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ORDINANCE No.
An ordinance of the Mayor and City Commission of the City of South Miami,
Florida, relating to Chapter 5 of the City Code, amending Sections 5 -2, 5 -2.1,
5 -2.2, 5 -2 -3 and 5 -2.4 and creating 5-2.5 through 5 -2.12 of the Code of
Ordinances entitled "Poultry and fowl ", now to be entitled "Chickens ";
providing for the maintaining of well- mannered chickens under certain terms
and conditions; creating enforcement procedures; providing for severability,
ordinances in conflict, and an effective date.
WHEREAS, the keeping of chickens in the city supports a local, sustainable food system
by providing an affordable, nutritious source of protein through fresh eggs. The keeping of
chickens also provides free, quality, nitrogen -rich fertilizer; chemical -free pest control; animal
companionship and pleasure; weed control; and less noise, mess and expense than dogs or cats,
and
WHEREAS, since chickens are one of the smaller protein producers, they fit well into a
backyard food production model. Second, rising energy and transportation costs have caused
concern over increases in food costs, and backyard eggs offer a cheaper solution as they do not
have to travel far to reach the plate, and
WHEREAS, many citizens are becoming increasingly concerned about food safety, and
with meat recalls and other animal industry issues in the news, backyard chickens offer a safer,
solution as long as they are well- contained and nuisance -free, and
WHEREAS, twenty -four Florida cities have enacted exemptions for keeping well -
managed chickens.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA, that:
Section 1. It shall be lawful, subject to the terms and conditions and restrictions
hereafter set forth, to maintain domesticated chickens in the City of South Miami provided under
no circumstances shall any person or citizen keep a rooster within the City of South Miami.
Section 2. The purpose of this ordinance is to provide standards for the keeping of
domesticated chickens. It is intended to enable residents to keep a small number of female
chickens on a non - commercial basis, while limiting the potential adverse impacts on the
surrounding neighborhood. The City recognizes that adverse neighborhood impacts may result
from the keeping of domesticated chickens as a result of noise, odor, unsanitary animal living
conditions, unsanitary waste storage and removal, the attraction of predators, rodents, insects, or
parasites, and non- confined animals leaving the owner's property. This ordinance is intended to
create licensing standards and requirements that ensure that domesticated chickens do not
adversely impact the neighborhood surrounding the property on which the chickens are kept.
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See. 5 -2. - Chickens — Definitions
a. Chicken shall mean a female chicken (Hen), and not a rooster.
b. Chicken Pen shall mean a wire enclosure connected to a henhouse for
the purpose of allowing chickens to leave the henhouse while
remaining in an enclosed, predator -safe environment.
c. Henhouse shall mean a structure for the sheltering of female chickens.
An existing shed or garage can be used for this purpose if it meets the
standards contained herein, including the required distance from
property lines.
d. Chicken Tractor (sometimes called an ark) shall mean a movable
chicken coop lacking a floor.
Sec. 5 -2.1— Permitting of Well- Contained and Nuisance -Free Chickens
Well- contained and nuisance -free chickens shall be allowed in the City of
South Miami as a permitted use in single - family zoning districts.
See. 5 -2.2 — Number and Type of Chickens Allowed
a. The maximum number of chickens allowed is four (4) per each one
family house.
b. Only female chickens are allowed. There is no restriction non - chicken
breeds.
Sec. 5 -2.3— Non - Commercial Use.
It shall be unlawful to engage in chicken breeding or fertilizer production
for commercial purposes.
Sec. 5 -2.4 — Enclosures.
a. Chickens must be kept in an enclosure or fenced area at all times.
During daylight hours, chickens may be allowed outside their chicken
pens in a securely fenced yard if supervised. Chickens shall be secured
within the henhouse during non - daylight hours.
b. Chickens shall be secured within a henhouse or chicken tractor during
non- daylight hours.
c. Enclosures must be clean, dry, and odor -free, kept in a neat and
sanitary condition at all times, in a manner that will not disturb the use
or enjoyment of neighboring lots due to noise, odor or other adverse
impact.
d. Henhouses, chicken tractors and chicken pens must provide adequate
ventilation and adequate sun and shade and must be impermeable to
rodents, wild birds and predators, including dogs and cats.
e. Henhouses, Chicken Tractors, and Chicken Pens
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a. Henhouses and chicken tractors shall be designed to provide
safe and healthy living conditions for the chickens while
minimizing adverse impacts to other residents in the
neighborhood.
b. A henhouse or chicken tractor shall be enclosed on all sides
and shall have a roof and doors. Access doors must be able to
be shut and locked at night. Opening windows and vents must
be covered with predator and bird proof wire of less than one
(1) inch openings.
c. The materials used in making a henhouse or chicken tractor
shall be uniform for each element of the structure such that the
walls are made of the same material, the roof has the same
shingles or other covering, and any windows or openings are
constructed using the same materials. The use of scrap, waste
board, sheet metal, or similar materials is prohibited.
