It is and shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation
to keep, own, maintain, use or have in their possession any rabbits,
hares, guinea pigs, horses, mules, donkey, cattle, goats, sheep, swine,
chinchillas, chickens, turkeys, guineas, geese, ducks, or pigeons
(except homing pigeons) within the corporate limits of the City of
Weatherford, except that rabbits, hares, guinea pigs, horses, mules,
donkeys, cattle, goats, sheep, chinchillas, chicken, turkeys, guineas,
geese, ducks, or pigeons, may be kept under the conditions hereinafter
set forth, provided a permit be first obtained as hereinafter provided.
Permits as hereinafter referred to and required to be had as
a prerequisite to the keeping, owning, maintaining, using or having
in their possession any rabbits, hares, guinea pigs, horses, mules,
donkeys, cattle, goats, sheep, chinchillas, chickens, turkeys, guineas,
geese, ducks, or pigeons may be obtained by written application and
compliance with the sanitary requirements as set forth herein, by
filling a written application with the City Clerk and paying to the
City Clerk a permit fee. This application shall affirmatively show
that the applicant has facilities for keeping such animals or poultry.
No permit shall be issued or be valid if issued for the permitting
and/or keeping within the City of Weatherford, a combined total of
more than two of the following: horses, donkeys, mules, cattle, goats,
and sheep. Each such permit, unless sooner revoked, shall be valid
and effective for not more than 12 months from the date of issuance
thereof.
[Amended 6-30-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-04]
The following practices shall be observed in keeping animals:
1.
The distance between the exterior limits of the place where horses,
mules, donkeys, cattle, goats, or sheep are kept and the exterior
limits of the nearest dwelling occupied by any person other than the
applicant, owner, or permit holder, shall not be less than 100 feet,
unless such other dwelling is owned by the applicant.
2.
Every keeper of any animals or poultry shall confine the same in
an enclosure sufficient to prevent their running at large and such
enclosure shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition at
all times and an approved insecticide shall be used as often as deemed
necessary by the City Health Officer.
3.
Every keeper shall provide shelter or area of a size sufficient to
be conductive to good sanitation practices and he shall provide adequate
and sanitary drainage for the shelter or area.
4.
Every keeper of said animals or poultry shall cause the litter and
droppings therefrom to be collected daily in a container receptacle
of such a type that when closed is rat-proof and fly-tight and after
each such collection shall cause such container or receptacle to be
kept closed. At least twice each week, each such keeper shall cause
all litter and droppings so collected to be disposed of in a way as
not to permit the presence of fly larvae.
5.
Every keeper of any of said animals shall cause all feed provided
therefor to be stored and kept in a rat-proof, fly-tight, building,
box, container or receptacle.
6.
Weatherford residents may apply for a permit allowing them to keep
producing chickens (laying hens) on their property. The process for
obtaining a Chicken Permit shall be governed by the Weatherford City
Clerk's Office.
a.
Permit Requirements:
(1)
Individuals seeking to obtain a permit for raising chickens
shall first attend and complete an educational program based on caring
for chickens, and the responsibilities of same, provided by: the Deer
Creek Conservation District, the Edmond Urban Chicken Group, the Oklahoma
Cooperative Extension Service, OSU Extension Service, or a similar
entity that provides classes at least two hours in length.
(2)
The permit shall be purchased through the City of Weatherford
for $25 a non-refundable fee, which is for a term of up to three years
or until such time as the owner changes residences.
(3)
The permit holder must provide adequate space for the fowl with
consideration to next door neighbors. The location of a chicken coop
must be at least 15 feet set-back from the adjacent property line.
(4)
Permits shall only be issued for properties in R-1, R-2 or C-2
zoned areas. Permits will not be issued to properties consisting of
apartment complexes, duplexes, or college dormitories.
(5)
Only one permit will be granted per one address.
(6)
Individuals applying for a permit must verify that there is
no conflict with their neighborhood homeowners association restrictive
covenants which in some cases may ban the raising of chickens within
the neighborhood.
b.
General Requirements:
(1)
No roosters shall be allowed in the City limits.
(2)
No slaughtering of chickens is permitted within view of the
public, and must be done humanely.
(3)
Chickens are to be kept within the coop and have access to the
chicken run from dawn to dusk.
(4)
All areas where chickens are present must be clean and maintained
weekly.
c.
Chicken Raising Infrastructure: Chicken Coop and Chicken Run Requirements:
(1)
There shall be one nest box for every four chickens.
(2)
The coop and run shall be restricted to the rear yard of the
home. At no time shall a chicken coop or run be permitted to extend
into the front of the property.
(3)
The coop shall have appropriate screening and protection from
predators.
(4)
Coops shall be stationed in an area free of flooding, and storm
water run-off.
d.
Chickens currently existing in the City shall not be "grand-fathered
in" or permitted to remain after the effective date of this Ordinance[1]; however, owners of poultry after adoption of this Ordinance,
shall have 90 days after the effective date to come into compliance
with this Ordinance.
The City Clerk is hereby authorized to make, adopt, and amend
rules and regulations necessary for permit applications, issuance,
expiration, record keeping, and revocation.
[1]
Editor's Note: Ord. No. 2023-04 was adopted 6-30-2023.
7.
The Animal Control Officer, otherwise referred to in the Code as the "City Health Officer", upon the filing of a complaint from any person may inspect any structure or place where chickens are kept and may also inspect on his or her own initiative. If a chicken owner is found to be in violation of one or more Code requirements, the Animal Control Officer may grant a 10 day probation to the chicken owner to implement corrective action. If no corrective action is implemented within 10 days, the Animal Control Officer may issue a ticket for such violation to be filed in Municipal Court. The ticketed party shall have the right to a nonjury trial in Municipal Court. In the event of a second- or third -time offence the chicken owner may have their permit revoked by the Weatherford City Clerk upon recommendation of the Weatherford Animal Control Officer. An owner of chickens and/ or possessor of a chicken permit shall have the right to appeal a revocation of his/her permit for review by the Weatherford City Commission. The failure by any keeper of any poultry to comply with the provisions of Sections 3-59 and requirements stated therein may be the cause of the City Clerk to refuse to grant a new permit for the keeping of poultry or, if the permit shall have been previously granted to such keeper, shall be the subject for the revocation of renewal of the same. In addition to proceedings filed in Municipal Court and/or action taken by the City Clerk, the City reserves the right to prosecute a violation of this section as a Public Nuisance.
When the application is for the keeping of animals or poultry within the limited number herein set forth, in medical laboratories and/or educational institutions for medical research or veterinarian hospitals for treatment or in pet shops for resale, they shall be kept under the same conditions prescribed by Sections 3-57 to 3-59 for such limited purposes without the necessity of compliance with the distance and structural requirements herein otherwise set forth.
