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15307 105th Ave ChickensDenise Smith 15307 105" Ave SE Yelm, WA 98597 8-08-2014 Ron Harding Mayor 105 Yelm Avenue West Yelm, WA 98597 Dear Ron Harding: ;� :µ M w( l AUG 0 8 2014 .i iv ,f BY My name is Denise Smith. My family and I have been residents of Yelm for the past 12 years. What brought my husband and I to Yelm was the rural atmosphere and country lifestyle. Both my husband and I grew up in the middle of cities surrounded by people, pollution, noise, and crime. Wanting more for our children we found a great neighborhood in Yelm that gives us the convenience of local businesses but also close proximity to the local farms. Loving the farm life but not having the privilege of moving to a farm I have recently looked into having backyard chickens. I was under the impression that being in a rural area that chickens were allowed in the city limits. (I have found this to be a common belief among many Yelm residents). I wasvery surprised when I found out that chickens are considered livestock and therefore prohibited_ I am writing today to purpose a change to the current city ordinances regarding urban chickens. I have spoken with Gary Carlson regarding the current prohibition of chickens within the city limits. We discussed that there has been complaints of people keeping chickens on their city lots. These complaints having mostly to do with large flocks and the odor of chicken coops that were not properly cleaned. Therefore, the conclusion being that chickens are not city animals. As I spoke with Gary I understood his perspective on the subject. I do agree with Gary that large flocks and dirty coops are a problem. However, most chicken owners (as most common pet owners) are responsible. They keep their flock to an appropriate size and regularly clean their chicken coops which eliminates the smell. Gary admits that he only deals with the complaints and doesn't really know how many chickens are kept within the city limits. There are benefits to urban chickens. The obvious being fresh eggs and the peace of mind of knowing where your food is coming from. They also provide great educational benefits to our children. As well as pest control. Olympia, Tacoma, Seattle, and many other cities allow a small flock of hens on any lot under the cities pet ordinances. If larger cities can find a way to allow hens without creating problems than certainly a rural city such as Yelm could manage to do the same. Please review the enclosed Municipal Codes for Olympia, Tacoma, and Seattle. It is my hope that the City of Yelm and its residents can come to an agreement that will allow those living in the city limits to enjoy the benefits of urban chickens. (Sincerely, J Denise Smith 360-861-6545 rdsfamily2000(r hotmail.com Olympia City Ordinance for Chickens: Article II - LAND USE DISTRICTS Chapter 18.04 RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS 18.04.060 Residential districts' use standards C. ANIMALS/PETS. Pets and other animals are allowed in all residential districts subject to the following requirements: 1. Traditional Pets. No more than a total of three traditional pets, such as dogs and cats, as well as potbelly pigs, four months of age or older, shall be permitted per dwelling unit. Song birds or other traditional pet birds (e.g., parrots) are permitted. The keeping of racing and performing pigeons is permitted as a conditional use. (Traditional pets are defined as a species of animals which can be housebroken, or walked on a leash, or are frequently, but not necessarily, housed within a residence and are neither obnoxious nor a public safety or health threat.) KIER$I. a. Lots one acre or less are allowed up to five ducks or female chickens. Lots greater than one acre are allowed one additional duck or female chicken for every additional one thousand square feet of lot area beyond one acre, up to ten ducks or female chickens. b. Chickens and ducks shall be confined within a suitably fenced area large enough for appropriate exercise. c. Suitable sanitary structures (coops) shall be provided and must be designed to protect fowl on all sides from weather, predators and to prevent rodents. d. Roosters, geese and turkeys are prohibited. 3. Other Animals. a. Swine, other than potbelly pigs, and non -miniature goats, are prohibited. b. Rabbits of breeding age are permitted with the following conditions: i. Lots of one-quarter acre or less are allowed up to five rabbits. ii. Lots greater than one-quarter acre are allowed one additional rabbit for every additional one thousand square feet of lot area beyond one-quarter acre, up to ten rabbits. W. Rabbits must have a minimum 3.5 square feet of hutch space per rabbit. iv. Structures housing rabbits must be designed to protect rabbits on all sides from weather, predators and to prevent other rodents. c. Miniature goats, commonly known as pygmy and dwarf, are permitted with the following conditions: i. Lots between five thousand square feet and one acre in size are allowed up to two miniature goats. ii. Lots greater than one acre are allowed one additional miniature