The intent of this article is to permit the residents of City
of Monessen to keep chickens. It has been shown that, in limited quantities,
chickens do not pose a major health hazard and under certain conditions
can be kept without causing a nuisance to surrounding properties.
A.
The keeping of chickens in the City of Monessen shall be allowed,
provided the following conditions are met:
C.
Coops.
(1)
The minimum coop size shall be three square feet per chicken.
(2)
The maximum coop size shall not exceed 20 square feet.
(3)
Such coops shall be stationary, secure, and roofed, and enclosed
in a way that contains the chickens.
(4)
Outside runs. An outside run for chickens is permitted when attached
to the coop. The outside run shall be enclosed in such a manner as
to securely contain the chickens.
D.
Coop setbacks. Coops shall not be within 10 feet of any side or rear
property line. Coops shall not be permitted within the front yard
setback area.
The following provisions shall apply to all properties:
A.
Unlawful to allow chickens to run at large. It shall be unlawful
for the owner or owners of any chickens to allow their chickens to
run at large upon adjoining properties, any of the common thoroughfares,
sidewalks, passageways, play areas, parks, streets, alleys, or public
or private highways or any place where people congregate or walk,
or upon public or private property in the City of Monessen.
B.
Sanitary requirements for housing of chickens. Any owner of chickens
or a rooster within the limits of the municipality shall be required
to house the chickens at all times under sanitary conditions so that
the keeping of chickens shall not become either a public or private
nuisance. The following provisions apply:
(1)
All chicken feces accumulated on private property shall be removed
by using the approved sanitary method of double-bagging and placed
in the trash for collection unless composted.
(2)
Chicken feces on private property shall not be allowed to accumulate
to the degree that it becomes a public health nuisance or hazard.
In cases where chicken feces do accumulate on private property, the
Code Enforcement Officer and/or other designated official may conduct
an investigation, after which the accumulation may be declared a public
health hazard or nuisance and the owner shall be ordered to remove
and dispose of the accumulated feces in an approved manner. The order
to remove such accumulated feces shall be hand-delivered to the owner
or shall be sent by certified mail. The owner shall be given a period
of 48 hours from the date and time of receipt of the order to clean
the property and remove the accumulated feces.
C.
Composting. It shall be unlawful for any person to spread or cause
to be spread or deposited upon any ground or premises within the City
of Monessen any chicken manure. However, chicken manure may be composted
on the property where the chickens are housed and the composted material
then applied to gardens or yards.
D.
Slaughtering or butchering. Slaughtering or butchering of chickens
for personal consumption or religious practices shall be permitted,
provided it is done wholly on the property where the chickens are
kept and any waste is disposed of in a proper and sanitary manner.
E.
Slaughtering or butchering - commercial. No person shall slaughter
or butcher any chicken within the City of Monessen for commercial
sale, with the exception of grocery stores and butcheries.
F.
Proper storage of feed. All feed, water, and other items associated
with the keeping of chickens shall be protected in a way that prevents
infestation by rats, mice, other rodents or vectors. Failure to keep
all feed, water, and other items associated with the keeping of chickens
in a clean and sanitary condition constitutes a violation of this
article.
