TOWN OF WEST WARWICK
TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
DATE: TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 2012
PLACE: TOWN COUNCIL CHAMBER
1170 MAIN STREET, WEST WARWICK, RI 02893
Tonight the West Warwick Town Council had their first reading of ORDINANCE NO. 2012- 6. This is the ordinance that we need changed in order for the residents of West Warwick to legally raises urban chickens for the purposes of fresh eggs.Here is the proposal that was voted on and passed the first reading tonight. In two weeks we will have the second reading and the ordinance is expected to pass.
TOWN OF WEST WARWICK ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN COUNCIL ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SEC. 4-24 ABATEMENT OF NUISANCE ANIMALS AND CONDITIONS, ADDING SEC. 4-24.1 KEEPING OF HENS AND AMENDING SEC. 4-34 KENNEL LICENCE OF THE WEST WARWICK CODE OF ORDINANCES.
WHEREAS: There has been shown an interest by the residents of the Town to raise hens for the personal consumption of home grown hens and the production for personal use of eggs from such hens, and
WHEREAS: The Town Council is desirous of enabling such endeavors but doing so in a manner that will be in the best interests of the Town and will have no adverse affect on the surrounding neighborhood, and
WHEREAS: The Town Council had been made aware of an error in the provisions for the issuing of kennel licenses and now desires to correct such error, Town Council
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDAINED that the Town Council of the Town of West Warwick hereby that the West Warwick Code of Ordinance shall be amended as follows:
Sec. 4-24. Abatement of nuisance animals and conditions shall be amended,
Sec. 4-24.1. Keeping of hens and shall be added, and
Sec. 4-34. Kennel license shall be amended as follows:
Sec. 4-24. Abatement of nuisance animals and conditions.
(b) In addition to those animals prohibited by Rhode Island General Law, the keeping of specific creatures is designated as a public nuisance: fowl, poultry except hens as hereinafter provided for in Sec. 4-24.1 hereof, rabbits, pigeons, poisonous snakes, pigs, minks and any similar species which carry or may carry and spread diseases or otherwise may be considered unsanitary or present a nuisance or hazard to the general public, except for the following:
(1) Pet stores that are in compliance with all applicable local ordinances and state laws;
(2) Agricultural enterprises that are in compliance with all applicable local ordinance and state laws;
(3) Research facilities that are in compliance with all applicable local ordinance and state laws;
(4) Creatures kept by special permit approved by the town council, with conditions as established by the town council;
(5) Rabbits and pigeons for personal enjoyment and/or use.
Sec. 4-24.1. Keeping of hens.
(a) The keeping of hens shall be subject to the following restrictions and regulations:
(1) The keeping of hens shall be permitted in Residential Districts only and shall be on a lot containing a dwelling in which dwelling the owner of the hens must be a resident.
(2) There shall be no more than 12 hens per lot.
(3) The keeping of any roosters is prohibited.
(4) All hens must be provided with both a hen house and a fenced outdoor enclosure subject to the following conditions, restrictions and regulations:
a. The hen house must be covered, predator resistant and well ventilated.
b. The hen house must provide a minimum of two (2) square feet per hen.
c. The hen house must be kept clean, dry and sanitary at all times.
d. The hen house must be located on a permeable surface that prevents waste run-off.
e. The hen house must provide the hens with adequate protection from the elements and inclement weather and provide for the hens good health and prevent any unnecessary or unjustified suffering.
f. The enclosure fence must adequately contain the hens and provide security from intrusion by any predators or animals, wild or domesticated.
g. The fenced enclosure must be kept clean and sanitary at all times.
h. All manure must be composted in enclosed bins.
i. No food shall be placed in the open for the feeding of the hens except in such containers as will prevent the scattering of such food upon the ground.
(b) All hens shall be subject to the nuisance provisions of Sec. 4-24 of the West Warwick Code of Ordinances and must be confined in the hen house between the hours of 9:00 pm and 8:00 am.
Sec. 4-34. Kennel license.
(a) Required. No person shall operate a kennel as defined herein, without first obtaining a license to operate said establishment by the state director of environmental management, as provided in §4-19-6 of the Rhode Island General Laws; and obtaining a license to operate said establishment as issues by the town council.
(b) Kennel permitted. No license shall be issued by the town council, director of environmental management to operate a kennel on premises other than those designated by the zoning ordinances.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SEC. 4-24 ABATEMENT OF NUISANCE ANIMALS AND CONDITIONS, ADDING SEC. 4-24.1 KEEPING OF HENS AND AMENDING SEC. 4-34
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