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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-0031 ORDINANCE NO. 2025-003 CITY OF ARDEN HILLS RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 4, ANIMALS AND PETS, SECTION 410; AND CHAPTER 13, ZONING CODE, SECTION 1325 OF THE ARDEN HILLS CITY CODE THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA, ORDAINS: SECTION 1. Chapter 4 – Animals and Pets, Section 410 – Licenses, Subsection 410.01, Licenses Required, is hereby amended by deleting the strikethrough language and adding the underlined language as follows: 410.00 - Licenses 410.01 License Required. The following animal licenses shall be required within the City of Arden Hills. Subd. 1 Dog/Cat Licenses. All dogs and cats within the City of Arden Hills, except as hereinafter provided, shall be licensed. A.Application. Within thirty (30) days after acquiring possession of a dog or cat which has not been licensed by the City of Arden Hills, the owner of the dog or cat shall make application for a dog or cat license. The application shall be on forms provided by the City of Arden Hills. B.Vaccination. It shall be unlawful for any dog or cat owner to keep or maintain any dog or cat older than six (6) months of age unless it shall have been vaccinated with an anti-rabies vaccine certified to be effective by a licensed veterinarian. No license renewal shall be issued except upon compliance with this section. C.License Fee. The license fee for each dog or cat must be submitted with the application. The fee will be established by City Council Resolution. D.Duration of License. A license shall be issued for a period of time not to exceed the expiration date of the rabies vaccination. No dog or cat license shall be renewed without proof of vaccination. E.Issuance of License. Upon completion of the application form, receipt of the license fee and receipt of the proof of vaccination, the City Administrator shall cause a dog or cat license to be issued to the applicant for a particular dog or cat. 2 F.Receipt and Tags. The City of Arden Hills shall issue a license fee receipt to the applicant along with a metallic dog or cat license tag. The applicant shall permanently affix the tag by a metal fastening device to the collar of the licensed animal in a manner that allows the tag to be easily observed. If a tag is lost, a duplicate may be issued by the City of Arden Hills upon presentation of a receipt showing payment of the initial license fee and upon payment of an additional fee for each duplicate tag. G.Change of Address. An applicant who has obtained a dog or cat license shall notify the City of the applicant's address changes within the corporate limits of the City within ten (10) days of any address change. H.Counterfeit Tags. No person shall counterfeit or attempt to counterfeit dog or cat license tags. I.Transfer of Tags. No person shall transfer a dog or cat tag from one dog or cat to another. J.Exceptions. The following dogs and cats are not required to be licensed: 1.Dogs and cats less than six (6) months of age. 2.Dogs and cats whose owners are temporary visitors within the City for thirty (30) days or less. 3.Dogs and cats which are brought into the City for appearance in an animal show. 4.Dogs being used by law enforcement officers Subd. 2 Wild Animal Licenses. A.General Prohibition. All wild animals except the following are prohibited within the City of Arden Hills: 1.Wild animals brought into the City for entertainment, exhibition or show purposes by persons keeping wild animals for a public zoo. 2.Wild animals which are part of a permanent display sponsored by a bona fide research institution, a veterinary hospital, public zoo or other institution. 3.Nonpoisonous snakes, birds kept indoors, hamsters, mice, rabbits, gerbils, white rats, guinea pigs, chinchillas, or lizards and similar small animals capable of being kept in cages continuously. 4.Monkeys trained as personal helpers and kept by handicapped persons. 5.Raptors owned by licensed Falconers holding valid state and federal Falconry permits so long as the conditions of such permits are being satisfied. 6.Wild animals and birds that are part of the natural habitat and environment. B.License Application. Applications for a Wild Animal License shall be submitted on forms provided by the City along with a Certificate of Insurance which indicates that applicant has $200,000 of liability coverage on the Wild Animal and which includes an endorsement indicating that the liability coverage will not be cancelled without twenty (20) days written notice to the City of Arden Hills. C.Investigation. The Animal Control Officer shall review the application, conduct such investigation as the Animal Control Officer deems necessary, and shall prepare a written recommendation regarding the issuance of a Wild Animal License. The City Administrator shall within ten (10) days mail a notice to all property owners within 350 feet of the site on which the Wild Animal will be kept. The notice shall indicate that the City has received an application for a Wild Animal License and shall request comments from such property owners. 