Chapter 6.05
LIVESTOCK, POULTRY, AND EXOTIC ANIMALS
Sections:
6.05.020 Exotic animals, livestock, and wild animals prohibited.
6.05.040 Riding or leading animals in City parks.
6.05.050 Personal obligations.
6.05.010 Definitions.
Any provisions of the Airway Heights Municipal Code to the contrary notwithstanding, as used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates that a different meaning is intended:
A. “Exotic” means an animal of domestic or foreign origin that is not typically identified as a domesticated animal that includes, but is not limited to, monkeys (nonhuman primate), lion, tiger, bear, cougar, mountain lion, badger, wolf, coyote, fox, lynx, skunk or poisonous reptiles such as lizards, serpents or snakes.
B. “Livestock” means horses, ponies, bovine animals, sheep, goats, swine, reindeer, donkeys, llamas, mules, emus, ostriches, and like animals.
C. “Wild” means an animal that generally lives in its original natural state and is not normally domesticated.
D. “Poultry” means chickens, ducks, geese, pigeons, and turkeys, or like poultry. (Ord. C-876 § 3, 2016; Ord. C-669 § 42, 2008)
6.05.020 Exotic animals, livestock, and wild animals prohibited.
A. No person shall have, keep, or maintain, in an area of the City, any exotic animal, livestock, or any other dangerous, carnivorous, wild or exotic animal or reptile.
B. Nonvenomous reptiles or nonvenomous snakes less than eight feet in length, or animals that spend their entire existence in an aquarium, or similar containment, including, but not limited to, exotic fish, small mammals (hamster, gerbils, rabbits, etc.), and birds (parrots, cockatiels, cockatoos, parakeets, canaries, etc.) commonly sold in pet stores, or kept as pets, are not considered to be prohibited under this section.
C. No person owning or having charge, custody, control, or possession of an animal specified in subsection (A) or (B) of this section shall permit the same to run at large upon any street or other place, public or private, or within the premises of such person, in such a manner to endanger a person lawfully entering such premises.
D. Subsection (A) of this section shall not apply to a person keeping or maintaining or having in his possession or under his control an animal defined in that subsection when such person is transporting such animal through the City; provided, that he has taken adequate safeguards to protect the public, and has notified the Chief of Police of his proposed route and of the time that such trip is to take place; nor shall subsection (A) of this section apply to a person who has custody of such animals in connection with the operation of a zoo or circus or in connection with a program of medical or scientific research, provided such person has taken adequate measures to safeguard persons and property. Whether measures taken to safeguard the public pursuant to this section are adequate shall be determined solely by the Chief of Police or his authorized agent. (Ord. C-876 § 4, 2016; Ord. C-669 § 43, 2008)
6.05.030 Poultry.
The intent of this section is to permit the keeping of a limited number of poultry as pets, for the laying of eggs for personal use, or used for the education of youth through a 4-H, Future Farmers of America, or similar program.
A. No person shall have, keep, or maintain poultry on any property less than 6,000 square feet in size.
B. No person shall have, keep, or maintain more than four poultry, regardless of type, at any one time.
C. Peacocks, emus, ostriches, and guinea hens are prohibited within City limits.
D. No person shall have, keep, or maintain a male chicken, or “rooster,” on residentially zoned property, regardless of size.
E. The keeping of poultry shall require clean and appropriate housing for the poultry. Housing or structures established for the keeping of poultry shall be maintained, and set back from the rear and side property lines a minimum of 15 feet, and shall not be located in the 25-foot front yard setback.
F. The part of the property intended for the housing, keeping, or maintaining of poultry shall be completely enclosed in a minimum six-foot-high sight obscuring fence.
G. Permitted poultry shall not be permitted to run “at-large” or outside the required containment area outlined in subsections (E) and (F) of this section. (Ord. C-876 § 5, 2016)
6.05.040 Riding or leading animals in City parks.
It is unlawful for any person to ride, lead or cause to be ridden or led, a horse, mare, pony or related riding animal within the limits of any public park area in the City unless it is part of a City-sanctioned event. (Ord. C-876 § 2, 2016; Ord. C-669 § 44, 2008. Formerly 6.05.030)
6.05.050 Personal obligations.
Civil penalties and costs of abatement incurred by the City are personal obligations of the animal owner or keeper. The City may collect such civil penalties and abatement costs by use of appropriate legal remedies. (Ord. C-876 § 2, 2016; Ord. C-669 § 45, 2008. Formerly 6.05.040)