[Ord. No. 12-20, 9-11-2012]
A. 
Keeping of up to four chickens on an occupied single-family residential lot shall be allowed, provided that:
(1) 
No person shall keep any rooster.
(2) 
The chickens shall be used only for non-commercial household egg production. Selling eggs and slaughtering chickens shall be prohibited.
(3) 
The chickens shall be provided with a clean, covered, well-ventilated enclosure that is secure from predators.
(4) 
The chickens must be kept in the covered enclosure or within a fenced area at all times.
(5) 
No enclosure shall be located closer than 25 feet to an occupied residential dwelling, 20 feet to a side yard line and five feet to a rear lot line.
(6) 
The person shall obtain a license under § 14-241.
B. 
Any person who keeps chickens under this section shall comply with all City and Virginia laws, ordinances, and regulations regarding care, shelter, sanitation, health, noise, cruelty, neglect, reasonable control, and any other requirements pertaining to the adequate care and control of animals in the City.
[Ord. No. 12-20, 9-11-2012]
A. 
Any person who keeps chickens [or bees] in the City of Fredericksburg shall obtain an annual license prior to January 1 of each year, or prior to acquiring the chickens. The license year commences on January 1 and ends on the following December 31.
B. 
Application shall be made to the City Treasurer and the fee for the license shall be $10.
C. 
The treasurer or other authorized individual shall collect the fee and shall assess and collect a late fee of $5 if the person fails to obtain a license prior to April 1 of each year, or fails to obtain a license prior to acquiring the chickens. All late fees received or collected shall be paid to the City Treasurer.
D. 
The applicant for the license shall provide written permission from the owner of the property if the applicant is not the owner. The owner's written permission is not required for license renewal.
E. 
The City Manager may address any condition related to chicken-keeping that constitutes a public nuisance as defined in City Code Chapter 59, including but not limited to chickens running at large, unsanitary conditions, or excessive noise, using the nuisance abatement procedures contained therein.
F. 
A law enforcement officer may address any such violation of City Code Chapter 14, "Animals," Article VI, "Animal Care and Control," associated with a permitted chicken through the issuance of a criminal summons or through a written notice of violation. The notice of violation shall conform to the requirements set forth in City Code § 59-5, "Notice to abate." However, the failure of the person responsible to abate the violation within the time provided shall result in the issuance of a criminal summons for the violation.
G. 
The City Manager or his designee may revoke the license if, after the issuance of a notice of violation, there remains one or more uncorrected violations of this or any ordinance [section] in this chapter, the noise ordinance, or the public nuisance Chapter 59, or any other applicable Virginia or local law or regulation regulating the keeping of chickens [or bees] after the time provided therein for correction, or in the case of multiple corrected violations within a twelve-month period.
[Ord. No. 12-21, 9-11-2012]
Keeping of up to two hives of honeybees on an occupied, single-family residential lot shall be allowed, provided that:
A. 
No hive shall be located closer than 10 feet to any side property line or public sidewalk or closer than five feet to a rear property line.
B. 
A constant supply of fresh water shall be provided on the lot, within 20 feet of all hives.
C. 
A flyway barrier at least six feet in height shall shield any part of a property line that is within 25 feet of a hive, or facing a hive opening. The flyway barrier shall consist of a wall, solid fence, dense vegetation or a combination thereof.
D. 
The owner, operator, or tenant shall obtain a license under § 14-241.
[Ord. No. 12-21, 9-11-2012]
A. 
Any person who keeps [chickens or] bees in the City of Fredericksburg shall obtain an annual license prior to January 1 of each year, or prior to acquiring the honeybees. The license year commences on January 1 and ends on the following December 31.
B. 
Application shall be made to the City Treasurer and the fee for the license shall be $10.
C. 
The treasurer or other authorized individual shall collect the fee and shall assess and collect a late fee of $5 if the person fails to obtain a license prior to April 1 of each year, or fails to obtain a license prior to acquiring the honeybees. All late fees received or collected shall be paid to the City Treasurer.
D. 
The applicant for the license shall provide written permission from the owner of the property if the applicant is not the owner. Notification is not required for license renewal.
E. 
The City Manager may address any condition related to bee-keeping that constitutes a public nuisance as defined in City Code, Chapter 59, including but not limited to aggressive bees or overcrowded hives, using the nuisance abatement procedures contained therein.
F. 
Bees kept by a licensed beekeeper pursuant to this section shall be considered to be "animals" for purposes of City Code, Chapter 14, "Animals," Article VI, "Animal Care and Control," § 14-153, "Cruelty to animals," § 14-154, "Maintaining animals under offensive or unsanitary conditions," § 14-155, "Care of animals by owner; penalty," § 14-156, "Use of animals as prizes or inducements," and § 14-157, "Nuisance animals." A law enforcement officer may address any such violation associated with a permitted beehive through the issuance of a criminal summons or through a written notice of violation. The notice of violation shall conform with the requirements set forth in City Code § 59-5, "Notice to abate." However, the failure of the person responsible to abate the violation within the time provided shall result in the issuance of a criminal summons for the violation.
G. 
The City Manager or his designee may revoke the license if, after the issuance of a notice of violation, there remains one or more uncorrected violations of this or any ordinance [section] in this chapter, the noise ordinance, or the public nuisance Chapter 59, or any other applicable Virginia or local law or regulation regulating the keeping of [chickens or] bees after the time provided therein for correction, or in the case of multiple corrected violations within a twelve-month period.