3 D.Review. The City Council shall review the application, the Animal Control Officer's recommendations, and the comments from property owners. The City Council may issue a Wild Animal License if it determines that the application is in compliance with the City's regulations. The City Council may attach any reasonable conditions to the issuance of a license as it determines to be necessary in order to protect the health, safety, and welfare of Arden Hills residents. E.Existing Wild Animals. Anyone keeping a Wild Animal in Arden Hills at the time of the adoption of this regulation shall have ninety (90) days in which to comply with the provisions of this regulation or otherwise remove the Wild Animal from the City. Extensions beyond ninety (90) days may be granted by the City Council for good cause but in no case shall such extension permanently exempt a person from the requirements of this regulation. F.Wild Animal Restrictions. 1. Confinement. No person owning or harboring or having the care or custody of a wild animal shall suffer or permit such animal to go unconfined on the premises of such person. A wild animal is "unconfined" as the term is used in this section if such animal is not securely confined indoors or confined in a secure enclosure suitably sized for the wild animal is confined therein. An "enclosure" is secure within the meaning of this section if it is constructed of heave gauge mesh steel, or other suitable material; consists of a top and sides, with the bottom of such sides fastened along their perimeter to a slab floor of concrete or other suitable material; where no slab floor is provided, the sides must be embedded into the ground no less than one foot; all access points of the enclosure must be locked when the animal is confined therein. The Animal control officer may seize a wild animal that has been declared dangerous that is unconfined. 2. Muzzling. No person owning or harboring, or having the care of a wild animal shall suffer or permit such animal to go beyond the premises of such person unless such animal is securely muzzled and restrained with a chain not exceeding three (3) feet in length, and having a tensile strength sufficient to restrain the animal. Wild animals which are actively participating in recognized local, regional or national trials, training or other such sponsored competition, need not to be muzzled while being transported to or from during such competitions. 3. Summary Destruction. Any person harboring or owning a wild animal that is found to be in violation of the City's Animal Control Regulations may be summarily destroyed. Subd. 3 Chickens License. All chickens within the City of Arden Hills, except as hereinafter provided, shall be licensed. A. Application. Within thirty (30) days after acquiring possession of a chicken which has not been licensed by the City of Arden Hills, the owner of the chicken(s) shall make application for a chickens license. The application shall be on forms provided by the City of Arden Hills. If the Applicant is a renter, the Property Owner signature shall be required on the license application form. B. Neighbor Consent Notification. The Applicant shall be responsible for providing written notification to the neighbors immediately adjacent to the property of their intent to keep chickens. As part of the application review, the prospective license holder shall certify that they have provided the required written notification of their intent to keep chickens. This notification will be distributed in the format provided by the City. Neighbor written responses will be 4 returned to the City. Neighbor consent from all of the immediately adjacent properties is required for issuance of the license. The failure of a neighboring Property Owner to respond does not constitute consent. C.License Fee. The license fee for each chicken must be submitted with the application. The fee will be established by City Council Resolution. D.Duration of License. A two-year license shall be issued. E.Issuance of License. Upon completion of the application form and receipt of the license fee, the City Administrator shall cause a chicken license to be issued to the applicant subject to: (1)Leg banding of all chickens is required. The bands must identify the owner and the owner’s address and telephone number.No more than six (6) hens shall be housed or kept on any one (1) residential lot with the issuance of a City license. (2)Dead chickens must be disposed of according to the Minnesota Board of Animal Health rules which require