[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Sewickley as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 12-21-1991 by Ord. No. 1119 (Ch. 2, Part 1, of the 1996 Code of Ordinances)]
The Council finds that:
A. 
Borough of Sewickley ("Borough") residents have, on numerous occasions, complained of nuisances relative to animal defecation and other animal activity carried out on public and private property.
B. 
Nuisances of the foregoing type interfere with the normal use and enjoyment of public and private property in the Borough.
C. 
Regulations of such nuisances are necessary to protect the safety, health and welfare of persons residing in, or visiting, the Borough.
D. 
The Borough Code has vested the Council with the power to regulate the foregoing pursuant to 8 Pa.C.S.A. § 1202(4), (5) and (9).
Certain terms contained in this article are defined as follows:
AT LARGE
Any dog, cat or other animal when it is off the property of its owner and not restrained by the owner, keeper or another competent person.
IMPOUND
To apprehend, catch, trap, net or, if necessary, to kill any animal by the local Police Department or authorized local agency.
OWNER
Every person having a right of property in a dog or cat or other animal and every person who controls, keeps or harbors such dog or cat or other animal or has it in his or her care, and every person who permits such dog or cat or other animal to remain on or about any premises occupied by him or her.
RESTRAINED or RESTRICTED
When a dog or other animal is controlled by leash or chain not exceeding six feet in length.
No person, whether as owner or keeper, shall permit his dog to run at large upon the public streets, sidewalks or other public places or upon the property of another. A dog shall be restrained by the use of a leash or a chain not exceeding six feet in length at all times when upon public places, streets and parks.
A. 
No person shall keep or harbor any dog, cat or other animal in the Borough so as to create offensive odors, excessive noise or unsanitary conditions which are a menace to the health, comfort or safety of the public or otherwise permit the commission or existence of a nuisance as defined herein.
B. 
Any dog, cat or other animal which, by frequent and habitual barking, howling, screeching, yelping or baying or in any way or manner, disturbs or endangers the comfort, repose or health of persons is hereby declared to be committing a nuisance. No owner or person having the custody of such animal shall harbor or permit it to commit such a nuisance.
C. 
Any dog, cat or other animal which scratches, digs or defecates upon the lawn, tree, shrub, plant, building or any other public or private property, other than the property of the owner or person in charge or control of such animal, is hereby declared to be a nuisance.
D. 
No person being the owner or in charge of or in control of any dog, cat or other animal shall permit such animal to commit a nuisance on any school grounds, Borough park or other public property, or upon private property other than that of the owner or person in charge or in control of such dog, cat or other animal without the permission of the owner of such property. Where the owner or person in charge or control of such animal immediately removes all feces deposited by such animal and disposes of same in a sanitary manner, such type of nuisance shall be considered abated.
E. 
Persons with defective eyesight or hearing, while relying upon a dog specifically trained for these purposes, shall be exempt from compliance with this section.
Every police officer or other authorized agency shall impound every animal at large.
[Amended 2-19-1996 by Ord. No. 1159]
Any person violating any provision of this article shall be fined $600 plus costs and, in default of payment of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment not to exceed 30 days. Each day that a violation of this article continues shall constitute a separate offense.
[Adopted 10-10-2023 by Ord. No. 1386]
The following terms, as used in this article, shall have the meaning prescribed below:
CHICKEN COOP
A structure to house chickens that is properly ventilated and designed to be protected from the weather, vermin, and predators.
CHICKENS
Only female chickens.
FARM ANIMALS
All livestock or poultry generally found on farms and/or considered to be agricultural commodities, including but not limited to horses, donkeys, cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, alpacas, chickens, turkeys, and other fowl, including ducks.
ROOSTER
A male chicken.
A. 
No farm animals shall be kept on less than two acres of land, except the keeping of chickens shall be allowed upon approval by the Borough subject to the standards set forth by this article.
B. 
All farm animals kept within the Borough shall be confined to the private property of the respective owner by use of fencing and/or barriers sufficient to prevent the running at large or trespass of farm animals on public or private property. Failure to confine farm animals or prevent their escape from enclosures shall constitute a violation of this article.
C. 
All farm animals and the premises they are kept on shall be maintained under orderly and sanitary conditions so that the keeping of farm animals shall not become either a public or private nuisance due to conditions including, but not limited to, damage to the property of others, posing an attractive nuisance, an accumulation of feces, the threat of disease, or a discernible increase in the presence of vermin, odors, or noise.
D. 
Any person wishing to engage in the keeping of chickens on less than one acre of land pursuant to this article shall submit an application to the Borough on a form to be provided, along with the application fee of $20 or as otherwise established by resolution of the Council. Approval of the application shall be subject to the following standards:
(1) 
Chickens shall only be kept on a residential parcel in which there is an occupied dwelling. No chickens shall be kept in townhouse communities, condominiums, apartment complexes, or mobile home parks.
(2) 
No person shall keep or maintain a rooster.
(3) 
Chickens may be kept in the following numbers:
(a) 
No chickens may be kept on any parcel smaller than 2,000 square feet.
(b) 
A maximum of four chickens may be kept on parcels smaller than 22,000 square feet and larger than 2,000 square feet.
(c) 
A maximum of eight chickens may be kept on parcels smaller than two acres and larger than 22,000 square feet.
(4) 
If a parcel has more than one dwelling unit, all adult residents and the owners of the parcel must consent, in writing, to allow chickens on the property.
(5) 
The chickens must be provided with a chicken coop that is properly designed to be easily accessed, cleaned, and maintained. The chicken coop must be at least three square feet per chicken.
(6) 
All animal feed shall be stored in a secured, rodentproof container and housed within an enclosed structure.
(7) 
The chicken coop must be located at least 20 feet from any property line. Multiple contiguous parcels under the same ownership shall be treated as one.
(8) 
During daylight hours, chickens must have access to the chicken coop as well as an outdoor area that is adequately fenced to protect the chickens from predators and to prevent the chickens from roaming onto neighboring properties. Chickens must be closed in a chicken coop from dusk to dawn.
The Borough hereby reserves the right to make such determinations as may be necessary for the enforcement of this article, including, but not limited to, interpretation of acceptable standards, finding of violations, issuance of warnings, and the granting of exceptions where sufficient evidence is presented to ensure that the intent of this article to promote the health, safety, morals, general welfare, cleanliness, beauty, convenience and comfort of the Borough and the inhabitants thereof is not diminished.
The Borough has the right to revoke any prior approval upon written notice of violation of this article. Any owner of any farm animals kept within the limits of the Borough found to be violating any of the provisions of this article shall, upon conviction thereof before the District Magistrate, be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $50 nor more than $600, plus the costs of prosecution, and in default of payment of such fine and costs, shall be subject to imprisonment. Each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate and distinct offense.
If any sentence, clause, section, or part of this article is for any reason found to be unconstitutional, illegal or invalid, such unconstitutionality, illegality or invalidity shall not affect or impair any of the remaining provisions, sentences, clauses, sections or parts of this article. It is hereby declared as the intent of the Borough that this article would have been adopted had such unconstitutional, illegal or invalid sentence, clause, section or part thereof not been included herein.
Any ordinance containing provisions that are inconsistent with the terms and provisions of this article is hereby repealed and superseded to the extent that it conflicts herewith.
This article shall take effect immediately upon enactment as provided by law. All existing owners of farm animals within the Borough shall come into compliance with the terms of this article within 30 days of enactment, or within five days of receipt of a written notice of noncompliance, as may be issued at the discretion of the Borough.