Health, may seek an injunction in the Superior Court, a court order for collection of the civil penalty addressed herein, and other remedies pursuant to statute.

§ 120-11 Appeals.

Any landowner aggrieved by an order of the Director of Health may appeal that order to the Commissioner of Public Health not later than three business days after the date of such person's receipt of such order pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes § 19a-229.