[Adopted 8-5-1997 by Ord. No. 1461 as Sec. 10.53 of the 1997 Code]
A. 
Intent. It is the intent of the City Council to permit activities more particularly described below in rural areas of the City until such time that such areas are reclassified into urban areas as hereinafter provided.
B. 
Areas established. The rural and urban areas of the City are hereby established and defined by the map entitled "Rural and Urban Areas of the City of Franklin," dated May 21, 1985, and adopted herein by reference. This map may be revised from time to time, by resolution passed by the City Council, to redefine the rural and urban areas as it becomes necessary.
C. 
Permitted activities in rural areas.
(1) 
Parking trucks and equipment. As permitted in the A-1 Agricultural District under the Unified Development Ordinance, upon the issuance of a permit for parking such vehicle or equipment at a designated location by the Planning Manager, following application therefor and meeting the following requirements.
[Amended 3-5-2002 by Ord. No. 2002-1708; 4-9-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-1747]
(a) 
That the owner of the vehicle or equipment requires such vehicle in his or her business or employment and has no other area to park such vehicle or equipment.
(b) 
That the applicant for such permit owns or leases the land.
(c) 
That the parking of such vehicle or equipment will not aesthetically be detrimental to the immediate neighborhood.
(d) 
That the vehicle is equipment which is operable and being used.
(2) 
Raising and keeping animals. Permitted under the following conditions:
Species
Minimum Land Area (acres)
Special Regulations
Poultry
3
Not more than 20 fowl for each acre of lot area
Hogs
20
Pens and feeding areas shall be located not less than 500 feet from an urban area. Maximum number of hogs allowed shall be 20.
Horses
3
Stables and grazing areas shall be located not less than 150 feet from any urban area. There shall be a limit of one horse per acre.
Goats and sheep
20
Pens and feeding areas shall be located not less than 500 feet from an urban area. Limit one per acre.
Other domestic animals
3
Stables and grazing areas shall be not less than 150 feet from an urban area.
Rabbits
3
Hutches shall be located not less than 100 feet from an urban area.
Other fur- bearing animals
20
Pens and feeding areas shall be located not less than 150 feet from an urban area.
(a) 
Permit required. Before any animal can be raised or kept on a parcel of land in a rural area, the owner of the land, his or her agent or lessee shall apply to the Building Inspector for a permit to raise or keep animals on such lands. He or she shall state his or her name and address and his or her purpose for raising or keeping such animals. The permit shall be renewed annually.
(b) 
Condition for permit.
[1] 
For the purpose of this section, the term "poultry or animal yard" shall include every enclosure, shed or structure used to house two or more live fowl, including in the term "fowl" chickens, ducks, geese, turkey and other poultry, or two or more cattle, horses, sheep, goats or other domestic animals.
[2] 
Every person maintaining a poultry or animal yard shall do everything reasonably necessary to keep the same clean and sanitary.
[Amended 12-15-1998 by Ord. No. 98-1526]
[3] 
Every poultry yard or animal yard shall be adequately enclosed so as to be impenetrable against rats or other rodents. The presence of rats in any poultry or animal yard shall be prima facie evidence that such yard is maintained in violation of the provisions of this section.
(c) 
Legal nonconforming use.
[1] 
Change from rural to urban. All persons who own animals or poultry at the time an area is changed from rural to urban may keep those animals if they obtain a permit within six months of the change from rural to urban.
[2] 
Notice of change. Upon the Council's change of an area from rural to urban, the City Clerk shall cause to be published a Class 2 notice stating the change and that a permit is required for those persons wishing to keep their animals.
[3] 
Permit.
[a] 
Upon annual written application to the Planning Manager and payment of $15 within six months of the change of an area from rural to urban, the Planning Manager shall issue a permit to all persons who qualify for a permit.
[Amended 3-5-2002 by Ord. No. 2002-1708]
[b] 
The application shall state the name of the applicant, the address of the property to be exempted from the prohibition against poultry or animal ownership and the number and species of animals or poultry then existing on the property.
[c] 
All persons issued a permit shall comply with all the provisions for keeping and raising animals within rural areas as contained in § 183-68C(2).
[4] 
Duration and extent of permit. The permit runs with the land and is transferable upon transfer of the land either by ownership or lease. If animals or poultry are not kept on the property to which a permit has been granted for a continuous period of 12 months, the permit expires, and all future animal and poultry keeping shall be prohibited. The number of animals or poultry shall not increase, and the species of animal or poultry shall not change from that number and species authorized on the permit.
[5] 
Exception. This subsection does not apply to dogs, tiny horses weighing less than 200 pounds at maturity or cats, which are regulated by Chapter 80, Animals, Article II, Dogs, Tiny Horses and Cats.
[6] 
Enforcement. Any person who violates any provision of this subsection is subject to enforcement by the Planning Manager, including penalties contained in Chapter 1, General Provisions, § 1-19, an order for removal, injunction or other civil suit authorized by law.
[Amended 3-5-2002 by Ord. No. 2002-1708]
[7] 
Effective date. This subsection shall take effect upon publication in the Official Newspaper. It shall be effective for all areas previously designated urban, and all persons in such urban areas shall have six months from the date of publication to obtain a permit as set forth herein.
(d) 
Persons allowed to keep animals.
[1] 
Only those persons who are raising or keeping animals for their personal use or hobby shall be given permits to raise or keep animals. It is not the intent of this section to permit the raising or keeping of animals for commercial purposes or gain. The permission being granted to use lands to raise or keep animals is for an interim use until such time as the lands become urban in nature as determined by the City Council.
[2] 
Any commercial ventures, such as riding academies and stables, kennels, etc., shall be subject to the regulations established by the Unified Development Ordinance and/or other ordinances.
[Amended 4-9-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-1747]