[Adopted 5-11-1915; amended in its entirety 1-20-2009 by L.L. No. 1-2009 (Ch. 11 of the 1967 Code)]
It is hereby declared that this article is adopted as a safeguard to the health of the inhabitants of the City, to prevent nuisances and generally to protect the health, welfare and well-being of the public.
It shall be unlawful to harbor, house, keep, maintain, care for or stable any horse, mare, donkey, mule, cattle, sheep, swine, mink, goat, poultry, pheasant, or any other barnyard animal within the limits of the City without first having obtained and having in full force and effect a written permit therefor.
Any person desiring to procure a permit under this article shall make application to the Clerk upon a form furnished by the City and grant to the City, its officers, servants, agents and employees the right to enter in and upon the premises and place designated in said application for the purpose of making an inspection at any time.
Upon filing of the application and the granting of the right of entry for inspection at any time, it shall be the duty of the Code Enforcement Officer, or whoever the Common Council shall designate, to make an inspection of the premises and place for which the permit is requested and file his report and recommendation with the Common Council as to the approval or rejection of said application.
Upon the approval of said application by the Code Enforcement Officer, the Clerk shall, upon payment by the applicant of a fee as set from time to time by resolution of the Common Council, issue a permit good until revoked or otherwise terminated as hereinafter provided. No permit shall be assignable or transferable.
It shall also be the duty of the Code Enforcement Officer, or whoever the City Common Council shall designate, to make inspections from time to time, and such other inspections as he may be directed by the Common Council, of the premises and place for which permits have been issued to ascertain whether or not said premises or places are maintained in accordance with the provisions of this article.
It shall also be the Code Enforcement Officer's duty to report all violations of the provisions of this article and other provisions of the Code, the Public Health Law of the state, and the rules and regulations of all departments of the City to the proper authorities.
The Common Council or the Code Enforcement Officer shall have full power to revoke and cancel any permit issued hereunder for the holder's failure to comply with any of the provisions of this article and of any and all other provisions of this Code, ordinances, rules and regulations now existing or as may be hereafter enacted or promulgated in any manner affecting the health, comfort and welfare of the public and citizens of the City.
The premises and place where any horse, mare, donkey, mule, cattle, sheep, swine, mink, goat, poultry, pheasant, or any other barnyard animal are housed must be kept at all times in a clean, wholesome, sanitary condition and free from offensive odors. All accumulation or collection of manure and other refuse derived from the keeping of said animals, swine and fowl must be disposed of in a sanitary manner.
No permit shall be issued for any horse, mare, donkey, mule, cattle, sheep, swine, mink, goat, poultry, pheasant, or any other barnyard animal to be housed, kept, maintained or cared for on any premises in the City that is not of a minimum lot size of five acres, and any structure on said parcel must have a minimum setback of 50 feet from any property line.
No owner of, or other person having the custody of, any horse, mare, donkey, mule, cattle, sheep, swine, mink, goat, poultry, pheasant, or any other barnyard animal shall suffer or permit any of such animals to run at large on any public street or place in the City.
Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this article shall, upon conviction thereof, be punishable by a fine which is the maximum allowable by law or imprisonment not exceeding 15 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Each day such violation is committed or permitted to continue shall constitute a separate offense and shall be punishable as such.
The provisions of this article shall not apply to premises owned or operated by the Chenango County Agricultural Association or their successors, provided said premises are used for fair, carnival, or agricultural-related purposes.
A. 
No person shall within the City of Norwich offer for sale, bring into, keep, house, breed or raise or permit to be kept any wild or exotic animal irrespective of their actual or asserted state of docility, tameness or domesticity and without regard to whether a specific animal is considered a pet or domesticated by its keeper or possessor.
B. 
"Wild or exotic animals" shall mean any animal, including those animals that are captive-bred, cross-bred or raised, which can normally be found in the wild state, including but not limited to any live monkey (nonhuman primate), raccoon, skunk, wolf, wolfdog, bear, coydog, squirrel, fox, leopard, lion, ostrich, panther, tiger, llama, alpaca, lynx, any member of the crocodilian family, including but not limited to alligators, crocodiles, caimans and gavials or other such wild animal.
C. 
Specifically declared not to be wild or exotic animals subject to regulation are tropical birds, such as canaries, parakeets, parrots, and myna birds; guinea pigs; hamsters; white mice; turtles other than snapping turtles; and ferrets under license issued by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. All persons keeping ferrets shall keep on file with the City Clerk a copy of a valid license.
D. 
The provisions of this section shall not apply to premises owned or operated by the Chenango County Agricultural Association or their successors, provided said premises are used for fair, carnival or agricultural-related purposes.