goat for every additional one thousand square feet of lot area beyond one acre, up to six miniature goats. iii. Miniature goats shall be confined within a suitably fenced area, large enough for appropriate exercise. iv. Structures housing miniature goats must be designed to protect them on all sides from weather and predators and to prevent rodents. d. The keeping of other agricultural animals, which are not specifically prohibited in this section, is permitted, provided that: i. There shall be no more than one animal per acre, in addition to the permitted animals/pets referenced above; and ii. Such animals shall be confined within a suitably fenced area, large enough for appropriate exercise, which shall be located no closer than fifty feet from any property line; and iii. The keeping of such other animals does not constitute a nuisance or hazard to the peace, health or welfare of the community in general and neighbors in particular. iv. Structures housing such other animals must be designed to protect them on all sides from weather and predators and to prevent rodents. Tacoma City Ordinances for Chickens: Tacoma Municipal Code City Clerk's Office 5-51 (Revised 08/2012) Chapter 5.30 POULTRY AND PIGEONS Sections: 5.30.005 Definitions. 5.30.010 Keeping — Prohibited places 5.30.020 Running at large. 5.30.040 Notice of violation and civil penalty 5.30.010 Keeping —Prohibited places. A. No more than 6 adult poultry and 6 pigeons are allowed per parcel provided that if a person has more than 6 adult poultry or 6 pigeons as of September 10, 2012, he/she may keep those excess poultry or pigeons until July 1, 2015, at which time he/she must comply with the maximum limit allowed; provided further that an owner may have up to 10 adult poultry and 10 pigeons if they obtain written consent from all owners of all residences, dwellings, hotels, apartment houses, or rooming houses owned by others within 50 feet of where the adult poultry or pigeons are kept, and file such consent with the City Clerk. One additional adult poultry or pigeon is allowed for each 5,000 square feet of lot area in excess of 10,000 square feet. B. Pursuant to TMC 17.02.041, it is a violation for any person to own, possess, or harbor a rooster within the City limits. C. Animal enclosures such as a cage or coop shall be set back a minimum of 12 feet from the nearest portion of any residence, dwelling, hotel, apartment house or rooming house. Animal enclosures must be located behind the front wall of the main building on a lot, and shall not be located in the required side yard setback area of the main building as described in TMC 13.06.100.F.5. Animal enclosures larger than 200 square feet must obtain a building permit. D. The keeping of poultry and pigeons that do not meet these standards is hereby declared to be a public nuisance; provided that this chapter shall not apply in areas in which abattoirs or stockyards are permitted by appropriate ordinances. (Ord. 28085 Ex. A; passed Aug. 28, 2012: Ord. 22212 § 17; passed Sept. 30,1980: Ord. 16586 § 1; passed Jun. 14, 1960) 5.30.020 Running at large Seattle City Ordinances for Chickens: Council Bill Number: 116907 Ordinance Number: 123378 23.42.052 Keeping of Small Animals The keeping of small animals, farm animals, domestic fowl and bees is permitted outright in all zones as an accessory use to any principal use permitted outright or to a permitted conditional use, in each case subject to the standards of this Section 23.42.052 . A. Small Animals. Up to three small animals may be kept accessory to each business establishment, other than an urban farm, or dwelling unit on a lot, except as follows: 1. In no case is more than one miniature potbelly pig allowed per business establishment or dwelling unit (see subsection 23.42.052. B, 2. In single-family zones, a. accessory dwelling units shall not be considered separate dwelling units for the purpose of this Section 23 A2.052 ; b. up to four small animals are permitted on lots of at least 20,000 square feet; and c. one additional small animal is permitted for each 5,000 square feet of lot area in excess of 20,000 square feet. Accessory structures, including kennels, for four or more animals must be at least 10 feet from any other lot in a residential zone. B. Miniature Potbelly Pigs. That type of swine commonly known as the Vietnamese, Chinese, or Asian Potbelly Pig (Sus scrofa bittatus) may be kept as a small animal, provided that no swine that is greater than 22 inches in height at the shoulder or more than 150 pounds in weight may be kept in the city. C. Domestic Fowl. Up to eight domestic fowl may be kept on any lot in addition to the small animals permitted in subsection 23.42.052. A. 1. On lots greater than 10,000 square feet that include either a community garden or an urban farm, one additional fowl is permitted for every 1,000 square feet of lot area over 10,000 square feet in community garden or urban farm use. 2. Roosters are not permitted. 3. Structures housing domestic fowl must be located at least 10 feet away from any structure that includes a dwelling unit on an adjacent lot.