Henhouses and chicken tractors shall be well maintained.
d. The henhouse shall be well- maintained.
e. Henhouses shall not be placed in the front yard.
f. An enclosed chicken pen must be provided consisting of sturdy
wire fencing. The pen must be covered whit wire, aviary
netting, or solid roofing.
See. 5 -2.5 — Distance Requirements
Henhouses, chicken tractors, and chicken pens must be located at least ten
(10 feet from the property line and at least twenty -five (25) feet from any
adjacent residential dwelling, church, school or place of business.
See. 5 -2.6 — Odor and Noise Impacts.
a. Odors from chickens, chicken manure or other chicken related
substances shall not be perceptible at the property boundaries.
b. Perceptible noise from chickens shall not be loud enough at the
property boundaries to disturb persons of reasonable sensitivity.
Sec. 5 -2.7 — Predators, Rodents, Insects, and Parasites.
See. 5 -2.8 —
The chicken owner shall take necessary action to reduce the attraction of
predators and rodents and the potential infestation of insects and parasites.
Chickens found to be infested with insects and parasites that may result in
unhealthy conditions to human habitation may be removed by an animal
control.officer. --
Feed and Water.
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1 Chickens shall be= provided with access to feed and clean water at all "
2 times. The feed and water shall be unavailable to rodents, wild birds, and
3 predators.
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5 Sec. 5 -2.9 — Waste Storage and Removal.
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7 - Provision must be made for the storage and removal of chicken manure.
8 All stored manure shall be covered by a fully enclosed structure with a
9 roof or lid over the entire structure. All other manure not used for
10 composting or fertilizing shall be removed. In addition, the henhouse,
11 chicken pen, and surrounding area must be kept free from trash and
12 accumulated droppings. Uneaten feed shall be removed in a timely
13 manner.
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15 Sec. 5 -2.10— Chickens at Large.
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17 No dog or cat which kills a chicken at large will, for that reason alone, be
18 considered a dangerous or aggressive animal.
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20 Sec. 5- 2.1.1 — Pe�•,alty
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22 In addition to any other enforcement action which the City may take,
23 violation of any provision of this Ordinance shall be a civil violation and a
24 .. fine not exceeding one- hundred ($100.00) maybe imposed by the Special
25 Magistrate of the City of South Miami. Each day that a violation continues
26 will be treated as a separate offense.
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28 Sec. 5 -2.12 — Removal of Chickens.
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30 a. In addition not the penalty, any violation of the provisions of this
31 Ordinance or of the permit shall be grounds for an order from the
32 "Code Enforcement Officer" to remove the chickens and the chicken -
33 related structures.
34 b. Any "Code Enforcement Officer ", Police Officer, Health Inspector,
35 Health Officer, or Animal Control Officer may also order the removal
36 of the chickens upon a determination that the chickens pose a health
37 risk.
38 c. If a chicken dies, it must be disposed of properly in a sanitary manner.
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40 Section 3. If any section, clause, sentence or phrase of this ordinance is for any
41 .. reason held invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, the holding shall not
42 affect the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance.
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44 Section 4. This ordinance shall be included in the Code of Ordinances.
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Section 5. � All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict With the provisions of this
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ordinance are repealed.
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Section 6. This ordinance shall take
effect immediately upon adoption.
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PASSED AND ADOPTED this _
day of '2010.
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ATTEST:
APPROVED:
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CITY CLERK
MAYOR
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1" Reading —
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2nd Reading —
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READ AND APPROVED AS TO FORM
COMMISSION VOTE:
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AND SUFFICIENCY:
Mayor Stoddard:
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Vice Mayor Newman:
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.._ _ . - -.
Commissioner Palmer:. .
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Commissioner Beasley:
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CITY ATTORNEY
Commissioner Harris
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