chicken carcasses to be disposed of as soon as possible after death, usually within forty-eight (48) to seventy-two (72) hours. Legal forms of chicken carcass disposal include burial, off-site incineration and/or rendering, or composting. (3)Prior to issuance of a license, the prospective annual license holder certifies as part of the application review that they have read “Keeping of Chickens Informational Handout.” “Recommendations for Municipal Regulations for Urban Chickens”. F.The following are prohibited within the City of Arden Hills for chickens: (1)Roosters are prohibited. (2)No breeding of chickens is allowed. (3)Slaughtering of chickens on the property is prohibited. SECTION 2. Chapter 13 – Zoning Code, Section 1325 – General Regulations, Subsection 1325.07 Subd. 6.A – Performance Standards, is hereby amended by deleting the strikethrough language and adding the underlined language as follows: Subd. 6 Animals. A. Location for Buildings Housing Farm Animals. Any building in which farm animals are kept shall be located a distance of two hundred (200) feet or more from any lot line. Any open structure in which farm animals are kept shall be a distance of four hundred (400) feet or more from any lot line, except for chicken coops and bee hives in the R-1, R-2, and R-3 Districts provided the following requirements are met: Chicken Coops (1) No more than three (3) hens shall be housed or kept on any one (1) residential lot with the issuance of a City license. (2) A separate coop, separate from other structures, is required to house the chickens. Coops must be constructed and maintained to meet the following minimum requirements: 5 a.A coop with a minimum of 12 20 square feet and no larger than 25 36 square feet is permitted as an accessory structure subject to Section 1325.01. Subd. 4 A. for Size. b.Exemption to Ordinance - A residential property with a detached garage and an accessory structure/shed will be allowed a third accessory structure for keeping chickens. The combined square footage of all three detached structures may not exceed 728 square feet. c.Located in the rear yard. Chicken coop, pen, and optional exercise yard are not permitted in the front or side yard. d.Setbacks are subject to applicable accessory structure setbacks of the underlying zoning district. In no instance shall the coop be located in front of the rear building line of the principal structure. e.The outer limit of the coop including pen and exercise yard shall be located closer to the principal dwelling upon the property that is issued a license than any other residential dwelling on an abutting property. f.Climate control – adequate ventilation and/or insulation and an operable lightbulb shall be provided to maintain the coop temperature between 45 – 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Prior to issuance of an annual new license, the prospective annual license holder must provide a plan for maintaining an adequate temperature in the coop for safety of the fowl or poultry. The plan must address both extreme winter and summer temperature conditions. g.Rodent proof – coop construction, all grain and food, and materials must be adequate to prevent access by rodents. h.Coops shall be constructed and maintained in a workmanlike manner. i.Chickens must not be housed in a residential house or an attached or detached garage. (32)A pen and exercise yard is required. The pPen and exercise yard must be constructed and maintained to meet the following minimum standard: a.The pen and exercise yard isshall be located adjacent to the coop and shall be fenced with adequate coverage to keep hens in and predators out of a material that can be easily raked or regularly replaced to reduce odor and flies. b.Minimum size per bird shall be 10 square feet of floor space. (3) An exercise yard is optional. This area must be located adjacent to the chicken coop and pen and chickens must be supervised by the licensee while in an exercise yard. ii.Exercise yard - 174 square feet (4)Screening shall be installed around the perimeter of the area dedicated for the keeping of chickens in a manner that minimizes view from adjacent parcels. A screening plan shall be approved as part of license application subject to any additional permit requirements for installation. Acceptable forms of screening are a six (6) foot tall solid fence or vegetation that 6 shall consist of plantings which shall provide for year round screening and installed at a minimum of six (6) feet tall. (5)Chickens must not be housed in a residential house or an attached or detached garage. (46) The licensee shall be responsible for cleaning up the chicken keeping areas and disposing of waste in a sanitary manner. Chicken feces must not be composted on site. All premises on which hens are kept or maintained shall be kept clean from filth, garbage, and