Pigeons

 

6.24.020 - Pigeon keeping


A. Pigeons, which are not raised or kept for market or other commercial purpose, may be kept and liberated for exercise or racing if their enclosure is not less than thirty-five feet (35') from the owner's dwelling, and not less than fifty feet (50') from any other dwelling, and not less than one hundred feet (100') from a multiple dwelling.

B. Each person desiring to keep and liberate for exercise or racing such pigeons shall make a written application to, and upon forms furnished by the Health Officer. Such application shall state the name and address of the applicant and the address at which the pigeons will be kept and liberated. The Health Officer shall make or cause to be made an investigation of the application, and if he finds that all provisions of the Code have been and will be complied with, he shall issue the permit; otherwise the application for permit shall be denied. Such permits shall be good for one (1) year from date of issuance and shall be annually renewed in the same manner as that provided for the securing of a new permit. A fee as determined by the City Council by resolution shall be charged for the original permit and for each renewal thereof. Such permits shall be nontransferable and nonassignable.

C. Whenever the Health Officer determines from his examination or inspection that the holder of any permit issued under the provisions of this Section has violated any of the provisions of this Code, he may serve a written notice upon such permittee to appear before the Health Officer to show cause why the permit shall not be revoked. The notice shall contain a brief statement of the alleged violation and the time and place of hearing, which shall be held within ten (10) days after receipt of notice. The permittee may appear in person or with counsel, and present such evidence as he may desire regarding the alleged violation and show cause why his permit shall not be revoked. The Health Officer shall receive such information, evidence and testimony as may concern the circumstances of the alleged violation, and the formal rules of evidence shall not apply. If the Health Officer determines that any of the provisions of this Section or any other provisions of the Code regarding pigeons are being violated, he may temporarily suspend or revoke the permit, provided any such suspension period shall not exceed ninety (90) days. Reinstatement of suspended permit shall not be effected unless the act, default or omission which was the ground for suspension has been remedied prior to the time of reinstatement.

D. Any person aggrieved by any finding, determination or act of the Health Officer shall, within ten (10) days from the date thereof, take whatever legal steps he may deem necessary to forestall or prevent such finding, determination or act from becoming final and conclusive.

E. Whenever any permit has been revoked under the terms of this Section, no other application for a permit to carry on a similar activity by the permit holder shall be considered for a period of one (1) year from the date of the revocation.

F. No person shall keep or maintain on any lot or parcel of land more than forty (40) live pigeons.

G. Wherever live pigeons are permitted to be kept or maintained in the City, no person so keeping or maintaining such pigeons shall fail at any time to keep the coops wherein such pigeons are enclosed in a clean and sanitary condition. No person shall fail to conform to and abide by the reasonable rules and regulations of the Health Department with reference to the keeping of such pigeons in such enclosures.

H. No person shall impound any live pigeons unless provision is made by such person for the proper feeding and the furnishing of water to such pigeons at intervals not longer than twelve (12) hours apart.

I. No person shall impound any live pigeons in a coop which is less than twice as large in floor space or standing room as the total size of all live pigeons which may be impounded therein, and which is not sufficiently high as to permit each pigeon impounded therein to stand in a natural erect position.

J. All feed for the pigeons shall be stored in containers which offer protection against rodents and insects; pigeon manure and other waste material arising from their maintenance shall be removed from permittee's premises at least once a week, or as often as it is necessary to prevent fly breeding, or other similar nuisance; such material shall be disposed of in a sanitary manner.

K. No person shall allow any pigeon owned or controlled by such person, except when said pigeon or pigeons are being exercised or raced through flight, to run at large.

L.
The Health Officer shall have the right to inspect each such coop and pigeon house at such times as he deems advisable.