The purpose of this chapter is to allow agriculture and the keeping of farm animals on a small scale for personal, noncommercial use or limited on-site commercial use. The regulations in this chapter are intended to allow small-scale agriculture and animal use for personal enjoyment, local food production, and sustainability. These regulations are separate from agriculture business uses allowed in the Agricultural Zone. This chapter does not authorize large scale or commercial agriculture enterprises.

This chapter applies to the keeping of farm animals and the use of property for agriculture in the residential and commercial zones, as well as in the Public Use Zone to the extent specifically allowed herein.

As used in this chapter, the words below shall be defined as follows:

Animal habitation area: An area devoted to housing animals on a property.

Animals, large: Horses, ponies, cows, mules, donkeys, burros, and pigs.

Animals, medium: Goats and sheep.

Animals, small: Rabbits, chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys.

Farm animals: All animals defined as small, medium, or large animals.

Agriculture and farm animals are allowed subject to these regulations:

A.

Agriculture and the keeping of farm animals are allowed for the personal use and enjoyment of the owner or occupant of the property. The agriculture or farm animal use may not constitute a commercial enterprise in and of itself. However, agriculture may be used in conjunction with on-site commercial uses in the commercial zones. Further, nothing in this chapter is intended to prohibit the sale of excess agriculture products at local farmers' markets, subject to all applicable State and Federal regulations.

B.

Agriculture or the keeping of farm animals may not create a nuisance on any adjacent property. The property owner or occupant must take measures to protect adjacent properties from unreasonable odors, noises, etc.

C.

Farm animals must be provided with food, water, shade, and sanitary living conditions.

A.

Allowed zones:

1.

Small, medium, and large animals are allowed in the VR zone, subject to the standards in this chapter.

2.

Small animals are allowed in the FR zone only after obtaining an agricultural use permit from the Planning Commission.

B.

Required animal habitation area: Animals must be provided with the minimum amounts of animal habitation area listed below:

1.

Small animals: One hundred square feet for the first animal, plus 25 additional square feet for each additional animal.

2.

Medium animals: One thousand square feet for the first animal, plus 500 additional square feet for each additional animal.

3.

Large animals: Twenty-thousand square feet for the first animal, plus 10,000 additional square feet for each additional animal.

C.

Total number of farm animals allowed:

1.

In the VR zone, the total number of animals allowed on a single property is as follows, provided each animal has sufficient animal habitation area:

a.

Small animals: A total of 24 animals.

b.

Medium animals: A total of 12 animals.

c.

Large animals: A total of eight animals.

2.

In the FR zones, the total number of animals allowed on a single property is as follows, provided each animal has sufficient animal habitation area:

a.

Small animals: A total of 12 animals.

b.

The Planning Commission may reduce the number of animals allowed on a property as part of the agricultural review process to mitigate the impacts the farm animal use will have on adjacent properties.

D.

Special provisions for small animals:

1.

Animal habitation areas must meet the following standards:

a.

To meet the minimum area requirements, the animal habitation area must be one contiguous area and not the combination of multiple disjointed areas.

b.

Animal habitation areas may not include 30 percent slopes, regulatory floodways, natural drainages, or wetlands.

2.

Small animals must be kept in a predator-resistant enclosure meeting the requirements below:

a.

The enclosure must meet setbacks for the zone in which it is located.

b.

The enclosure must be placed to the side or rear of the main structure on the lot.

3.

If small animals are allowed outside the enclosure, the area where the animals are kept must be fenced with a barrier fence of sufficient height and durability to securely contain the animals. The fenced in area must meet the setbacks for the zone.

4.

Roosters are not allowed in the residential zones.

5.

Slaughtering of small animals is allowed only in a fully fenced and enclosed rear yard area not visible beyond the property boundaries. Animal remains must be disposed of properly to prevent health hazards and nuisances.

E.

Special provisions for medium and large animals:

1.

Animal habitation areas must meet the following standards:

a.

To meet the minimum area requirements, the animal habitation area must be one contiguous area and not the combination of multiple disjointed areas.

b.

Animal habitation areas may not include 30 percent slopes, regulatory floodways, natural drainages, or wetlands.

2.

Pasture areas where large or medium animals are kept must be fenced with barrier fence of sufficient height and durability to securely contain the animals. Such areas must meet the setback requirements for the zone.

3.

Pasture areas where large or medium animals are kept must be designed to minimize the amount of animal waste discharged into the Town's storm drain system or into a natural drainage.

4.

Pasture areas must be managed such that they do not become overgrown or overgrazed and bare.

5.

Stable areas for large or medium animals must be set back at least 25 feet from any property line and at least 50 feet from any existing dwelling on an adjacent property.

6.

Slaughtering of medium and large animals is not allowed in the Town of Springdale.

The keeping of honeybees on a property is allowed according to the regulations below:

A.

The keeping of bees is allowed in the following zones:

B.

Special provisions for keeping bees:

1.

A flyway barrier at least six feet in height and 25 feet in length made of a solid material must be placed between the hive and the property line. The barrier must be placed on the side of the hive where the entrance is located. A building may act as a portion of the required flyway barrier. The hive must be placed a minimum of 15 feet away from the flyway barrier.

2.

Hives may be placed no closer than 30 feet to a front property line and must meet the side and rear setbacks for the zone in which they are located.

3.

A constant supply of fresh water must be provided within 15 feet of any hive. The water source must be equipped with a concrete block or other similar means to allow the bees to access the water.

4.

Hives must be registered with the State of Utah.

5.

The property where the hive is kept must have at least one empty bait hive.

The following standards govern the construction and placement of structures designed and used exclusively for agricultural purposes. The provisions in this section apply to the FR, VR, VC, CC and PU zones.

A.

Structures used for agricultural purposes, but not for the keeping of animals (greenhouses, toolsheds, etc.), may encroach 50 percent into a side or rear setback if all of the following criteria are met:

1.

The structure measures 100 square feet or less in area.

2.

The structure is one story and ten feet or less in height.

B.

Greenhouses that measure 100 square feet or less in area and ten feet or less in height are exempt from the materials standards of chapter 16 of this title if the greenhouse is located to the side or rear of the main building on the lot, or at least 150 feet from the front property line. A maximum of two such structures are allowed on each property.

C.

Structures used for agricultural purposes, but not for the keeping of animals, and measuring four feet or less in height are exempt from setback requirements and the materials standards of chapter 16 of this title if the structure is located to the side or rear of the main building on the lot, or at least 150 feet from the front property line.

Agricultural and animal uses shall be reviewed and permitted according to the standards in the table below:

A.

Administrative review process: Requires a simple sketch site plan of the property showing locations of all agricultural uses. Also requires sketch plans and information regarding the size, height, and materials used in all structures. The plans will be reviewed by the Director of Community Development for approval. A onetime $75.00 application fee is required.

B.

Agricultural use permit: To apply for an agricultural use permit, the applicant must submit the following:

1.

An application fee in the amount of $200.00 or such other amount as established by resolution of the Town Council;

2.

A site plan of the property showing locations of all proposed agricultural uses;

3.

Sketch plans and information regarding the size, height, and materials used in all structures; and

4.

Information regarding the distance animal uses will be located with respect to adjacent properties and streets.

C.

The Planning Commission considers applications for an agricultural use permit. The commission will approve the permit only if it finds the following:

1.

The proposed agricultural use will not detrimentally impact surrounding properties or create a health or safety hazard;

2.

The proposed agricultural use will not detrimentally impact floodplain areas, natural washes, steep slopes, sensitive soils, or existing wildlife; and

3.

The application and the proposed agricultural use complies with all other applicable requirements of this chapter.