The purpose of this chapter is to provide best practices standards for the non-commercial keeping of honey bees (apis Mellifera) and/or chickens (excluding roosters, quacking ducks, guinea fowl or peafowl) in all zoning districts within the town. It is intended to enable property owners to keep small numbers of honey bee hives and/or chickens while avoiding adverse impacts on surrounding properties that would be injurious to health, indecent or offensive to the senses, or which obstructs the free use of property so as to interfere with the comfortable enjoyment of life and property.

(Ord. No. 931, § 4, 3-20-2012)

For parcels in all zoning districts, an application for conditional use permit shall be filed with the planning department and may be granted or denied by the zoning administrator in compliance with the provisions of Chapter 18.26, Conditional Uses, and shall be accompanied by the required filing fee. In addition to the findings required by Section 18.26.050, the number of honey bee hives per parcel shall not exceed the maximum allowance set forth in this chapter and honey bee keeping shall comply with operational standards set forth in this chapter.

(Ord. No. 931, § 4, 3-20-2012)

(a)

For parcels less than half acre in area; the maximum number of honey bee hives shall be two.

(b)

For parcels half acre in area and greater; the maximum number of honey bee hives shall be four.

(Ord. No. 931, § 4, 3-20-2012)

(a)

Honey bee hive boxes (colony) shall comply with building location, setback and lot coverage standards for an accessory structure within the district it is located and shall be setback a minimum of twenty feet from an occupied dwelling on an adjacent residential parcel.

(b)

Honey bee hive boxes (colony) shall be located at least twenty feet from a public street or a public pedestrian or bicycle trail.

(c)

A convenient and adequate source of water, dedicated solely to the colony in accordance with generally accepted practices in the industry, shall be available to the honey bee colony at all times.

(d)

A flyway barrier at least six feet in height consisting of a solid wall, fence or dense vegetation shall be installed between the honey bee hive colony and an abutting parcel in a residential district.

(e)

Maintenance and operation of the honey bee hive shall include all applicable best management practices to provide safe and healthy living conditions for the bees while avoiding adverse impacts on surrounding properties that would be detrimental to the public health, safety or welfare.

(Ord. No. 931, § 4, 3-20-2012)

For any parcel equal to or less than five thousand square feet in area in all zoning districts, an application for conditional use permit shall be filed with the planning department and may be granted or denied by the zoning administrator in compliance with the provisions of Chapter 18.26, Conditional Uses, and shall be accompanied by the required filing fee. In addition to the findings required by Section 18.26.050, the number of chickens per parcel shall not exceed the maximum allowance set forth in this chapter and chicken keeping shall comply with operational standards set forth in this chapter.

(Ord. No. 931, § 4, 3-20-2012)

For parcels greater than five thousand square feet in area in all zoning districts, keeping of chickens shall be allowed as a permitted use. The number of chickens shall not exceed the maximum allowance set forth in this chapter and chicken keeping shall comply with operational standards set forth in this chapter.

(Ord. No. 931, § 4, 3-20-2012)

(a)

For parcels equal to or less than five thousand square feet in area; the maximum number of chickens shall be six.

(b)

For parcels greater than five thousand square feet to half acre in area; the maximum number of chickens shall be eight.

(c)

For parcels greater than half acre in area; the maximum number of chickens shall be twelve.

(Ord. No. 931, § 4, 3-20-2012)

(a)

Chickens must be kept in an enclosure or fenced area at all times. Chickens shall be secured within a chicken coop during non-daylight hours.

(b)

A chicken coop structure is required to accommodate all chickens and shall comply with building location, setback and lot coverage standards for an accessory structure within the district it is located and shall be setback a minimum of twenty feet from an occupied dwelling on an adjacent residential parcel.

(c)

Maintenance and operation of the chicken keeping shall include all applicable best management practices to provide safe and healthy living conditions for the chickens while avoiding adverse impacts on surrounding properties that would be detrimental to the public health, safety or welfare.

(Ord. No. 931, § 4, 3-20-2012)

The decision of the zoning administrator in granting or denying a CUP for keeping of honey bees or chickens may be appealed to the planning commission in accordance with the procedures contained in Chapter 18.34, Appeals, with the exception that the decision of the planning commission shall be final.

(Ord. No. 931, § 4, 3-20-2012)