any substances which attract rodents. The coop and its surrounding must be cleaned frequently enough to control odor. Manure shall not be allowed to accumulate in a way that causes an unsanitary condition or causes odors detectible on another property. Failure to comply with these conditions may result in the officer removing chickens from the premises or revoking a chicken license. (7) All grain and food stored for the use of the hens on a premise with a chicken license shall be kept in a rodent proof container. (85) Hens, coop, pen, and optional exercise yard shall not be kept in such a manner as to constitute a nuisance to the occupants of adjacent property. (96) Any violation of the above conditions, (i.e. roaming chickens outside of proper enclosure, uncontrolled odor), if not remedied within ten (10) days, may result in revocation of the homeowner’s license. (107) If the license holder does not renew the chicken license, and the coop was licensed as an allowed third accessory structure for chickens, the coop/third structure cannot be repurposed for a storage structure and discontinues having chickens, the homeowner shall have 60 days to remove the any coop, pen, and exercise yard associated with the keeping of chickens in its entirety. If the coop was licensed as an allowed third accessory structure for chickens, the coop/third structure must be removed and cannot be repurposed for a storage structure. If the homeowner/license holder fails to perform either of the above, the City may enter upon the subject property, remove the coop, pen, and exercise yard from the homeowner’s property, and charge the amount back to the homeowner as an assessment on the property tax roll. If the coop was licensed as an allowed second accessory structure, and the property complies with the accessory structure requirements, the structure may be repurposed for a storage structure. Bee Hives (1)The number of hives on residential lots is not to exceed: i. 1 acre or larger: 8 ii. 1 acre to 3/4 acre: 6 iii. 3/4 acre to 1/2 acre: 4 iv. 1/2 acre or less: 2 (2)The bee hive(s) may not be located in the front yard or a side yard abutting a street. (3)Bee hive(s) may be no closer than twenty-five (25) feet to an occupied building on another lot and/or any public trail or walkway. (4)The hives shall be located at least ten (10) feet from side and rear property lines. 7 (5)Any property owner who keeps bees shall provide and maintain a nearby, designated water source. (6)Prior to installation of the bee hive(s), the property owner shall provide written notice to the neighbors immediately adjacent of their intent to keep bees. B.Number of Animals Allowed. Up to four (4) domestic animals, excluding birds and fish, are permitted in any dwelling unit, but without a residential dog kennel license not more than two (2) may be dogs. Up to three (3) dogs are allowed with a residential dog kennel license. Dog enclosures may be located only in a rear yard in all zoning districts. C.Animals for Research. Animals for research may be kept in appropriate places by conditional use permit. D.Wild Animals. Wild animals are not permitted in any district. Subd. 7 Site Grading. A.Erosion Prevention. Earth surfaces shall be planted or stabilized to prevent erosion. B.Drainage onto Neighboring Property. Finished slopes and grades shall not cause adverse drainage effects on adjoining properties. SECTION 3. Pursuant to Minn. Stat. §412.191, in the case of a lengthy ordinance, a summary may be published. While a copy of the entire ordinance is available without cost at the office of the City Clerk, the following summary is approved by the City Council and shall be published in lieu of publishing the entire ordinance: •City code sections 410 and 1325 are amended to modify the allowance and criteria for the keeping of chickens in the City of Arden Hills. A printed copy of the whole ordinance is available for inspection by any person during the City’s regular office hours at the City of Arden Hills, 1245 West Highway 96, Arden Hills, MN 55112. The Ordinance is also available on the City’s website at http://www.cityofardenhills.com. 8 SECTION 4. This Ordinance shall become effective immediately upon its passage and publication according to law. A Summary of this Ordinance will be published in accordance with state statute. PASSED and ADOPTED this 22nd day of September, 2025, by the City Council of the City of Arden Hills, Minnesota. CITY OF ARDEN HILLS By _______________________________ David Grant, Mayor ATTEST: _____________________________ Julie Hanson, City Clerk Summary Ordinance Published in the Pioneer Press on September 26, 2025 To view the final document, access adopted Ordinances via Arden Hills Public Laserfiche Weblink by visiting cityofardenhills.org and clicking on Archived Documents under Helpful Links on our main webpage