The Village of Iola will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, March 10, concerning the adoption of a Backyard Chicken Ordinance. The meeting will start at 5:30 p.m. in the Iola Village Hall’s Community Room.

The proposed ordinance reads as follows:

Definitions:

Chicken: The term “chicken” used throughout these regulations shall exclusively mean a female gallinaceous bird or hen of any age(including chicks). The term “chicken” does not include roosters or other kinds of fowl, including but not limited to, ducks, quail, grouse, pheasants, turkeys, peacocks, emus, ostriches, or the like.

Chicken Inspector: Person assigned by the Village of Iola Board to monitor the backyard chickens in the Village of Iola. This position is appointed at annual reorganizational meeting.

Workmanlike Manner:  While it does not require perfection, it must be of good, and functional quality.

• Backyard chickens is a place where chickens are kept for the use and enjoyment of those living on the premises, but not for commercial purposes. The sale of a chicken as part of a 4-H or similar educational project shall not be considered a commercial purpose.

(1) No more than six chickens may be kept.

(2) The keeping of roosters is prohibited.

(3) The slaughter of chickens on the premises is prohibited.

(4) No person shall sell or barter eggs or engage in chicken breeding or fertilizer production for commercial purposes including, but not limited to, farmers’ markets.

(5) Enclosure requirements. Chickens shall be provided with a covered enclosure and must be kept in the covered enclosure or a fenced enclosure at all times.

(6) Setback requirements. The enclosure housing chickens shall be located at least 25 feet from any residential structure on an adjacent lot and shall conform to the yard setbacks of the zoning district in which it is located when applicable.

(7) Registration required. The owner, operator, or tenant shall register the premise where chickens are kept with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection as required by state law and maintain such registration for so long as may be required.

(8) Backyard chickens are allowed in the following districts: R-1 and R-2.

(9) Deceased Chickens, from a natural matter, shall be disposed of immediately in a safe manner, which may include trash disposal after placing the deceased chicken in a sealed bag. Unless directed otherwise by Health Department.

(b) Keeping of Chickens in R-1 and R-2 Districts

(1) PERMIT REQUIRED. No person shall keep chickens in R-1 and R-2 District without obtaining a valid permit issued by the Village of Iola Board of Trustee (appointed person) and registered with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection “Livestock Premises Registration Application.” The permit process requires a completed application accompanied with a non-refundable amount, see fee schedule, per household. Renewals may be subject to an inspection renewal, see fee schedule, amount per inspection (if needed). The permit year shall commence on January 1 of each year, and permit shall expire on December 31 of that year. The permit is nontransferable. Permits can be found on the Village of Iola website or at Village of Iola clerk’s office.

(2) NOTIFICATION OF NEIGHBORS- Before a permit is issued for the keeping of chickens, the clerk’s office will notify all occupants and owners of adjacent properties, including those across an alley or street. A listing of those notified will be submitted by the clerk’s office to the Board of Trustees when they consider the applications.

(3)  CHICKEN COOPS shall be constructed in a workmanlike manner, be  moisture-resistant and shall be constructed and maintained to reasonably prevent the collection of standing water, and shall be cleaned of hen droppings, uneaten feed, feathers and other waste and as is necessary to ensure that the coop and yard do not become a health, odor or other nuisance.

(4) No enclosure shall be located in the front or side yard of a dwelling.

(5)  In addition to compliance with the requirements of this section, no one shall keep chickens that cause any nuisance, unhealthy conditions, create a public health threat or otherwise interfere with the normal use of property or enjoyment of life by humans or animals.

(c) Public Health Requirements

(1)  Chickens shall be kept and handled in a sanitary manner to prevent the   spread of communicable diseases among birds or to humans.

(2)  Any person keeping chickens shall immediately report any unusual illness or death of chickens to the health department. The Health Department may order testing, quarantine, isolation, vaccination or humane euthanasia of ill chickens or chickens believed to be a carrier of a communicable disease.

(d) Permit Revocation

(1) A permit is subject to revocation upon failure to comply with any provisions of Sections (a), (b), (c)

(2) No chicken permits shall be issued to anyone with outstanding Village of Iola Ordinance violations.